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Astrophysics, Clocks and Fundamental Constants (Lecture Notes in Physics)
Manufacturer: Springer
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Book Description
The question of a possible temporal variation of the fundamental constants was raised by Paul Dirac in his "large number hypothesis" in 1937. Today it appears in the context of the search for a unified theory of the fundamental interactions. It touches both fundamental and applied physics, as the postulate of the unalterability of the constants is the foundation for modern metrology. The book presents reviews written by leading experts in the field. Focussing on the question of variations of the fundamental "constants" in time or space, the chapters cover the theoretical framework in which variations are expected and the search for variations of quantities like the fine-structure constant, the electron/proton mass ratio, g-factors of proton and neutron etc. in astrophysical and geophysical observations and in precision experiments with atomic clocks and frequency standards.
Amazon.com
It's difficult, writes Lee Smolin in this lucid overview of modern physics, to talk meaningfully about the big questions of space and time, given the limitations of our technology and perceptions.
It's more difficult still given some of the contradictions and inconsistencies that obtain between quantum theory, which "was invented to explain why atoms are stable and do not instantly fall apart" but has little to say about space and time, and general relatively theory, which has everything to say about the big picture but tends to collapse when describing the behavior of atoms and their even smaller constituents. Whence the hero of Smolin's tale, the as-yet-incomplete quantum theory of gravity, which seeks to unify relativity and quantum theory--and, in the bargain, to move toward a "grand theory of everything." Smolin ably explains concepts that underlie quantum gravity, such as background independence, the superposition principle, and the notion of causal structure, and he traces the development of allied theories that have shaped modern physics and led to this new view of the universe.
Although he allows that "it has not been possible to test any of our new theories of quantum gravity experimentally," Smolin predicts that a solid framework will be established by 2015 at the outside. If he's correct, the years in between promise to be an exciting time for students of the physical sciences, and Smolin's book makes an engaging introduction to some of the big questions they'll be asking. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
From one of the world's most distinguished scientists, the first popular book to present the controversial and exciting ideas behind quantum gravity.
The Holy Grail of modern physics is a theory of the universe that unites two seemingly opposing pillars of modern science: Einstein's theory of general relativity, which deals with large-scale phenomena (planets, solar systems and galaxies), and quantum theory, which deals with the world of the very small (molecules, atoms, electrons).
In Three Roads to Quantum Gravity, Lee Smolin provides the first concise and accessible overview of current attempts to reconcile these two theories in a final "theory of everything." This is the closest anyone has ever come to devising a completely new theory of space, time and the universe to replace the Newtonian ideas that were the foundation of all science until the beginning of the twentieth century.
Lee Smolin, who has spent his career at the forefront of these new discoveries, presents for the first time the main ideas behind the new developments that have brought a quantum theory of gravity in sight. He explains in simple terms what scientists are talking about when they say the world is made from exotic entities such as loops, strings, and black holes. As he does so, he tells the fascinating stories behind these discoveries: the rivalries, epiphanies, and intrigues he witnessed firsthand.
Science Masters Series
Customer Reviews:
Quantum Gravity Review.......2007-09-24
Lee Smolin has again created an excellent non-mathematical book that has his distinctive style and clearly that explains his view point on how we get to a theory of everything. Lee presents a partial history of the different approaches used by the Physics community to solve solve the problems of creating a theory of everything. His approach is heavly vested in the Quantun Gravity history and development. This is only natural in that his life has been spent primarly in this area of development. However, he does a very adaquite job of explaining the history and issues with string theory. Lee does a excellent job in this book to present a possible direction for the science community to persue. I only hope that our science community will take Lee's approaces seriously.
" The Diggidy Dog of Physics Books".......2007-06-30
Wow, I'm not going to go into any details or dicussions about this book, or any other matter, but i have to say this. This book is beyond GOOD, it will rock your mind so hard that you will be hooked on Physics for the rest of your life. Lee Smolin is the Man.
A theory of quantum gravity by 2015!.......2007-06-24
Lee Smolin's promise of a full theory of quantum gravity by 2015 concludes this book.
Along the way to that conclusion Smolin takes the reader on a comprehensible and lucid tour the current state of the search for a unified theory of quantum gravity. In this way, Smolin introduces the reader to his "three roads to quantum gravity" being:
1) The road from relativity or those classical principles originally established by Albert Einstein in his general theory of relativity back in 1916;
2) The road from quantum mechanics or that standard model developed within twenty years of Einstein's relativity dealing with the forces that operate at the subatomic level and finally;
3) The road from both and the various ways in which researchers from both areas have tried to the meld the two approaches.
