Compendium of Quantum Physics

Holger Lyre (auth.), Daniel Greenberger, Klaus Hentschel, Friedel Weinert (eds.)3540706224, 9783540706229

With contributions by many of today’s leading quantum physicists, philosophers and historians, including three Nobel laureates, this comprehensive A to Z of quantum physics provides a lucid understanding of the key concepts of quantum theory and experiment. It covers technical and interpretational aspects alike, and includes both traditional topics and newer areas such as quantum information and its relatives. The central concepts that have shaped contemporary understanding of the quantum world are clearly defined, with illustrations where helpful, and discussed at a level suitable for undergraduate and graduate students of physics, history of science, and philosophy of physics. All articles share three main aims: (1) to provide a clear definition and understanding of the term concerned; (2) where possible, to trace the historical origins of the concept; and (3) to provide a small but optimal selection of references to the most relevant literature, including pertinent historical studies. Also discussed are the often contentious philosophical implications derived from quantum theory and its associated experimental findings.

This compendium will be an indispensable resource for all those seeking concise up-to-date information about the many facets of quantum physics.

Table of contents :
Front Matter….Pages i-xvi
Aharonov—Bohm Effect….Pages 1-3
Aharonov-Casher Effect….Pages 3-6
Algebraic Quantum Mechanics….Pages 6-10
Angular Momentum….Pages 10-10
Anyons….Pages 10-14
Aspect Experiment….Pages 14-18
Asymptotic Freedom….Pages 18-18
Atomic Model….Pages 18-18
Atomic Models, J.J. Thomson’s “Plum Pudding” Model….Pages 18-21
Atomic Models, Nagaoka’s Saturnian Model….Pages 22-23
Bell’s Theorem….Pages 24-31
Berry’s Phase….Pages 31-36
Black Body….Pages 36-39
Black-Body Radiation….Pages 39-42
Bohm Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics….Pages 43-47
Bohmian Mechanics….Pages 47-55
Bohm’s Approach to the EPR Paradox….Pages 55-58
Bohr’s Atomic Model….Pages 58-61
Bohr—Kramers—Slater Theory….Pages 62-64
Born Rule and its Interpretation….Pages 64-70
Bose-Einstein Condensation….Pages 71-74
Bose—Einstein Statistics….Pages 74-78
Bremsstrahlung….Pages 78-81
Brownian Motion….Pages 81-84
Bub—Clifton Theorem….Pages 84-86
Casimir Effect….Pages 87-88
Cathode Rays….Pages 89-92
Causal Inference and EPR….Pages 93-96
Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) — Theorem….Pages 96-96
Cluster States….Pages 96-105
Coherent States….Pages 106-108
Color Charge Degree of Freedom in Particle Physics….Pages 109-111
Complementarity Principle….Pages 111-113
Complex-Conjugate Number….Pages 114-115
Compton Experiment (or Compton Effect)….Pages 115-117
Consistent Histories….Pages 117-122
Copenhagen Interpretation….Pages 122-122
Correlations in Quantum Mechanics….Pages 122-125
Correspondence Principle….Pages 125-131
Counterfactuals in Quantum Mechanics….Pages 132-136
Covariance….Pages 136-138
CPT Theorem….Pages 138-139
Creation and Annihilation Operators….Pages 139-145
Creation and Detection of Entanglement….Pages 145-149
Davisson—Germer Experiment….Pages 150-152
De Broglie Wavelength (γ = h / p )….Pages 152-154
Decay….Pages 154-154
Decoherence….Pages 155-159
Degeneracy….Pages 159-161
Delayed-Choice Experiments….Pages 161-166
Density Matrix….Pages 166-166
Density Operator….Pages 166-169
Diffeomorphism Invariance….Pages 170-171
Dirac Equation….Pages 171-172
Dirac Notation….Pages 172-174
Double-Slit Experiment (or Two-Slit Experiment)….Pages 174-178
Effect….Pages 179-180
Ehrenfest Theorems….Pages 180-182
Eigenstates, Eigenvalues….Pages 182-182
Einstein Locality….Pages 182-188
