A Brief Introduction 2. The Standard Formulation of Quantum Mechanics 3. The Theory of the Universal Wave Function 4. The Bare Theory and Determinate Experience 5. Selecting a Branch 6. Many Worlds 7. Many Minds 8. Many Histories 9. The Determinate-Experience Problem Appendices References Index
Preface to the 2nd edition. Preface. Acknowledgements. Reality in the quantum world: The quantum revolutions External reality The potential barrier and the breakdown of determinism The experimental challenge to reality Summary of chapter one. Quantum theory: The description of a particle in quantum theory The wavefunction The potential barrier according to quantum mechanics Interference Other applications of quantum theory Summary of chapter two. Quantum theory and external reality: Review of the problem The ensemble interpretation of quantum mechanics The wavefunction as a measure of our knowledge The wavefunction as part of external reality Measurement in quantum theory Interference and macroscopic objects Can quantum mechanics be changed so that it will reduce wavefunctions? Summary of chapter three. Consciousness: The relevance of conscious observers: What is a conscious observer? Does wavefunction reduction require conscious observers? God as the conscious observer The many-worlds interpretation Summary of chapter four. Hidden variables and non-locality: Review of hidden-variable theories The pilot wave The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen thought experiment Bell's theorem Experimental verification of the non-local predictions of quantum theory Can signals travel faster than light Summary of chapter five. The mysteries of the quantum world: Where are we now? Quantum theory and relativity Where do we go next? Early history and the Copenhagen interpretation A bibliography and some recent opinions A final plea for reality A last look at the wavefunction Conclusions. Recent developments: Models with explicit collapse The Bohm model Many worlds Time and quantum theory A peculiarly quantum measurement Locality. Appendices. Index.
Quantum physics is believed to be the fundamental theory underlying our understanding of the physical universe. However, it is based on concepts and principles that have always been difficult to understand and controversial in their interpretation. This book aims to explain these issues using a minimum of technical language and mathematics. After a brief introduction to the ideas of quantum physics, the problems of interpretation are identified and explained. The rest of the book surveys, describes and criticises a range of suggestions that have been made with the aim of resolving these problems; these include the traditional, or 'Copenhagen' interpretation, the possible role of the conscious mind in measurement and the postulate of parallel universes. This new edition has been revised throughout to take into account developments in this field over the past fifteen years, including the idea of 'consistent histories' to which a completely new chapter is devoted.
Quantum physics is believed to be the fundamental theory underlying our understanding of the physical universe. However, it is based on concepts and principles that have always been difficult to understand and controversial in their interpretation. This book aims to explain these issues using a minimum of technical language and mathematics. After a brief introduction to the ideas of quantum physics, the problems of interpretation are identified and explained. The rest of the book surveys, describes and criticises a range of suggestions that have been made with the aim of resolving these problems; these include the traditional, or 'Copenhagen' interpretation, the possible role of the conscious mind in measurement, and the postulate of parallel universes. This new edition has been revised throughout to take into account developments in this field over the past fifteen years, including the idea of 'consistent histories' to which a completely new chapter is devoted.
Abstract The book starts with a description of classical mechanics then discusses the quantum phenomena that require us to give up our commonsense classical intuitions. We consider the physical and conceptual arguments that led to the standard von Neumann-Dirac formulation of quantum mechanics and how the standard theory explains quantum phenomena. This includes a discussion of how the theory’s two dynamical laws work with the standard interpretation of states to explain determinate measurement records, quantum statistics, interference effects, entanglement, decoherence, and quantum nonlocality. A careful understanding of how the standard theory works ultimately leads to the quantum measurement problem. We consider how the measurement problem threatens the logical consistency of the standard theory then turn to a discussion of the main proposals for resolving it. This includes collapse formulations of quantum mechanics like Wigner’s extension of the standard theory and the GRW approach and no-collapse formulations like pure wave mechanics, the various many-worlds theories, and Bohmian mechanics. In discussing alternative formulations of quantum mechanics we pay particular attention to the explanatory role played by each theory’s empirical ontology and associated metaphysical commitments and the conceptual trade-offs between theoretical options.
Overview: Two Simple Rules and Two Easy Applications The Historical Route The Feynman Route Nitty-Gritty: Why Probabilities? Why Vector Spaces? Why Complex Numbers? Whence the Trace Rule? How Probabilities Depend on Measurement Outcomes How Probabilities Depend on the Times of Measurements Whence Those Simple Rules? Why Spin? Composite Systems Why Fermions? Special Relativity in a Nutshell Why Relativity? Whence the Classical Forces? Meaning of EnergyA and MomentumA Why Relativistic Quantum Mechanics? Making Sense: Why Measurements? The Importance of Unperformed Measurements The Stability of Matter A Sleight of Hand That Almost Worked A Sleight of Hand That Cannot Work Pseudo-Problems and Gratuitous Solutions A Space for the Quantum World A Particle by Itself The Emergence of Form CreationA in a Nutshell Defining MacroworldA Assigning Reality The Supervenience of MicroA on MacroA ManifestationA - A Better Paradigm? Not the Theory but the World is Incomplete Explanation or Magic Wand?
Introduction Part I. Preliminaries: General approach and assumptions Mental events The consensus Part II. Against Mechanism: More and different information Plausible reasoning Consciousness selected by evolution Folk psychology Transcending the code Part III. Quantum Mechanics: Historical outline Some mechanics and mathematics The quantum mechanical state The development of the quantum state Combined systems The measurement problem Quantum theory and reality Part IV. Mind and the world: Outline of a theory of mind The self Time Sketches for a world-view References Author index Subject index.