This contributed volume is the result of a July 2010 workshop at the University of Wuppertal Interdisciplinary Centre for Science and Technology Studies which brought together world-wide experts from physics, philosophy and history, in order to address a set of questions first posed in the 1950s: How do we compare spacetime theories? How do we judge, objectively, which is the “best” theory? Is there even a unique answer to this question? The goal of the workshop, and of this book, is to contribute to the development of a meta-theory of spacetime theories. Such a meta-theory would reveal insights about specific spacetime theories by distilling their essential similarities and differences, deliver a framework for a class of theories that could be helpful as a blueprint to build other meta-theories, and provide a higher level viewpoint for judging which theory most accurately describes nature. But rather than drawing a map in broad strokes, the focus is on particularly rich regions in the “space of spacetime theories.” This work will be of interest to physicists, as well as philosophers and historians of science working with or interested in General Relativity and/or Space, Time and Gravitation more generally.

This book both introduces the philosophy of science through examination of the occult and examines the occult rigorously enough to raise central issues in the philosophy of science. Placed in the context of the occult, philosophy of science issues become immediately understandable and forcefully compelling. Divergent views on astrology, parapsychology, and quantum mechanics mysticism emphasize topics standard to the philosophy of science. Such issues as confirmation and selection for testing, causality and time, explanation and the nature of scientific laws, the status of theoretical entities, the problem of demarcation, theory and observation, and science and values are discussed. Significantly revised, this second edition presents an entirely new section of quantum mechanics and mysticism including instructions from N. David Mermin for constructing a device which dramatically illustrates the genuinely puzzling phenomena of quantum mechanics. A more complete and current review of research on astrology has been included in this new edition, and the section on the problem of demarcation has been broadened.

The term 'nonclassical states' refers to the quantum states that cannot be produced in the usual sources of light, such as lasers or lamps, rather than those requiring more sophisticated apparatus for their production. Theory of Non-classical States of Light describes the current status of the theory of nonclassical states of light including many new and important results as well as introductory material and the history of the subject. The authors concentrate on the most important types of nonclassical states, namely squeezed, even/odd ('Schrodinger cat') and binomial states, including their generalizations. However, a review of other types of nonclassical is also given in the introduction, and methods for generating nonclassical states on various processes of light-matter interaction, their phase-space description, and the time evolution of nonclassical states in these processes is presented in separate chapters. This contributed volume contains all of the necessary formulae and references required to gain a good understanding of the principles and current status of the field. It will provide a valuable information resource for advanced students and researchers in quantum physics.

Symmetries, coupled with the mathematical concept of group theory, are an essential conceptual backbone in the formulation of quantum field theories capable of describing the world of elementary particles. This primer is an introduction to and survey of the underlying concepts and structures needed in order to understand and handle these powerful tools. Specifically, in Part I of the book the symmetries and related group theoretical structures of the Minkowskian space-time manifold are analyzed, while Part II examines the internal symmetries and their related unitary groups, where the interactions between fundamental particles are encoded as we know them from the present standard model of particle physics. This book, based on several courses given by the authors, addresses advanced graduate students and non-specialist researchers wishing to enter active research in the field, and having a working knowledge of classical field theory and relativistic quantum mechanics. Numerous end-of-chapter problems and their solutions will facilitate the use of this book as self-study guide or as course book for topical lectures.

An innovative integrated approach to classical physics and the beginnings of quantum physics through a sequence of historical case studies.

The sixth edition includes new developments, as well as new experiments in quantum entanglement, Schrödingers cat, the quantum computer, quantum information, the atom laser, and much more. Many experiments and problems are included.

Spectroscopy is an indispensable tool in understanding physical and chemical structure, and today verysophisticated spectroscopic instruments are available with modern data processing techniques. This bookcovers the elementary and basic aspects of atomic spectroscopy like Bohr’s theory and atomic physics up to thelatest developments including laser cooling, Bose–Einstein condensates and atom lasers. Spectroscopy playsa major role in every field of science and this book would be valuable for physicists, chemists and biologists.

This is a detailed study of Niels Bohr's work on an epistemological foundation for 20th century physics. The connections he drew between physics, language, and philosophy, are traced historically and their validity is analyzed in the light of contemporary science. (Philosophy)

This highly useful text shows the reader how to formulate a partial differential equation from the physical problem and how to solve the equation.

We know much about the construction and functioning of the human body, but rarely ask how and why the human body came into existence. The evolution of the human body and mind provides answers to longstanding and hard-to-answer questions on human health, disease and treatment. The Quantum theory gives the most fundamental explanation of the creation of atoms and molecules, organic compounds, DNA and its replication, crossover during Meiosis, etc. Central is the theme that our bodies are made of the very product of primordial supernova explosions from billions of years ago. Understanding the body may be the ultimate extension of quantum physics and evolution. Man, his fellow animals, health, germs, and disease are a huge mystery novel, and it is for us to solve with evolution how it all happened. For thousands or millions of years, man s DNA was programmed by natural selection from his life as a hunter gatherer or a farmer. Our genetic makeup has been unable to keep pace with the rapid changes in diet, lifestyle and environment over the last few decades. Much of today s health disorders arise from the DNA s inability to cope with these rapid changes. The internal environment of the body contains at least hundreds of chemicals, organic and inorganic, detectable and undetectable, known and unknown. We can never hope to know all the chemicals and their reactions. A new concept is introduced about our hidden arms race with farm animals. This book is based on an understanding of evolution of human life, and life in general on the planet. It has a common-sense approach to immunity, and the ability of the body to heal itself. The approaches are not dramatic new discoveries, but an extension of well-established principles of anthropology and evolution. The language does not require specialized knowledge, and may be read by anyone with an interest in health and disease.