This book investigates two possibilities for describing classical-mechanical physical systems along with their Hamiltonian dynamics in the framework of quantum mechanics.The first possibility consists in exploiting the geometrical properties of the set of quantum pure states of "microsystems" and of the Lie groups characterizing the specific classical system. The second approach is to consider quantal systems of a large number of interacting subsystems – i.e. macrosystems, so as to study the quantum mechanics of an infinite number of degrees of freedom and to look for the behaviour of their collective variables. The final chapter contains some solvable models of “quantum measurement" describing dynamical transitions from "microsystems" to "macrosystems".

This unique textbook presents a novel, axiomatic pedagogical path from classical to quantum physics. Readers are introduced to the description of classical mechanics, which rests on Euler’s and Helmholtz’s rather than Newton’s or Hamilton’s representations. Special attention is given to the common attributes rather than to the differences between classical and quantum mechanics. Readers will also learn about Schrödinger’s forgotten demands on quantization, his equation, Einstein’s idea of ‘quantization as selection problem’. The Schrödinger equation is derived without any assumptions about the nature of quantum systems, such as interference and superposition, or the existence of a quantum of action, h. The use of the classical expressions for the potential and kinetic energies within quantum physics is justified. Key features: · Presents extensive reference to original texts. · Includes many details that do not enter contemporary representations of classical mechanics, although these details are essential for understanding quantum physics. · Contains a simple level of mathematics which is seldom higher than that of the common (Riemannian) integral. · Brings information about important scientists · Carefully introduces basic equations, notations and quantities in simple steps This book addresses the needs of physics students, teachers and historians with its simple easy to understand presentation and comprehensive approach to both classical and quantum mechanics..

Decoherence, a concept known only to few physicists when the first edition appeared in 1996, has since become firmly established experimentally and understood theoretically, as well as widely reported in the literature. The major consequences of decoherence are the emergence of "classicality" in general, superselection rules, the border line between microscopic and macroscopic behavior in molecules and field theory, the emergence of classical spacetime, and the appearance of quantum jumps. The most important new developments in this rapidly evolving field are included in the second edition of this book, which has become a standard reference on the subject. All chapters have been thoroughly revised and updated. New fields of application now addressed span chaos theory, quantum information, neuroscience, primordial fluctuations in cosmology, black holes and string theory, experimental tests, and interpretational issues. While the major part of the book is concerned with environmental decoherence derived from a universal Schrödinger equation, later chapters address related or competing methods, such as consistent histories, open system dynamics, algebraic approaches, and collapse models.

Introduces number operators with a focus on the relationship between quantum mechanics and social science Mathematics is increasingly applied to classical problems in finance, biology, economics, and elsewhere. Quantum Dynamics for Classical Systems describes how quantum tools—the number operator in particular—can be used to create dynamical systems in which the variables are operator-valued functions and whose results explain the presented model. The book presents mathematical results and their applications to concrete systems and discusses the methods used, results obtained, and techniques developed for the proofs of the results. The central ideas of number operators are illuminated while avoiding excessive technicalities that are unnecessary for understanding and learning the various mathematical applications. The presented dynamical systems address a variety of contexts and offer clear analyses and explanations of concluded results. Additional features in Quantum Dynamics for Classical Systems include: Applications across diverse fields including stock markets and population migration as well as a unique quantum perspective on these classes of models Illustrations of the use of creation and annihilation operators for classical problems Examples of the recent increase in research and literature on the many applications of quantum tools in applied mathematics Clarification on numerous misunderstandings and misnomers while shedding light on new approaches in the field Quantum Dynamics for Classical Systems is an ideal reference for researchers, professionals, and academics in applied mathematics, economics, physics, biology, and sociology. The book is also excellent for courses in dynamical systems, quantum mechanics, and mathematical models.

Return to equilibrium in classical and quantum systems / Carlangelo Liverani -- Quantum resonances and trapped trajectories / Johannes Sjostrand -- Return to thermal equilibrium in quantum statistical mechanics / Volker Bach -- Small oscillations in some nonlinear PDE's / Dario Bambusi and Simone Paleari -- The semi-classical Van-Vleck Formula. Application to the Aharonov-Bohm effect / Jean-Marie Bily and Didier Robert -- Fractal dimensions and quantum evolution associated with sparse potential Jacobi matrices / Jean-Michel Combes and Giorgio Mantica -- Infinite step billiards / Mirko Degli Esposti -- Semiclassical expansion for the thermodynamic limit of the ground state energy of Kac's operator / Bernard Helffer and Thierry Ramond -- Asymptotics of scattering poles for two strictly convex obstacles / Mitsuru Ikawa -- Parabolic dynamical systems and inducing / Stefano Isola -- QFT for scalar particles in external fields on Riemannian manifolds / Hiroshi Isozaki -- Existence and born-Oppenheimer Asymptotics of the total scattering cross-section in ion-atom collisions / Thierry Jecko, Markus Klein and Xue Ping Wang -- On asymptotic perturbation theory for quantum mechanics / Gheorghe Nenciu -- Destruction of the beating effect in a periodically driven double-well / Andrea Sacchetti -- Berezin-Toeplitz quantization and Berezin transform / Martin Schlichenmaier.

Quantum Mechanics of Non-Hamiltonian and Dissipative Systems is self-contained and can be used by students without a previous course in modern mathematics and physics. The book describes the modern structure of the theory, and covers the fundamental results of last 15 years. The book has been recommended by Russian Ministry of Education as the textbook for graduate students and has been used for graduate student lectures from 1998 to 2006.• Requires no preliminary knowledge of graduate and advanced mathematics • Discusses the fundamental results of last 15 years in this theory• Suitable for courses for undergraduate students as well as graduate students and specialists in physics mathematics and other sciences

The Wigner Symposium series is focussed on fundamental problems and new developments in physics and their experimental, theoretical and mathematical aspects. Particular emphasis is given to those topics which have developed from the work of Eugene P Wigner. The 2nd Wigner symposium is centered around notions of symmetry and geometry, the foundations of quantum mechanics, quantum optics and particle physics. Other fields like dynamical systems, neural networks and physics of information are also represented.This volume brings together 19 plenary lectures which survey latest developments and more than 130 contributed research reports.

This book is centered on the two minicourses conducted by C Liverani (Rome) and J Sjoestrand (Paris) on the return to equilibrium in classical statistical mechanics and the location of quantum resonances via semiclassical analysis, respectively. The other contributions cover related topics of classical and quantum mechanics, such as scattering theory, classical and quantum statistical mechanics, dynamical localization, quantum chaos, ergodic theory and KAM techniques.

It is now generally agreed that a deeper understanding of biological processes requires a multi-disciplinary approach employing the tools of biology, chemistry, and physics. Such understanding involves study of biomacromolecules and their functions, which includes how they interact, their reactions, and how information is transmitted between them. This volume is devoted to quantum mechanical simulation techniques, which have developed rapidly in recent years. It covers quantum mechanical calculations of large systems, molecular dynamics combining quantum and classical algorithms, quantum dynamical simulations, and electron and proton transfer processes in proteins and in solutions.

The advent of new experimental techniques has made possible a new generation of more precise experimental tests of fundamental quantum mechanics. This workshop addressed the confrontation of new and proposed experimental tests of quantum mechanics with standard and nonstandard quantum theory. The broad, cross-disciplinary view of the subject brought together eminent theorists and experimentalists from diverse fields.