An acclaimed physicist's accessible yet rigorous introduction to
quantum mechanics for nonspecialists
This is a rare and much-needed book: a concise but comprehensive account
of quantum mechanics for popular science readers written by a respected
physicist. Sam Treiman--internationally renowned for his work in
particle physics--makes quantum mechanics accessible to nonspecialists.
Combining mastery of the material with clear, elegant prose and
infectious enthusiasm, he conveys the substance, methods, and profound
oddities of the field.
Treiman begins with an overview of quantum mechanics. He sketches the
early development of the field by Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg,
Schrödinger, and others, and he makes clear how the quantum outlook
flies in the face of common sense. As he explains, the quantum world is
intrinsically probabilistic. For example, a particle is not in general
in some particular place at a given instant, nor does it have a definite
momentum. According to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, there is a
limit to how well both location and momentum can be specified
simultaneously. In addition, particles can move through barriers and
otherwise move in regions of space that are forbidden by classical
mechanics. If a particle has a choice of different paths, it pursues all
of them at once. Particles display wave-like characteristics and waves
show particle-like characteristics. Treiman pays special attention to
the more fundamental wave outlook and its expression in quantum field
theory. He deals here with the remarkable fact that all the particles of
a given species are strictly identical, and with the unnerving fact that
particles can be created and destroyed. As Treiman introduces us to
these and other wonders, he also touches--without resolution--on some of
the deep philosophical problems of quantum mechanics, notably how
probabilities become facts.
Weaving together impeccable science, engaging writing, and a talent for
clear explanation honed over Treiman's distinguished career as a
physicist and teacher, The Odd Quantum is a remarkable survey of a
field that changed the course of modern scientific and philosophical
thought.
