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WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooks

An Introduction to a Realistic Quantum Physics

Giuliano Preparata

Published Oct 1, 2002• 27 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This book is a remarkable synthesis, a clear and simple introduction to Quantum Physics with a sort of Galilean dialogue on the supreme systems of contemporary Physics. The author, whose research interests and work extended from quarks to liquid systems and from crystals to stars, introduces the common conceptual and mathematical framework of all quantum theories, realistic enough to successfully confront Nature: Quantum Field Theory applied to the study of both dilute and condensed matter. In the dilute limit, quantum mechanics is shown to be a good approximation to Quantum Field Theory. Howe

DOI
10.1142/5111

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This book is a remarkable synthesis, a clear and simple introduction to Quantum Physics with a sort of Galilean dialogue on the supreme systems of contemporary Physics. The author, whose research interests and work extended from quarks to liquid systems and from crystals to stars, introduces the common conceptual and mathematical framework of all quantum theories, realistic enough to successfully confront Nature: Quantum Field Theory applied to the study of both dilute and condensed matter. In the dilute limit, quantum mechanics is shown to be a good approximation to Quantum Field Theory. Howe
This novel text directly addresses common claims and misconceptions around quantum mechanics and presents a fresh and modern understanding of this fundamental and essential physical theory. It begins with a non-mathematical introduction to some of the more controversial topics in the foundations of quantum mechanics. For those more familiar with the theoretical framework of quantum mechanics, the text moves on to a general introduction to quantum field theory, followed by a detailed discussion of cutting-edge topics in this area such as decoherence and spontaneous coherence. Several important philosophical problems in quantum mechanics are considered, and their interpretations are compared, notably the Copenhagen and many-worlds interpretations. The inclusion of frequent real-world examples, such as superconductors and superfluids, ensures the book remains grounded in modern research. This book will be a valuable resource for students and researchers in both physics and the philosophy of science interested in the foundations of quantum mechanics.
Scope of this book Quantum mechanics is a difficult subject, and this book is intended to help the reader overcome the main difficulties in the way to understanding it. The first part of the book, Chs. 2–16, contains a systematic presentation of the basic principles of quantum theory, along with a number of examples which illustrate how these principles apply to particular quantum systems. The applications are, for the most part, limited to toy models whose simple structure allows one to see what is going on without using complicated mathematics or lengthy formulas. The principles themselves, however, are formulated in such a way that they can be applied to (almost) any nonrelativistic quantum system. In the second part of the book, Chs. 17–25, these principles are applied to quantum measurements and various quantum paradoxes, subjects which give rise to serious conceptual problems when they are not treated in a fully consistent manner. The final chapters are of a somewhat different character. Chapter 26 on decoherence and the classical limit of quantum theory is a very sketchy introduction to these important topics along with some indication as to how the basic principles presented in the first part of the book can be used for understanding them. Chapter 27 on quantum theory and reality belongs to the interface between physics and philosophy and indicates why quantum theory is compatible with a real world whose existence is not dependent on what scientists think and believe, or the experiments they choose to carry out. The Bibliography contains references for those interested in further reading or in tracing the origin of some of the ideas presented in earlier chapters.
QM∞ includes quantum field theory and the thermodynamic limit of quantum statistical mechanics — theories which, unlike the 'ordinary' quantum theories typically discussed by philosophers, concern infinite systems. The mathematical framework appropriate for the presentation of a theory of ordinary quantum mechanics is essentially unique. For theories of QM∞, this is not so. This prompts interpretive questions—for instance, about what makes a quantum theory the quantum theory it is — this work aims to chronicle. Having introduced a formal apparatus (operator algebra theory) suited to pursue these questions, the book articulates a variety of accounts of the content of quantum theories, accounts responsive to QM∞'s characteristic non-uniqueness. To evaluate these accounts, the book examines QM∞ settings (e.g. spontaneous symmetry breaking, cosmological particle creation, superconductivity) in which that characteristic non-uniqueness seems to matter, with a view toward determining which accounts sustain the uses to which the non-uniqueness is put. This approach not only brings work on the foundations of quantum theories in contact with the foundational investigation of other sorts of physical theories (e.g., thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, solid state physics, general relativity, and cosmology), it also brings the philosophy of physics in contact with other sorts of philosophy of science (e.g., accounts of explanation, reduction, and explanationist defenses of scientific realism). The book concludes that received notions of physical content and physical modality must be revised if they are to apply usefully to particular physical theories.
The methods of quantum field theory underpin many conceptual advances in contemporary condensed matter physics and neighbouring fields. This book provides a praxis-oriented and pedagogical introduction to quantum field theory in many-particle physics, emphasizing the application of theory to real physical systems. This third edition is organized into two parts: the first half of the text presents a streamlined introduction, elevating readers to a level where they can engage with contemporary research literature, from the introduction of many-body techniques and functional integration to renormalization group methods, and the second half addresses a range of advanced topics including modern aspects of gauge theory, topological and relativistic quantum matter, and condensed matter physics out of thermal equilibrium. At all stages, the text seeks a balance between methodological aspects of quantum field theory and practical applications. Extended problems with worked solutions provide a bridge between formal theory and a research-oriented approach.
Contemporary physics relies extensively on mathematical formalisms to describe natural phenomena, often achieving remarkable predictive success. However, the relationship between mathematical description and physical explanation remains a subject of ongoing debate. In many cases, mathematical models are treated not only as tools for representation but also as implicit substitutes for the underlying physical mechanisms, which can obscure questions of causality and physical origin. This article examines this methodological issue using two fundamental physical phenomena—gravity and the tunneling effect— as representative examples. Both phenomena are commonly described by highly successful mathematical frameworks, namely general relativity and quantum mechanics, yet their physical interpretations remain incomplete or debated. The work argues that predictive accuracy alone does not necessarily constitute a full physical explanation and that mathematical consistency should be complemented by physically grounded mechanisms based on observable properties of matter and interaction. Alternative descriptions of gravity and the tunneling effect are proposed, grounded in experimental observations and established physical properties of matter at macroscopic and microscopic scales. These descriptions aim to clarify the physical processes underlying the phenomena while remaining compatible with empirical data. The proposed framework does not reject existing theories but seeks to supplement them by addressing conceptual gaps related to causality, physical mechanism, and interpretation. Such an approach may contribute to a more physically transparent understanding of fundamental phenomena and provide new directions for theoretical and applied research.