Though admittedly (and particularly at the time this book was written) the theory favored by most theorists is so called string theory, Smolin also discusses other contenders like loop gravity (which Smolin worked with) as well as Oxford's Roger Penrose's twistor theory and others.
Long story short, the three roads are still being travelled. However, Smolin's salutory comments about a solution being in the offing by 2015 are optimistic.
Hopefully, they're also right!
Good book, good background, highly recommended.
A must read for science lovers.......2007-05-20
This book is divided into three sections,namely 1) Points of departure:deals with new conceptions like a)there is nothing outside the universe,b)in the future we will learn more,c)many observers,not many worlds and d)the universe is made of processes,not things.Next section is 2)What we have learned: deals with black holes,hidden regions,accelations and heat,"knots,links and kinks"(appears quite taugh for me)and strings. but still these two sections are mind blowing. The last sectionis is 3)The present frontiers: divided into a)the holographic universe,B)how to weave a string and c)what chooses the laws of nature? This section ends by summing up future possibilities for a complete QG theory with a hope to be achieved by 2010-2015.I also refer to the readers of this book to read Lee Smolin's highly readable article "Atoms of Space and Time"(Scientific American,January 2004).It will serve as a good starting point .
George Sagi on Lee Smolin's Quantum Gravity.......2007-02-25
Smolin gives a thorough review of the attempts for the integration of Einstein's Theory of Gravity with Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Electro Dynamics. This is not a textbook, but there are many references to original publications. The greatest value for me was Smilin's departure from the notion of continuum into quantum geometry, particularly in the Planck scale. His outline of Roger Penrose's Spin Networks was the most interesting part of the book, besides dozens of other descriptions of the great efforts of theoretical physicists trying to integrate these two baranches of physics. I don't believe in the validity of string theories in the sub-microscopic realm of matter. (I wrote about it in my booklet, Quantum Geometry, offered to Dr. Smolin, but he did not respond so far.) Quantum Gravity is filled with many pages of personal anecdotal references that I only browse through to concentrate on the many factual explanations.
Book Description
Mr Tompkins has become known and loved by many thousands of readers (since his first appearance over fifty years ago) as the bank clerk whose fantastic dreams and adventures lead him into a world inside the atom. George Gamow’s classic provides a delightful explanation of the central concepts in modern physics, from atomic structure to relativity, and quantum theory to fusion and fission. Roger Penrose’s new foreword introduces Mr Tompkins to a new generation of readers, and reviews his adventures in the light of current developments in physics today.
Customer Reviews:
Challenging, enlightening, enjoyable.......2005-11-21
I am nothing more than a humble interested amateur and my formal science education is limited to some advanced classes for my high school diploma many years ago. I picked up "Mr Tompkins" following a conversation with a physicist sitting next to me on a long flight. I found it to be an excellent introduction to modern physics in general and quantum mechanics in particular. I found it challenging and I wouldn't claim I understood every last detail, but it is definitely not necessary to have a profound knowledge of mathematical and physical concepts to read this book. The writing is witty, precise and thoroughly enjoyable. In fact I was so intrigued that I went and picked up two other books (Alice in Quantumland and Taking the Quantum Leap), both of which I found harder to read and not as suitable for the uninitiated as Mr Tompkins.
Mr. Tompkins in Paperback.......2005-10-05
It was a great transaction, Good prices, Great quality, and FAst delivery
Fun with physics, Gamow style........2005-07-14
Here are Gamow's two 1940's Mr Tompkins books popularizing modern physics, in one tidy package. An earlier reviewer has suggested that this book be produced as an animated educational film, a good idea, but I picture it as being more of a computer enhanced live action video. The chapters on relativistic geometries and cosmological models could really be audio-visual treats, and it's hard to imagine a better basis for a script explaining the strange new world of physics to the interested lay public. The lions-share of what science now claims to know about the world was developed from a seemingly strange handful of theories thrashed out in the first three decades of the twentieth century. Gamow was both a party to this theoretical explosion and a gifted writer. Most of what has occurred in physics since these books were first published, has essentially been the refining of the ideas discussed here, so, for the most part, the science is still significant. But while Gamow had some important cosmological ideas -- he predicted the cosmic microwave background radiation, the discovery of which earned Wilson and Penzias a Noble Prize (in which Gamow should have shared, but did not) -- he also bet on the wrong horse when it came to cosmological models.
