This book is the result of the third Erasmus Ascension Symposium organized by the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation in Amsterdam. The Praemium Erasmianum is known primarily for the Erasmus Prize which, since 1958, has been awarded annually to individuals or organizations in Europe that have exceptionally distinguished themselves in the field of European culture. In addition to this activity, every two years the Foundation also organizes a symposium in the Netherlands concerning a specially chosen multi-disciplinary topic of current interest. In 1992, in conjunction with a day that was open to the public, a select group of 40 young Dutch scholars once again had the opportunity to engage in a penetrating and in-depth discussion on the chosen topic with a number of specialists during the three-day symposium. The choice of the theme for the 1992 symposium, Physics and Our View of the World, was prompted by the great interest that exists for this topic, as is evident from the appearance of so many semi-popular publications in this field. In this way, the Foundation hoped to provide a forum for the useful exchange of views and ideas about the philosophical and religious implications of recent developments in modern physics. We thus hoped to help bridge the gap between the realms of the exact and the spiritual sciences, a division which is still so apparent in our time.
This book is the result of the third Erasmus Ascension Symposium organized by the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation in Amsterdam. The Praemium Erasmianum is known primarily for the Erasmus Prize which, since 1958, has been awarded annually to individuals or organizations in Europe that have exceptionally distinguished themselves in the field of European culture. In addition to this activity, every two years the Foundation also organizes a symposium in the Netherlands concerning a specially chosen multi-disciplinary topic of current interest. In 1992, in conjunction with a day that was open to the public, a select group of 40 young Dutch scholars once again had the opportunity to engage in a penetrating and in-depth discussion on the chosen topic with a number of specialists during the three-day symposium. The choice of the theme for the 1992 symposium, Physics and Our View of the World, was prompted by the great interest that exists for this topic, as is evident from the appearance of so many semi-popular publications in this field. In this way, the Foundation hoped to provide a forum for the useful exchange of views and ideas about the philosophical and religious implications of recent developments in modern physics. We thus hoped to help bridge the gap between the realms of the exact and the spiritual sciences, a division which is still so apparent in our time.
The content of this book is essentially one argument. The aim of this book is to consider the breakdown of a certain world view during the twentieth century. This is mirrored in the treatment of both science and philosophy. As these form the foundation for the human position in the world, a major reorganization of the body of knowledge had to take place. Bohr and Wittgenstein have been chosen as the main actors to represent this revision. Each one had to replace apparent order and certainty by an understanding based on limited concepts in constant flux. The conclusion is that the modern synthesis is far from satisfactory. By leaving the story unfinished in its present state, the book hopes to provoke a renewal of the discussion and the eventual emergence of a reformed clarity and understanding. Reality is to be left as it is, but the human mind is also to be left as it is. The problem is to find a way to effect a harmonious combination of these.
The two essays here published for the first time are separated by an interval of thirty-five years. The first and longer one was written shortly before my appointment as Max Planck's successor in Berlin, and a few months before the idea of what is now called wave mechanics began for a while to monopolise my whole interest; the second and shorter one dates from two years after my appointment as Professor Emeritus at the University of Vienna. The two are closely related in theme, and, of course, also connect with many ideas which I have publicly advocated in the intervening period. I do not know whether it is presumptuous of me to suppose that readers will be interested in ‘my’ view of the world. The critics, not myself, will decide on this. But a gesture of decorous modesty is usually in fact a disguise for arrogance. I should prefer not to be guilty of this. Anyway, the total (I have counted) is about twenty-eight to twenty-nine thousand words. Not an excessive size for a view of the world. There is one complaint which I shall not escape. Not a word is said here of acausality, wave mechanics, indeterminacy relations, complementarity, an expanding universe, continuous creation, etc. Why doesn't he talk about what he knows instead of trespassing on the professional philosopher's preserves? Ne sutor supra crepidam .
