Introduction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank S. Levin
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Quantum Revolution

By surveying aspects of the book, the Introduction invites readers to prepare their mental surfboards for surfing the challenging waves of the quantum world. Max Planck’s weird use of the quantum concept is identified as the origin of the quantum revolution of the first part of the twentieth century. It is pointed out that mental muscles will be stretched by a variety of mind-bending quantum concepts and phenomena, both microscopic and macroscopic. These include the analogy between the behavior of a particle in a so-called quantum box and the vibrations of a musical string, and the role of quantum mechanics in determining the maximum heights of mountains. It is noted that the fundamental principles of quantum theory are the underpinning for explaining the mystery with two-slit experiments, while the book’s final chapters explore two features that have been referred to in non-scientific contexts: entanglement and Schrödinger’s cat.

Subsequent and Subsidiary? Rethinking the Role of Applications in Establishing Quantum Mechanics

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 641-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremiah James ◽  
Christian Joas
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Structure ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Classical Mechanics ◽  
Theory Construction ◽  
Science Pedagogy ◽  
Old Quantum Theory ◽  
The Common ◽  
Complete Quantum

As part of an attempt to establish a new understanding of the earliest applications of quantum mechanics and their importance to the overall development of quantum theory, this paper reexamines the role of research on molecular structure in the transition from the so-called old quantum theory to quantum mechanics and in the two years immediately following this shift (1926–1928). We argue on two bases against the common tendency to marginalize the contribution of these researches. First, because these applications addressed issues of longstanding interest to physicists, which they hoped, if not expected, a complete quantum theory to address, and for which they had already developed methods under the old quantum theory that would remain valid under the new mechanics. Second, because generating these applications was one of, if not the, principal means by which physicists clarified the unity, generality, and physical meaning of quantum mechanics, thereby reworking the theory into its now commonly recognized form, as well as developing an understanding of the kinds of predictions it generated and the ways in which these differed from those of the earlier classical mechanics. More broadly, we hope with this article to provide a new viewpoint on the importance of problem solving to scientific research and theory construction, one that might complement recent work on its role in science pedagogy.

Bachelard, Gaston (1884–1962)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Tiles
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Literary Criticism ◽  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Relativity Theory ◽  
Creative Imagination ◽  
Scientific Objectivity ◽  
New Science ◽  
Poetic Imagination

One indication of the originality of Bachelard’s work is that he was famous for his writings both in the philosophy of science and on the poetic imagination. His work demonstrates his belief that the life of the masculine, work-day consciousness (animus), striving towards scientific objectivity through reasoning and the rectification of concepts, must be complemented by the life of a nocturnal, feminine consciousness (anima), seeking an expanded poetic subjectivity, as, in reverie, it creates the imaginary. In common with other scientist-philosophers writing in the first half of the twentieth century, Bachelard reflected on the upheavals wrought by the introduction of relativity theory and quantum mechanics. The views at which he arrived were, however, unlike those of his contemporaries; he argued that the new science required a new, non-Cartesian epistemology, one which accommodated discontinuities (epistemological breaks) in the development of science. It was only after he had established himself as one of France’s leading philosophers of science, by succeeding Abel Rey in the chair of history and philosophy of science at the Sorbonne, that Bachelard began to publish works on the poetic imagination. Here his trenchantly anti-theoretical stance was provocative. He rejected the role of literary critic and criticized literary criticism, focusing instead on reading images and on the creative imagination.

The Rosetta Stone and Quantum Waves

2019 ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
Nicholas Mee
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Rosetta Stone ◽  
Quantum Waves

It was discovered in the early decades of the twentieth century that light and matter exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behaviour and this led to the development of quantum theory. Thomas Young demonstrated the wave-like behaviour of light 200 years ago. Thomas Young had wide-ranging interests and played an important role in deciphering hieroglyphic inscriptions. In 1905 Einstein showed that light also behaves like a stream of particles. Louis De Broglie suggested that particles such as electrons might also show wave-like behaviour and his prediction was soon verified in the laboratory. This led to the development of quantum mechanics, as well as important technological applications, such as the electron microscope.

Bericht: On the Logic of Quantum Mechanics

1973 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 1516-1530
Author(s):  
E. G. Beltrametti ◽  
G. Cassinelli
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Lattice Theory ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Superposition Principle ◽  
Mathematical Language

We are concerned with the formulation of the essential features of quantum theory in an abstract way, utilizing the mathematical language of proposition lattice theory. We review this approach giving a set of consistent axioms which enables to achieve the relevant results: the formulation and the essential role of the superposition principle is particularly examined.