Gamow cleverly and artfully presents the three basic cosmological models being argued from the 1930s through 1965.* The context is a night at the opera in which noted physicists sing the virtues of their respective theoretical opinions. First up is no other than the initial developer of the expanding universe ('big bang') model, the Belgian physicist and cleric, A. George Lemaitre. The Lemaitre universe is a majestically wondrous, one-off, elegant masterpiece. He sings, "Z' splendeur of z' origine. . . Worrk of Z' Lorrd!" Second is the oscillating or 'bouncing' model, and this piece is sung by Gamow, who at that time favored the concept of an eternally recycling universe (bang, expand, contract, re-bang, expand, contract, ->, etc). The third and last piece to be sung is of the Bondi-Gold self-maintaining or "steady state" universe, so famously preferred by Hoyle. Appropriately, this singer is generated mysteriously from intergalactic space, singing "Was never formed in time gone by. . . But is, has been. . .shall ever be. . ."
Well, on this question we seem to have a winner, and no, it isn't Gamow's model. As Roger Penrose relates in the foreword, Gamow's bouncing universe and Hoyle's "steady state" model are both dead ducks these days. Seventy-five years of observation and mathematical fine-tuning have made something like Lemaitre's general understanding look like the only serious cosmological game in town. But don't hold that against this artful and thoroughly fun book. Gamow discounted the 'steady state', and most of the science here is still sound and relevant.
*[File this under 'is there nothing new under the sun?': 1600 years ago, Augustine of Hippo recorded (City of God, Book XII) that classical cosmographies all distil into three basic models, the same three considered here by Gamow. (These same three models subsume the "innumerable universes" of Epicurus' speculation and of the recently famous so-called 'strong anthropic principle'.) Augustine bet on the right horse though, reasoning that the 'cycling' and 'eternal' models both seek finally to avoid rather than admit a true explanation. Only the universe-from-nothing (ex nihilo) model admits that the universe has an explanation -- albeit a grandly mysterious one.]
This volume is classic science writing in a most entertaining package, it awaits some creative screenplay adaptor and video genius to make from it the best popular science audio-visual experience ever. Have at it.
It helped me understand..........2004-03-11
I'm a novice at this subject matter, and I've recently started reading introductory books on quantum physics for fun. I read, "The New Quantum Universe" prior to reading this. This easy to read book filled in some gaps that that I had. It helped me grasp some concepts that had otherwise passed over my head when reading the other book.
I understand that this is a classic text and I can see why. It's fun to read, and provides a foundation for further understanding. It explains uncertaintity, radioactive decay, and electron shells especially well.
I may not fully appreciate the concepts I was able to internalize from this book for quite some time. I can say that I strongly recommend it to the layman or anyone who's eager to understand some basics of this incredible field of study.
An alltime favorite!.......2003-09-23
A lovely reprinted edition of a peral from Gamow. The original edition has been out of print for a number of years. This 1993 edition has added commentary and a fascinating bio of Gamow. He was born in Odessa, in what was then Russia, --before the Soviet Union. The story of his escape to the West is straight out of a thriller. Only it is real! Gamow was referred to by a journalist, some time during the Cold War, as "the only scientist in America with a real sense of humor". He can take the most technical stuff and make it simple. Fun too! The book:--Intellectual treats, whimsy, but deep. Illustrated with lovely drawings by Gamow himself. Much of it can be understood by a child, and other parts might require a little concentration. All of it is great fun. Follow your imagination, and while you explore, you will learn about Einstein's theory of relativity. And in unexpected ways! You will see the wonders of physics thru the eyes of a child. With his unexpected thought experiments, Gamow has captured the imagination of generations of readers, and he has inspired a degree of curiosity that comes naturally to children.
The author George Gamow started in nuclear physics, during the Golden Age of Physics, worked with Niels Bohr in Copenhagen, then later in the US, on the Manhattan Project during WWII; and after the War, he was professor in Boulder Colorado. He has a building on campus of The University of Colorado named after him! He is one of the few scientists who wrote popular books. They are precious pearls, and they have been equally popular with my parent's generation as with mine. For awhile they were out of print, but luckely some have now been reprinted in recent years!
Other Gamow titles: Biography of Physics, Atomic Energy [dedicated to the hope of lasting peace], Physics of the Strapless Evning Gown,...We are lucky that Dover has reprinted some of them. Gamow's list of scientific accomplishments includes a 1948 landmark paper on the origin of chemical elements, the Big Bang model, and later work with F. Crick on DNA and genetic coding.-- Do more Gamow editions, Dover!