This special issue of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical appears on the occasion of the 5th International Symposium on Quantum Theory and Symmetries (QTS5), held in Valladolid, Spain, from 22–28 July 2007. This is the fith in a series of conferences previously held in Goslar (Germany) 1999, QTS1; Cracow (Poland) 2001, QTS2; Cincinnati (USA) 2003, QTS3; and Varna (Bulgaria) 2005, QTS4. The QTS5 symposium gathered 181 participants from 39 countries working in different fields of theoretical physics. The spirit of the QTS conference series is to join researchers in a wide variety of topics in theoretical physics, as a way of making accessible recent results and the new lines of different fields. This is based on the feeling that it is good for a physicist to have a general overview as well as expertise in his/her own field. There are many other conferences devoted to specific topics, which are of interest to gain deeper insight in many technical aspects and that are quite suitable for discussions due to their small size. However, we believe that general conferences like this are interesting and worth keeping. We like the talks, in both plenary and parallel sessions, which are devoted to specific topics, to be prepared so as to be accessible to any researcher in any branch of theoretical physics. We think that this objective is compatible with rigour and high standards. As is well known, similar methods and techniques can be useful for many problems in different fields. We hope that this has been appreciated during the sessions of the QTS5 conference. The QTS5 conference offered the following list of topics: 1. Symmetries in string theory, quantum gravity and related topics 2. Symmetries in quantum field theories, conformal and related field theories, lattice and noncommutative theories, gauge theories 3.Quantum computing, information and control 4. Foundations of quantum theory 5. Quantum optics, coherent states, Wigner functions 6. Dynamical and integrable systems 7. Symmetries in condensed matter and statistical physics 8. Symmetries in particle physics, nuclear, atomic and molecular physics 9. Nonlinear quantum mechanics 10. Time asymmetric quantum mechanics 11. SUSY quantum mechanics, PT symmetries and pseudo-Hamiltonians 12. Mathematical methods for symmetries and quantum theories 13. Symmetries in chemistry, biology and other sciences Papers accepted for publication in this issue aim to provide a survey of the state of the art in different fields and contain contributions from plenary speakers. In addition, the issue contains contributions from other participants and it has also been open to other authors whose work fits into the topics of the conference. In any case, all the contributions have been refereed according to the high standards of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical . We are much indebted to several institutions; without their support the organization of the QTS5 symposium would not have been possible. In this respect we acknowledge the Ministerio de Educación of Spain and Junta de Castilla y León for general financial support; to Fundación Universidades de Castilla y León for a number of grants to young researchers who otherwise would not have attended the conference; also to the European Physical Society that provided a number of grants for eastern countries, and to the University of Valladolid where the event took place. We thank IOP Publishing and the staff of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical for the publication of this special issue. In addition, we want to express our gratitude to other members of the Local Organizing Committe of QTS5, who are not Editors of this special issue: Oscar Arratia, Juan A Calzada and Fernando Gómez. Finally, we would like to thank all the participants in the QTS5 conference for their presence, contributions, and for the good atmosphere achieved during their stay. We hope that the experience of spending these days in Valladolid has been most fruitful for all of them.
I am very grateful to the Master and Fellows of Trinity College for inviting me to give the Tarner Lectures. What I want to do in this book, stated boldly and baldly, is to consider the relevance of developments in modern theoretical physics to metaphysical questions about the ultimate nature of reality. By metaphysical questions I mean the very general sorts of questions that arise out of a critical examination of the principles, concepts and fundamental presuppositions that lie behind modern physics. How should we interpret the claims that physicists seem to be making about the world? Are they intended to be understood as literally true, for example, and exactly what are those claims, given that the pages of theoretical physics monographs are largely filled with abstract mathematical formalism? In the first chapter, I shall be looking at a range of philosophical points of view in the framework of which such questions can be addressed, and attempt the difficult task of adjudicating between the different approaches. At the end of the day I shall be arguing for a pretty straightforward metaphysical realism, that the external world exists independently of our knowledge of it. In the second chapter I shall look at arguments from various branches of modern physics that are sometimes claimed to bring in an essential role for subjectivity in physics, bringing the observer into a central role, creating his own reality.