Electron Interferometry….Pages 188-195
Electrons….Pages 195-199
Ensembles in Quantum Mechanics….Pages 199-201
Entanglement….Pages 201-202
Entanglement Purification and Distillation….Pages 202-205
Entropy of Entanglement….Pages 205-209
EPR-Problem (Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Problem)….Pages 209-211
Errors and Paradoxes in Quantum Mechanics….Pages 211-220
Exclusion Principle (or Pauli Exclusion Principle)….Pages 220-222
Experimental Observation of Decoherence….Pages 223-229
Fermi-Dirac Statistics….Pages 230-235
Feynman Diagrams….Pages 235-239
Fine-Structure Constant….Pages 239-240
Franck—Hertz Experiment….Pages 241-243
Functional Integration; Path Integrals….Pages 243-247
Gauge Symmetry….Pages 248-255
Generalizations of Quantum Statistics….Pages 255-258
GHZ (Greenberger—Horne—Zeilinger) Theorem and GHZ States….Pages 258-263
Gleason’s Theorem….Pages 263-266
Grover’s Algorithm….Pages 266-266
GRW Theory (Ghirardi, Rimini, Weber Model of Quantum Mechanics)….Pages 266-270
Hamiltonian Operator….Pages 271-275
Hardy Paradox….Pages 275-278
Heisenberg Microscope….Pages 279-280
Heisenberg Picture….Pages 280-281
Heisenberg Uncertainty Relation (Indeterminacy Relations)….Pages 281-283
Hermitian Operator….Pages 284-284
Hidden Variables….Pages 284-287
Hidden-Variables Models of Quantum Mechanics (Noncontextual and Contextual)….Pages 287-291
Hilbert Space….Pages 291-295
Holism in Quantum Mechanics….Pages 295-298
Identity of Quanta….Pages 299-304
Identity Operator….Pages 304-305
Ignorance Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics….Pages 305-306
Indeterminacy Relations….Pages 306-306
Indeterminism and Determinism in Quantum Mechanics….Pages 307-311
Indistinguishability….Pages 311-317
Interaction-Free Measurements (Elitzur—Vaidman, EV IFM)….Pages 317-322
Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics….Pages 322-322
Invariance….Pages 322-324
Ithaca Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics….Pages 325-326
jj-Coupling….Pages 327-327
Kaluza—Klein Theory….Pages 328-331
Kochen—Specker Theorem….Pages 331-335
Landés g-factor and g-formula….Pages 336-337
Large-Angle Scattering….Pages 337-339
Light Quantum….Pages 339-346
Locality….Pages 347-348
Loopholes in Experiments….Pages 348-355
Lüders Rule….Pages 356-358
Mach—Zehnder Interferometer….Pages 359-359
Magnetic Resonance….Pages 359-363
Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics….Pages 363-367
Matrix Mechanics….Pages 368-371
Matter Waves….Pages 371-373
Measurement Problem….Pages 373-373
Measurement Theory….Pages 374-379
Mesoscopic Quantum Phenomena….Pages 379-384
Metaphysics of Quantum Mechanics….Pages 384-389
Mixed State….Pages 389-390
Mixing and Oscillations of Particles….Pages 390-393
Modal Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics….Pages 394-401
Neutron Interferometry….Pages 402-404
No-Cloning Theorem….Pages 404-405
Nonlocality….Pages 405-410
Nuclear Fission….Pages 411-413
Nuclear Models….Pages 414-416
Objectification….Pages 417-420
Objective Quantum Probabilities….Pages 420-425
Observable….Pages 425-428
One- and Two-Photon Interference….Pages 428-434
Operational Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Axiomatics and Quantum Structures….Pages 434-440
Operator….Pages 440-444
Orthodox Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics….Pages 444-447
Orthonormal Basis….Pages 447-449
Parity….Pages 450-455
Particle Physics….Pages 455-459
Particle Tracks….Pages 460-465
Parton Model….Pages 465-468
Paschen—Back Effect….Pages 468-470
Pauli Exclusion Principle….Pages 470-470
Pauli Spin Matrices….Pages 470-472
Photoelectric Effect….Pages 472-475
Photon….Pages 476-476
Pilot Waves….Pages 476-478
Planck’s Constant h ….Pages 478-480
POVM (Positive Operator Value Measure)….Pages 480-484