Popper and the Quantum Theory

1995 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 163-176
Author(s):  
Michael Redhead
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Quantum Logic ◽  
Scientific Discovery ◽  
Von Neumann ◽  
Interpretation Of Probability ◽  
Propensity Interpretation

Popper wrote extensively on the quantum theory. In Logic der Forschung (LSD) he devoted a whole chapter to the topic, while the whole of Volume 3 of the Postscript to the Logic of Scientific Discovery is devoted to the quantum theory. This volume entitled Quantum Theory and the Schism in Physics (QTSP) incorporated a famous earlier essay, ‘Quantum Mechanics without “the Observer”’ (QM). In addition Popper's development of the propensity interpretation of probability was much influenced by his views on the role of probability in quantum theory, and he also wrote an insightful critique of the 1936 paper of Birkhoff and von Neumann on nondistributive quantum logic (BNIQM).

Einstein Versus Bohr on Reality

2021 ◽  
pp. 161-177
Author(s):  
Steven L. Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Wave Equation ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Uncertainty Principle ◽  
Quantum Vacuum ◽  
Scientific Theories ◽  
Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Matter Energy

Ontology is integral to the two most fundamental scientific theories of the twentieth century: quantum theory and the special and general theories of relativity. Issues that drove the development of quantum theory include the reality of quanta, the simultaneous wave- and particle-like nature of matter and energy, determinism, probability and randomness, Schrodinger’s wave equation, and Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. So did the reality of the predictions about space, time, matter, energy, and the universe itself that were deduced from the special and general theories of relativity. Dirac’s prediction of antimatter based solely on the mathematics of his theory of the electron and Pauli’s prediction of the neutrino based on his belief in quantum mechanics are cases in point. Ontological interpretations of the uncertainty principle, of quantum vacuum energy fields, and of Schrodinger’s probability waves in the form of multiple universe theories further illustrate this point.

scholarly journals Resource theory of contextuality

2019 ◽  
Vol 377 (2157) ◽  
pp. 20190010
Author(s):  
Barbara Amaral
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Resource Theory ◽  
Quantum Property ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Formal Treatment ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Potential Resource

In addition to the important role of contextuality in foundations of quantum theory, this intrinsically quantum property has been identified as a potential resource for quantum advantage in different tasks. It is thus of fundamental importance to study contextuality from the point of view of resource theories, which provide a powerful framework for the formal treatment of a property as an operational resource. In this contribution, we review recent developments towards a resource theory of contextuality and connections with operational applications of this property. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Contextuality and probability in quantum mechanics and beyond’.

Why study quantum theory?

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. G. Unruh
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Quantum Gravity ◽  
Ordinary Quantum

It is argued that the study of the problems associated with quantum mechanics and gravity, and especially those arising from the role of measurement in quantum gravity, have led and will continue to lead to new insights even in ordinary quantum problems.

scholarly journals From Gauge Anomalies to Gerbes and Gerbal Representations: Group Cocycles in Quantum Theory

10.14311/1189 ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mickelsson
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Field Theory ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Representation Theory ◽  
Group Cohomology ◽  
Quantum Field ◽  
Yang Mills ◽  
Gauge Anomalies

In this paper I shall discuss the role of group cohomology in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. First, I recall how cocycles of degree 1 and 2 appear naturally in the context of gauge anomalies. Then we investigate how group cohomology of degree 3 comes from a prolongation problem for group extensions and we discuss its role in quantum field theory. Finally, we discuss a generalization to representation theory where a representation is replaced by a 1-cocycle or its prolongation by a circle, and point out how this type of situations come up in the quantization of Yang-Mills theory.

cAbdullah Yūsuf cAlī & Muhammad Asad: Two Approaches to the English Translation of the Qur'an

2000 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muzaffar Iqbal
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Academic Career ◽  
British India ◽  
Human Understanding ◽  
English Translations ◽  
Political Milieu ◽  
The Times

This article attempts to present a comparative study of the role of two twentieth-century English translations of the Qur'an: cAbdullah Yūsuf cAlī's The Meaning of the Glorious Qur'ān and Muḥammad Asad's The Message of the Qur'ān. No two men could have been more different in their background, social and political milieu and life experiences than Yūsuf cAlī and Asad. Yūsuf 'Alī was born and raised in British India and had a brilliant but traditional middle-class academic career. Asad traversed a vast cultural and geographical terrain: from a highly-disciplined childhood in Europe to the deserts of Arabia. Both men lived ‘intensely’ and with deep spiritual yearning. At some time in each of their lives they decided to embark upon the translation of the Qur'an. Their efforts have provided us with two incredibly rich monumental works, which both reflect their own unique approaches and the effects of the times and circumstances in which they lived. A comparative study of these two translations can provide rich insights into the exegesis and the phenomenon of human understanding of the divine text.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document