Review by Palle Jorgensen, September 2003.
Book Description
"There's a treat in store for you all, as the new Justina Robson is out. Lila Black is a spy, and a bodyguard, and every so often she breaks into the sheer joy of the toys she carries within her. It's good to see that almost naïve geek love you see among born techies translated into a character so beautifully. The only truly bad thing about this book is that it isn't stand-alone and now I've got to wait until she's finished writing the next one, wanting much, much more." --Starburst (Five Star review)
The Quantum Bomb of 2015 changed everything. The fabric that kept the universe's different dimensions apart was torn and now, six years later, the people of earth exist in uneasy company with the inhabitants of, amongst others, the elfin, elemental, and demonic realms. Magic is real and can be even more dangerous than technology. Elves are exotic, erotic, dangerous, and really bored with the constant Lord of the Rings references. Elementals are a law unto themselves and demons are best left well to themselves.
Special agent Lila Black used to be pretty, but now she's not so sure. Her body is more than half restless carbon and metal alloy machinery, a machine she's barely in control of. It goes into combat mode, enough weapons for a small army springing from within itself, at the merest provocation. As for her heart, well, ever since being drawn into a game by the elfin rockstar Zal (lead singer of the No Shows), who she's been assigned to protect, she's not even sure she can trust that any more either.
Customer Reviews:
Unique Blend of Fantasy and SciFi.......2007-10-16
In 2015, a quantum bomb exploded in Texas, opening a gateway between separate dimensions. Earth is then known as Otopia. The different dimensions consist of a magical world of fairies and elves (called Alfheim), a demon world, and several others. Lila Black, and agent for the Otopian government, is assigned to protect an elf musician who's been receiving death threats. But Zal is unlike every elf she's ever known. And Lila is not completely comfortable in her new body, that is, her new cybernetic self. Lila was nearly killed in a previous mission, and parts of her body were replaced with machines. And Lila isn't excited to get assigned to this difficult elf, as an elf was the one responsible for her near-fatality.
Deftly fusing science fiction and fantasy, it's hard to categorize this novel. The magic is vividly portrayed, and the idea of such different and accessible dimensions makes for a truly unique setting. The character of Lila, would make a more interesting Bionic Woman, than the current tv show version. No cardboard cutout characters here.
Keeping It Real is exciting and dramatic, even incorporating an amount of romance and rock and roll. Selling Out, releasing later this month, is the sequel and follows Lila Black's escapades.
different than usual.......2007-10-15
First and foremost, this is not a normal Sci-Fi novel. I know that and I'm not even an avid Sci-Fi reader. This would be better classified in the same area as urban/fantasy/romance. You know, a fluff novel. One of those escape novels you read where the writing doesn't have to be superb, only good enough to entertain.
This novel definitely entertains. There is a lot of action, romance, thrills, etc. I happened to like it and look forward to reading the next one. There's the super girl hero bodyguard, the sexy elf rock star, and the menagerie of buff, gorgeous men. What more does a girl want? Of course, this probably means that most guys out there would not have any interest in it. Oh, well.
It's Chick lit. not cyberpunk.......2007-09-15
First off, this is not a cyberpunk novel. Indeed, it is quite the contrary: a chick lit. novel posing as a work of science fiction. Personally, I do not have a problem with chick lit.; but when a book is marketed as science fiction/cyberpunk, I want it to be cyberpunk.
Reading the back cover, I was intrigued; a combination of cyberpunk and Tolkien fantasy leaves open a lot of possibilities for a fun little story line. Unfortunately, Robson takes this interesting kernel of an idea and writes a Mary Jane story. I.e. the heroine has a disturbed past, thinks she is ugly (i.e. cyborg), has godly power (ridiculously so), and everything around her with male bits wants to shag her. It's an old and tired story line that has been put in a slightly different setting.
I wouldn't have been so upset if the writing was at least good. My impression is that Robson wanted to write a Chick lit. version of 'Snow Crash'. Sadly, her writing isn't as clever or as intriguing as Stephenson's was in that book. Really, all that is interesting is this core idea of sci-fi fused with fantasy constructs like elves, demons and whatnot as the setting. Robson pulls from this general construct any specifics she needs to move her chick lit. plot forward. I.e. deus ex machina is employed too frequently to even note here. The story reads like it was conceived as it was written with almost nothing in the way of a global coherence across the book. Indeed, some sub plots are left totally hanging with no apparent point in the overall scheme of things. This book could have shed a 100 pages and still been exactly as it is. Things that should have been elaborated upon weren't, and ideas that were trivial were drawn out.