Probabilistic Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics….Pages 485-491
Probability in Quantum Mechanics….Pages 492-497
Projection….Pages 497-499
Projection Postulate….Pages 499-501
Propensities in Quantum Mechanics….Pages 502-505
Protective Measurements….Pages 505-508
Pure States….Pages 508-508
Quantization (First, Second)….Pages 509-510
Quantization (Systematic)….Pages 510-514
Quantum Chaos….Pages 514-517
Quantum Chemistry….Pages 518-523
Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD)….Pages 524-527
Quantum Communication….Pages 527-533
Quantum Computation….Pages 533-538
Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)….Pages 539-543
Quantum Entropy….Pages 543-546
Quantum Eraser….Pages 546-549
Quantum Field Theory….Pages 549-564
Quantum Gravity (General) and Applications….Pages 565-572
Quantum Hall Effect….Pages 572-591
Quantum Interrogation….Pages 591-595
Quantum Jump Experiments….Pages 595-599
Quantum Jumps….Pages 599-601
Quantum Logic….Pages 601-604
Quantum Mechanics….Pages 605-605
Quantum Numbers….Pages 605-607
Quantum State Diffusion Theory (QSD)….Pages 608-608
Quantum State Reconstruction….Pages 609-611
Quantum Statistics….Pages 611-612
Quantum Theory, 1914–1922….Pages 613-613
Quantum Theory, Crisis Period 1923-Early 1925….Pages 613-617
Quantum Theory, Early Period (1900–1913)….Pages 617-622
Quantum Zeno Effect….Pages 622-625
Quarks….Pages 626-626
Quasi-Classical Limit….Pages 626-629
Radioactive Decay Law (Rutherford–Soddy)….Pages 630-632
Relativistic Quantum Mechanics….Pages 632-637
Renormalization….Pages 637-640
Rigged Hilbert Spaces in Quantum Physics….Pages 640-650
Rigged Hilbert Spaces for the Dirac Formalism of Quantum Mechanics….Pages 651-660
Rigged Hilbert Spaces and Time Asymmetric Quantum Theory….Pages 660-670
Russell–Saunders Coupling….Pages 671-671
Rutherford Atom….Pages 671-675
Scattering Experiments….Pages 676-681
Schrodinger Equation….Pages 681-685
Schrödinger’s Cat….Pages 685-689
Schrödinger Picture….Pages 689-690
Selection Rules….Pages 690-692
Self-Adjoint Operator….Pages 692-697
Semi-classical Models….Pages 697-701
Shor’s Algorithm….Pages 702-702
Solitons….Pages 702-716
Sommerfeld School….Pages 716-718
Specific Heats….Pages 719-721
Spectral Decomposition….Pages 721-721
Spectroscopy….Pages 721-725
Spin….Pages 726-731
Spin Echo….Pages 731-733
Spin Statistics Theorem….Pages 733-736
Squeezed States….Pages 736-738
Standard Model….Pages 738-738
Stark Effect….Pages 738-742
States in Quantum Mechanics….Pages 742-744
States, Pure and Mixed, and Their Representations….Pages 744-746
State Operator….Pages 746-746
Statistical Operator….Pages 746-746
Stern—Gerlach Experiment….Pages 746-750
Superconductivity….Pages 750-757
Superfluidity….Pages 758-766
Superluminal Communication in Quantum Mechanics….Pages 766-769
Superposition Principle (Coherent and Incoherent Superposition)….Pages 769-771
Superselection Rules….Pages 771-779
Symmetry….Pages 779-785
Time in Quantum Theory….Pages 786-792
Trace….Pages 793-794
Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics….Pages 795-798
Tunneling….Pages 799-802
Two-State Vector Formalism….Pages 802-806
Uncertainty Principle, Indetermincay Relations….Pages 807-807
Unitary Operator….Pages 807-807
Vector Model….Pages 810-811
Wave Function….Pages 812-813
Wave Function Collapse….Pages 813-822
Wave Mechanics….Pages 822-827
Wave Packet….Pages 828-830
Wave-Particle Duality: Some History….Pages 830-835
Wave-Particle Duality: A Modern View….Pages 835-840
Weak Value and Weak Measurements….Pages 840-842
Werner States….Pages 843-845
Which-Way or Welcher-Weg-Experiments….Pages 845-851
Wigner Distribution….Pages 851-854
Wigner’s Friend….Pages 854-858
X-Rays….Pages 859-861
Zeeman Effect….Pages 862-864
Zero-Point Energy….Pages 864-866
Back Matter….Pages 867-901