Quantum Physics: an overview of a weird world: A primer on the conceptual foundations of quantum physics - Softcover

Masi, Marco

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3948295026 ISBN 13: 9783948295028

Publisher: New Knowledge Press, 2019

Synopsis

A comprehensive introduction to the scientific principles of a complex topic in which meaning and interpretation never cease to puzzle and surprise. An A-Z guide which is neither too advanced nor oversimplified and which is complete with figures and graphs that illustrate the deeper meaning of the concepts you are unlikely to find elsewhere. The weirdness and paradoxes of quantum physics are explained at an introductory level, from the first principles to modern state-of-the-art experiments. This is for the non-physicist autodidact who is looking for general knowledge about quantum physics, as it furnishes the most rigorous account that an exposition can provide and which only occasionally, in few special chapters, resorts to a mathematical level that goes no further than that of high school. It will save you a ton of time in searching elsewhere, trying to piece together a variety of information. Instead of being ‘quantum physics for dummies’, this is a deeper account that not only summarizes the experiments but also discusses the philosophical arguments and conceptual foundations. It’s a guide for all those who have always been attracted to the fascinating quantum reality and wanted to understand its principles, even if they are not physicists, but have found only either advanced university-level textbooks filled with complex mathematics or, alternatively, popular science texts that tried to connect with the reader at the cost of crude oversimplification.

This book fills a void: that of a non-academic but serious introduction to the conceptual foundations of quantum physics, as it really is, without treating readers like idiots. The author tried to span an 'arch of knowledge' without giving in to the temptation of taking an excessively one-sided account of the subject. To that end, he has refrained from focusing too much on his personal preferences – something that otherwise would have spoiled the intention of making this a general introduction. It is instead, first and foremost, an effort to provide the reader with the widest possible background on all the basics that everyone interested in quantum physics should have.

What is this strange thing called quantum physics? What is its impact on our understanding of the world? What is ‘reality’ according to quantum physics? This book addresses these and many other questions through a step-by-step journey into this very weird world. The central mystery of the double slit experiment and the wave-particle duality, the fuzzy world of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, the weird Schrödinger's cat paradox, the 'spooky action at a distance' of quantum entanglement, the EPR paradox and much more is explained, without neglecting such main contributors as Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Feynman and others who struggled themselves to come up with the mysterious quantum realm. This manual also takes a look at the experiments conducted in recent decades, such as the surprising "which-way" and "quantum-erasure" experiments

Additionally, because schools, colleges and universities teach quantum physics using a dry, mostly technical approach which furnishes only superficial insight into its foundations, this book is recommended to all those students and physicists who would like to look beyond the merely formal aspect and delve deeper into the meaning and essence of quantum mechanics. A primer that the public deserves.

About this title

Review

"An outstanding explanation of the meaning and mysteries of the quantum world. For both physicists and non-physicists alike, if you would like to get a better understanding of the meaning and mysteries of the quantum world that underlie the mathematics then you could not do better than this book. The author has taken particular care to explain the meaning and concepts without the complex mathematics but without oversimplification. An outstanding experience for anyone with a curiosity about what our perception of reality is built upon." - Mark Kelleher (CEO of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC)

"This MUST be your first book to enter into the quantum world. When it is about learning new things, make sure you enter through the right door to that new world. If the entry is wrong, anything you build on top of it will certainly be difficult or convoluted. This is THE best entry book to quantum world. This book has everything you need to get the true feeling of quantum world. Once you read it, you will feel how much effort the author has given to take you to the core of quantum theory without using any jargon at all. Read it and open your eyes to see the inner beauty of the nature." - Farhad Hussain (Amazon KDP review)

"This course is an EXCELLENT balance between being detailed enough to provide true insights and enlightenment while avoiding getting bogged down in complicated math. There are many sources on the Internet that will give you a shallow, paint-thin, surface introduction to quantum physics. And there are many textbooks at your local university/college, that will give you a math-intensive, head-spinning, fully-detailed discussion of quantum phenomena - and take you years to understand! As the author of this course states, his mission was to provide us with the rare opportunity to really delve deep into the Quantum world, without having to endure complex and painful, mathematical proofs. Well, having finished the entire course, plus reviewing the best parts again, I can confidently state that the author achieved his mission." - Robert W (Physicist reviewing the online course based on this book)

Edition details

• Publisher: New Knowledge Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 3948295026
• ISBN 13: 9783948295028
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 322