I'll point out some specifics. We have this diplomat who gets turned into a one-of-a-kind cyborg NSA agent after being tortured to the point of death by elves. Ok, the cyborg bit is fine with me; but if I were the government WHY THE %*#! would I invest several billion dollars into making a cyborg out of a traumatized diplomat?! Why her? Why not some hardened soldier with SOME %*#!ING COMBAT TRAINING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STABILITY?! This makes absolutely no sense what so ever; i.e. her being a cyborg is JUST a plot device and nothing more. Yes, I can suspend disbelief like anyone else; but the story has to make sense within itself for it to hold weight in my mind. If there were some underlying reason why she was chosen to be THE ONLY ONE with this opportunity, I would say it was something more than a plot device. It isn't. So, even though ideas like this are left unexplained/unjustified; Robson has no problem betraying the fact that she has a fetish for elves. I.e. the story digresses to elf-cyborg porn in the final few pages. Sorry, if I wanted to read porn; I would have picked up a Romance novel. Her going down on the elf rock star added nothing to the story or characters; it's just porn in a 'cyberpunk' novel.
Anyway, those are just two examples; but you should get the idea of the writing going on here. I would not be nearly so harsh if this book was forthcoming about what it is: Chick lit. written by an author with a fetish for metal and elves. It's not cyberpunk. I'm sorry but a story about an insecure cyborg-goddess who can't understand that everything around her wants to score with her doesn't qualify as the construct of the cyberpunk anti-hero in my book. She's just too emo and Mary Jane to be a true cyberpunk heroine. The fact that she does so many idiotic things in the book doesn't help; Lilia (the cyborg) is a weak and stupid character with the ultimate goal of shagging the one person she's guarding. That is what the book is about; her getting the elf. The other ideas about her saving the elf kingdom, blah blah is secondary to getting the elf. The book doesn't end with her actually destroying the bad guy or accomplishing her missions; it ends when she gets to shag the elf.
Really a deceitfully-marketed and disappointing book. 'Keeping it Real' my #@!
Justina Robson returns to form.......2007-08-29
In this kicky and splendidly written blend of sf and fantasy, Justina Robson returns to the form of her brilliant "Natural History." This time out she invents a world of fascist elves and predatory faeries. Demons also appear, and so do dungeons and dragons.
Unlike in her previous, and far less successful, novel "Living Next Door to the God of Love," here Ms. Robinson establishes the rules of her world in the introduction, and she sticks to them. Readers who need a refresher course when the plot thickens need only turn back to that introduction, and they'll be up to speed.
The author sets the scene in her opening paragraphs of that introduction: in 2015 an explosion at a "superconducting supercollider" (gotta love it!) has torn a hole in the fabric of space time, which has in turn opened the paths to other realms. Old Earth, now known as Otopia, is visited by fantasy creatures, and trade routes have been established between the realms.
Lila Black, a semi-cyborg government agent (she's been rehabbed with cybernetic and mechanical add-ons after a previous caper), is assigned to duty as bodyguard for Zal, an Elf who's the lead singer of the Rock Band "The No Shows." His own people are trying to kill him. Our guys want to learn why the elven land (Alfheim) has closed its borders, and use the threats against Zal's life to bring Lila in.
The action starts quickly and builds to a fine, logical conclusion. Along the way the author has fun (you'll probably laugh in places) with fantasy conventions--she stretches them to the limits without breaking them--and she has a great time contrasting the flowery speech of the Elves' leader, Arie, with Lisa's street-gal patter.
Ms. Robson also has some fun with gender, too. The proactive female bodyguard falls (with the aid of some magic) for the relatively passive male diva (divo?) Their scenes together are hot--great fun.
The book (handsomely designed large-sized paperback on good paper) is billed as "Quantum Gravity, Book 1," but it's complete in itself. It won't leave you hanging from a cliff, but you'll probably be anxious for the followup, which is to be called "Selling Out."
Like Candy.......2007-08-07
There's no denying that Keeping it Real is a fun book-- whether because of or despite the odd amalgamation of cyborg and fairy fiction, Robson presents an entertaining adventure. But I was never fully able to sink my teeth into frothy confection and I was left hungry for something more. It's not a bad book by any means, but it didn't pull me in enough to want to read its followups.
