Q is for Quantum: An Encyclopedia of Particle Physics by John Gribbin (PDF)

Description

A comprehensive encyclopedia of quantum physics.Here in one volume, the award-winning science writer and physicist John Gribbin has provided everything you need to know about the quantum world —the place where most of the greatest scientific advances of the last hundred years have been made.This exceptional A to Z reference begins with a thorough introduction setting out the current state of knowledge in particle physics. Throughout, Gribbin includes articles on the structure of particles and their interactions, accounts of the theoretical breakthroughs in quantum mechanics and their practical applications, and entertaining biographies of the scientists who have blazed the trail of discovery. In a special section, “Timelines,” key dates in our quest to understand the quantum world are mapped out alongside landmarks in world history and the history of science.An encyclopedia of the fundamental science of the future, Q is for Quantum is an essential companion for anyone interested in particle physics.”Astronomer Gribbin presents an overview of a hundred years of particle physics through a handy, accessible A-Z dictionary of definitions and identifications.”—Natural History

User’s Reviews

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

⭐In the past few months, I have become very interested in Quantum Mechanics. My math background is zilch. I started with Brian Greene’s “The Elegant Universe”, found I needed more background to understand it, went to “The Fabric of the Universe”, still needed something simpler and ended up with John Gribbin’s “In Search of Schrodinger’s Cat”. I am now reading “Schrodinger’s Kittens”. Somewhere along the line I purchased “Q is for Quantum”. I have found it immensely helpful in explaining concepts or terms that I was confused about, plus explaining new concepts. If I don’t understand something I have read in any of the other books, I go to “Q is for Quantum”. John Gribbin’s explanations are clear and easy to understand. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Quantum Mechanics. I am not sure how useful it would be for a “real” physicist with all the math needed to understand Quantum Mechanics, but for this layperson, it is a terrifically helpful book. It is truely an encyclopedia.

⭐i got this book for my brother after checking it out of the library repeatedly for him. he loves it!

⭐Excellent all the way around. I would buy from them again. Very satisfied overall.

⭐Very enjoyable reading of sometime difficult terms and concepts. Highly recommended as an armchair companion while listening to physics lectures or reading texts.

⭐This work is an improvement on the author’s previous books, “Schrödinger’s cat” and “Schrödinger’s kittens”. Using the dictionary format helps avoid bias and “filler”. It even provides a coherent, unbiased, account of the Copenhagen interpretation.Run to this guide when incoherent journalists start throwing around terms like “Bell’s inequality” or “QED”. Gribbin almost always comes up with an adequate definition of difficult concepts. But not every time.For instance, he produces the simplest, clearest explanation of “gauge theory” in the classical domain that I have ever read, but loses the thread when he tries to describe it within quantum chromodynamics. Also, some things are missing.There is no discussion of Hilbert space. His article on Schrödinger’s equation doesn’t actually show the equation…In a hoped for second edition, the biographies and timelines might be shortened. This would leave room for a simple introduction to the mathematics behind the key areas of quantum mechanics. Then he could add the most important equations. Writers like Penrose, Cropper and Schumm have shown how you can use equations to make a popular science book more appealing and informative.In summary: this unique resource is well worth buying.

⭐For all you Douglas Adams fans out there ( The HitchHiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) we have now got definitive, non-fictional guides to the Cosmos and the micro-world of Quantum Phenomena.John Gribbin’s latest book “Q is for Quantum” is the perfect companion to his 1996 masterpiece “Companion to the Cosmos”.Gribbin’s presents his work in a well illustrated, encyclopaedic (A to Z) style with nearly all topics having hyperlinks to cross-references elsewhere in the book. He puts great emphasis on the human dimension of science as well as on the purely physical phenomena and theories he describes so well. The mini-biographies of the scientists are fascinating in their own right, particularly when looking at the historical context and the geographic, social and academic connections/parallels that have led to these great advances in human thought.Gribbin guides us along those amazing scientific paths of the past half millennia , from Galileo and Newton to Einstein and Hawking. He has this reader convinced that we are very close to realizing the ultimate dream of a Grand Unifying Theory (GUT) which ties together all the links between the forces of nature. His work is right up to date and includes the latest ideas on M-branes and superstrings.The best way to read the book is to open it at random , find a topic of interest and see how far the hyperlinks can take you. Bliss for a net-head! The real strength of Gribbin’s writing is to help us cover that great spectrum (in time and space) between the sub-atomic microworld of Quantum phenomena through to the edges of the Cosmos. Somewhere in the middle is the human dimension, dare I say, the “real world”.It was our friend Douglas Adams who posed that trickiest of tri-lemmas … What is the answer to that ultimate question, that is, the Meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything ? He told us … it is 42 !John Gribbin’s agrees – look up his section on Planck. What is the smallest unit of time? Answer: zero, decimal point, FOURTY TWO zeros, one second.Before Planck time nothing much happened … but then again …

⭐I have had this A-Z encyclopedia for about 10 years now and just love it. I refer back to it time and time again over the years and can’t thank Mr. Gribbin enough for putting this well-written volume together. It has gone a long way in helping me learn the basics of particle physics as well as exposing me to all the interesting personalities and history of the subject. The entry for the Double Slit Experiment I must have read and re-read 25 times since I bought the book and I am still not tired of it!

⭐Faraday! because that was the only F I could think of. Classic book now in kindle form.

⭐Bewitching and head scratching at the same time. An interesting book even though it can at times seem like you’re attemtping to decipher Sanskrit.

⭐It really is and encylopedia/dictionary, not a text that develops an explanation.

⭐A most excellent and informative

⭐The best book on quantum physics i’ve ever seen in my life!!Trust me, it is the best quantum physics encyclopedia out there!TRULY RECCOMENDED FOR QUANTUM PHYSICS GEEKS LIKE ME!

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