Hilbert's Sixth Problem: The Axiomatization of Physics

Joseph Johnson

ISBN 10: 3330072938 / ISBN 13: 9783330072930

Published by LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing Apr 2017, 2017

About this Item

This item is printed on demand - Print on Demand Titel. Neuware -At the Second International Congress of Mathematicians, in Paris in 1900, Hilbert proposed 23 mathematical problems for the coming century. The Sixth Problem was to axiomatise Physics the same way mathematicians had already axiomatised Geometry, that is, find a small collection of undefined notions and axioms to be asserted without proof, that could serve as the basis for the development of theoretical physics. The notion of probability was singled out for special attention because of contemporary controversies about the Arrow of Time. Based on lectures at the University of New Hampshire and published papers in Physics (on Quantum Measurement) and Statistics (on Khintchine's conjectures), this book explains the difficulties in giving a coherent definition of physical probability, explains the contribution of Prof. von Plato of Helsinki University to resolving this, and finally resolves this problem for both Classical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics. Aimed at physicists and mathematicians, even undergraduates, the mathematics is explained for those unfamiliar with Khintchine's work, and the physics is explained for those unfamiliar with Statistical Mechanics or Quantum Theory.Books on Demand GmbH, Überseering 33, 22297 Hamburg 260 pp. Englisch.

Seller Inventory # 9783330072930

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Hilbert's Sixth Problem: The Axiomatization of Physics
• Publisher: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing Apr 2017
• Publication Date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3330072938
• ISBN 13: 9783330072930
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 220W x 150H x 17D millimeters 220 millimeters width by 150 millimeters height by 17 millimeters depth
• Weight: 405 grams

About this title

Synopsis

At the Second International Congress of Mathematicians, in Paris in 1900, Hilbert proposed 23 mathematical problems for the coming century. The Sixth Problem was to axiomatise Physics the same way mathematicians had already axiomatised Geometry, that is, find a small collection of undefined notions and axioms to be asserted without proof, that could serve as the basis for the development of theoretical physics. The notion of probability was singled out for special attention because of contemporary controversies about the Arrow of Time. Based on lectures at the University of New Hampshire and published papers in Physics (on Quantum Measurement) and Statistics (on Khintchine's conjectures), this book explains the difficulties in giving a coherent definition of physical probability, explains the contribution of Prof. von Plato of Helsinki University to resolving this, and finally resolves this problem for both Classical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics. Aimed at physicists and mathematicians, even undergraduates, the mathematics is explained for those unfamiliar with Khintchine's work, and the physics is explained for those unfamiliar with Statistical Mechanics or Quantum Theory.

About the Author

The Californian, Dr. Johnson, Ph.D. MIT, where he studied with Professors Goldfeld, Kostant, and Vogan, has taught at MIT, Notre Dame, CUNY, Rutgers, and Queen's Univ. (Canada). He has published papers in mathematics, physics, and operations research. He is a past member of Local 77 A. F. of M. AFL-CIO. He lives in Havana.