This special volume of Journal of Physics: Conference Series is dedicated to the proceedings of "International Conference on Quantum Science and Applications (ICQSA-2016)". The conference was organized by the Centre for Quantum Research and Applications at Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey. It was held in Eskisehir Osmangazi University Congress and Culture Centre during May 25-27, 2016 http://icqsa2016.ogu.edu.tr . It gathered actively 143 participants from different disciplines in natural and applied sciences coming from 16 different countries from all over the word. It was the first international conference in its content on the scientific research fields of quantum science and applications in Turkey. It also consisted of 12 plenary lectures and 119 contributed oral presentations covering interdisciplinary fields of research. The ICQSA-2016 conference focused on recent modern theoretical and experimental developments of quantum science in multi-disciplinary aspects of areas of mathematics, physics, statistics, chemistry, biology, computer science, electronics, informatics, medicine, education, etc. It served as an interaction platform for students, researchers, public, and private sector delegates for sharing new scientific and technological ideas on quantum applications in science and technology. The topics of the conference were: Quantum theory and quantum computing, quantum information theory and its applications, quantum statistics and its applications, quantum thermodynamics, quantum cryptography, classical and quantum symmetries, quantum calculus in science, engineering, medicine, education, etc., classical and quantum integrable systems, modeling and numerical methods in quantum systems, other modern mathematical methods in science and technology. Each of the submitted papers for this special volume of the proceedings of ICQSA-2016 has been reviewed by external referees. There are 36 accepted papers. Besides, it is worth pointing out that a great deal of interest shown by the participants of the ICQSA-2016 conference gives hope for the continuation of this meeting in the following years. The conference organization was sponsored by Eskisehir Osmangazi University (ESOGU), Eskisehir Tepebasi Municipality, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under the project number 113F226. Other supporters of this organization were: Eskisehir Metropolitan Municipality, Eskisehir Governorship Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Pegem Academy Publishing Company. In addition, this special volume is supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under the project number 113F226. Finally, our special thanks go to the Scientific and Organizing Committee members, to the sponsors and supporters, and to all of the participants. We hope this special volume will provide a useful resource for students, experts, and other participants, who are interested in interdisciplinary fields of quantum science and applications.
The field of modern physics represents one of the most profound intellectual revolutions in the history of science. From the groundbreaking insights of relativity to the fascinating and often counterintuitive principles of quantum mechanics, modern physics has reshaped our understanding of space, time, matter, and energy. The book Modern Physics: From Relativity to Quantum Mechanics is a collective effort to present these transformative ideas in a clear, structured, and accessible manner for students, educators, and researchers. This multi-author volume brings together the expertise and academic experience of distinguished scholars who have dedicated their careers to teaching and advancing the field of physics. Each contributor offers a unique perspective, ensuring that the topics are explored with both depth and clarity. The collaborative nature of this work allows for a comprehensive treatment of concepts ranging from the foundations of special and general relativity to the principles governing atomic and subatomic systems. The primary aim of this book is to bridge the gap between classical physics and contemporary scientific developments. It is designed to serve as a foundational text for undergraduate and postgraduate students, while also acting as a reference for researchers and educators. Care has been taken to present theoretical concepts alongside practical applications, enabling readers to appreciate both the elegance and utility of modern physics. The chapters are organized in a logical progression, beginning with the limitations of classical physics and the emergence of relativity, followed by an in-depth exploration of quantum theory, atomic structure, and advanced topics in modern physics. Mathematical rigor is balanced with conceptual explanations, making the content both challenging and approachable. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all contributors for their dedication and scholarly input. Their combined efforts have made this book a rich and valuable resource. We also extend our appreciation to academic institutions, colleagues, and students whose feedback and encouragement have played a crucial role in shaping this work. It is our hope that this book will inspire curiosity, foster critical thinking, and serve as a stepping stone for further exploration in the fascinating world of modern physics. As the field continues to evolve, we trust that readers will find in these pages both a solid foundation and a source of inspiration for future discoveries.