The Strange World of Quantum Mechanics 1st Edition by Daniel F. Styer (PDF)

Description

This is an exceptionally accessible, accurate, and non-technical introduction to quantum mechanics. After briefly summarizing the differences between classical and quantum behaviour, this engaging account considers the Stern-Gerlach experiment and its implications, treats the concepts of probability, and then discusses the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox and Bell’s theorem. Quantal interference and the concept of amplitudes are introduced and the link revealed between probabilities and the interference of amplitudes. Quantal amplitude is employed to describe interference effects. Final chapters explore exciting new developments in quantum computation and cryptography, discover the unexpected behaviour of a quantal bouncing-ball, and tackle the challenge of describing a particle with no position. Thought-provoking problems and suggestions for further reading are included. Suitable for use as a course text, The Strange World of Quantum Mechanics enables students to develop a genuine understanding of the domain of the very small. It will also appeal to general readers seeking intellectual adventure.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐THIS SUBJECT IS CHALLENGING FOR ALMOST ALL OF US – THIS LITTLE BOOK HELPED ME A LOT IN UNDERSTANDING QUANTUM MECHANICS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE GRADUATE LEVEL COURSE IN THIS SUBJECT – BOOK WAS LIKE NEW AND ARRIVED PROMPTLY.

⭐I’m slowly going through it. I like the added details that most authors in quantum mechanics don’t add.

⭐Not as good as recommended by a fellow Professor in his DVDon Quantum Mechanics.

⭐My book was covered in mildew. It was disgusting and smelled awful

⭐First of all, this is one of about 80 books in my Quantum Physics library – including graduate texts.The author starts off using a simplified Stern Gerlach Apparatus – and describing what happens with an incoming stream of particles on this apparatus. Now – put two such apparatus back to back – first with the same orientations and next, with differing orientations…Keep building such experiments – and you will see the OUTCOMING mag moments are NOT what you would intuitively expect.Just for his brilliant and meticulous laying out of these experiments, the books deserves 5 starts. Some reviewers said ‘it was too much work’…I would say – no pain – no gain.In any case, this book then lays out a few challenge questions at the end of each section – to test your understanding.

⭐Imagine being raised all your life in an environment without gravity and then suddenly finding yourself on a planet with a strong gravitational field. Things would be really strange. Your intuition would be confused and confounded. Take the simple act of tossing a ball, for example. Your intuition tells you that the ball will go straight, but in this strange world the ball curves. To toss the ball to someone you must toss it up, so that it arcs over. Otherwise, if you toss it straight (like your intuition tells you to) it curves downward and hits the ground.Strangeness, obviously, depends on our sense of intuition, and our sense of intuition depends upon the rules of engagement in the world in which we live. Most of us live in a world dominated by classical physics where objects have a definite position, velocity, mass, energy, etc. It is because of our intimate personal experience with this classical world that non-classical environments like the very fast and the very tiny seem counter intuitive.Styer’s book aims to help the reader understand the experiences of the quantum world. Though real quantum intuition cannot come from a book, Styer helps the reader gain a measure of intuition regarding what happens at the quantum level. Styer’s book is one of the best I’ve seen for explaining quantum mechanics in a rigorously qualitative manner that’s understandable by virtually anyone with the intellectual discipline to learn new ideas. [The other book I recommend in this area, and from which Styer uses as a frequent reference, is “QED, The Strange Theory of Light and Matter,” by Richard Feynman. For someone just starting out in his or her study of quantum mechanics, I recommend Feynman’s book followed by Styer’s. Both are qualitative and have little mathematics. For an introduction to the mathematics of quantum mechanics (using mathematics at the freshman college level) I suggest Sam Treiman’s “The Odd Quantum.” These three books form an excellent basis for a course in study that tackles quantum physics at the quantitative level.]The book has 15 chapters, but is only 150 pages long, so each chapter is rather short. The chapters are organized nicely, however, and each has a specific goal for the reader, with good illustrations throughout and thought-provoking questions at the end (numeric answers are in the back of the book, though many questions do not have a numeric answer). Unlike the questions found in some textbooks, Styer’s questions are formulated specifically to build insight into the main issues presented in the chapters, and to extend upon them. I strongly suggest answering each question in detail, as it will greatly enrich the experience of reading this book.Styer is a master at explaining the central concepts of quantum mechanics in an intuitive and visual manner (his style of presentation is similar to Feynman’s). Unlike many other authors, Styer does not introduce quantum mechanics by using the double-slit experiment. Instead, Styer bases almost all his arguments on an idealized (portable and configurable) Stern-Gerlach analyzer, which measures the magnetic spin of quantum particles (he later uses a modified form to introduce quantum interference). Styer does all this, and masterfully, by using non-technical language that nevertheless maintains the integrity of the ideas embodied in quantum mechanics.A brief introduction, some stuff on how classical magnetic needles behave in a magnetic field, a description of the Stern-Gerlach experiment, and the “conundrum of projections,” or the quantization of quantum spin, take up the first four chapters. Chapter 5 is a primer on simple concepts in statistics and lays the groundwork for later chapters. Chapters 6 and 7 deal with the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiments, which I found to be among the simplest and most illuminating that I’ve found in an introductory text. Typical of Styer’s book throughout, he shows that the “paradox” arises from false assumptions in which we try to project our intuition from the classical world into the quantum world.Styer describes the double-slit experiment, but he saves it till chapters 8 and 9 and explains it not just in terms of photons but also in terms of atoms as well. The discussion of quantal interference leads naturally to a further expansion of the concept of amplitudes and probability in quantum mechanics. The book ends with a chapter on quantum cryptography, a chapter on the quantum-mechanical behavior of a quantum ball, and a chapter that has a brief introduction of wavefunction.There are also three excellent apprentices (these should be read with the same commitment as reading all the chapters in the book) and an adequate index. Styer also has a very nice list of other reading material on quantum mechanics, as well as some biting editorial statements about errors in popular books on the subject. Styer’s approach is no nonsense. Rather than waxing philosophical about the dual particle-wave nature of matter, Styer correctly helps the reader realize that to understand quantum mechanics we must do so by understanding the behavior of quanta and not try to force our classical perceptions. As Styer says: “In fact an atom is no more a small hard marble [or a classical wave] than an atom’s magnetic needle is a pointy stick. These classical ideas are simply wrong when applied to very small objects.”Very well written in an engaging, no-nonsense style that cuts straight to the heart of the issue, this is simply one of the best introductory (qualitative and without mathematics) books I’ve read on the subject. Whether you are reading about quantum mechanics for the very first time, or simply trying to increase your intuitive feel for the subject, I highly recommend it.

⭐I think this book is very poorly written. It is unclear and hard to follow. I learned absolutely nothing from it. For those interested in quantum mechanics, I would recommend looking for a different book. I would give this 0/5 stars if I could.

⭐Not a particularly easy book for the lay reader despite protestations to this effect in the introduction.I found it a little hard going in places.It does require your undivided attention at all times.Still a very interesting but do check the price before buying – at times it can seem stupidly expensive.

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