Book Description
The Feynman Lectures on Gravitation are based on notes prepared during a course on gravitational physics that Richard Feynman taught at Caltech during the 1962-63 academic year. For several years prior to these lectures, Feynman thought long and hard about the fundamental problems in gravitational physics, yet he published very little. These lectures represent a useful record of his viewpoints and some of his insights into gravity and its application to cosmology, superstars, wormholes, and gravitational waves at that particular time. The lectures also contain a number of fascinating digressions and asides on the foundations of physics and other issues. Characteristically, Feynman took an untraditional non-geometric approach to gravitation and general relativity based on the underlying quantum aspects of gravity. Hence, these lectures contain a unique pedagogical account of the development of Einstein's general theory of relativity as the inevitable result of the demand for a self-consistent theory of a massless spin-2 field (the graviton) coupled to the energy-momentum tensor of matter. This approach also demonstrates the intimate and fundamental connection between gauge invariance and the principle of equivalence.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating.......2000-04-14
This is a wonderful book which shows how a classical field theory like General Relativity can be derived from a quantum field theory. It also points out the extreme difficulty of accomplishing this in the case of gravity and ending up with a consistent, anomaly free theory.
Readers of this book will benefit from familiarity with both quantum field theory and relativity as well as a certain amount of mathematical sophistication. Don't be fooled by the similarity of title to other "Feynman Lectures on..." because this book is based on an upper level graduate physics course and assumes the background of a typical PhD student in physics.
Deep, complex and difficult going but well worth the effort to see the elegance of the connection between General Relativity and QFT.
General relativity as a quantum gauge field theory........1999-02-06
Feynman gave a series of lectures on gravitation at a graduate seminar at Caltech in 1962. The lectures were recorded and transcribed by Morinigo and Wagner. A very readable introduction on quantum gravity was added by the editor, Brian Hatfield (whose book on quantum field theory and strings, I also recommend.) This is the only book I've seen which develops GR from a quantum field theory point of view. Feynman's lectures show that the GR field equations result from the requirement of gauge invariance under Lorentz transformations for a massless spin-2 field (i.e graviton). This is a more fundamental approach than the usual differential geometric framework and shows what the equivalence principle really means in terms of fundamental symmetries. Highly recommended for a modern field theory viewpoint of GR.
Book Description
The greatest challenge in fundamental physics attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity in a theory of "quantum gravity." The project suggests a profound revision of the notions of space, time and matter. It has become a key topic of debate and collaboration between physicists and philosophers. This volume collects classic and original contributions from leading experts in both fields for a provocative discussion of the issues. It contains accessible introductions to the main and less-well-known known approaches to quantum gravity. It includes exciting topics such as the fate of spacetime in various theories, the so-called "problem of time" in canonical quantum gravity, black hole thermodynamics, and the relationship between the interpretation of quantum theory and quantum gravity. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the profound implications of trying to marry the two most important theories in physics.
Download Description
The greatest challenge in fundamental physics is how quantum mechanics and general relativity can be reconciled in a theory of 'quantum gravity'. The project suggests a profound revision of our notions of space, time and matter, and so has become a key topic of debate and collaboration between physicists and philosophers. This timely volume collects classic and original contributions from leading experts in both fields for a provocative discussion of all the issues. This volume contains accessible introductions to the main and less well known approaches to quantum gravity. It includes exciting topics such as the fate of spacetime in various theories, the so-called 'problem of time' in canonical quantum gravity, black hole thermodynamics, and the relationship between the interpretation of quantum theory and quantum gravity. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the profound implications of trying to marry the two most important theories in physics.
Customer Reviews:
Good Variety of Approaches and Accessibility.......2005-05-11
I am one who had trouble with college physics, but continued to keep up with it, first through "Scientific American" and then through the various popularizations of the 1990s. I would not consider this volume to be a "popularization" by any means... it may be introductory but sophisticated. Nonetheless, by reading and rereading the contributions of the many authors, I learned a great deal about general covariance and the quantum gravity formulation problem (perhaps just enough to be considered ignorant). I found Rovelli's contribution (walking through the history of fields, relationism and quanta) to be especially valuable to someone at my (college-casual) level, and I also enjoyed Joy Christian's essay. I cannot pretend to follow all the math, and so for me the "philosophy" half of the title was the more important. I will say that prior understanding of the "Hole Argument" would have been useful, considering its importance in general covariance... this volume touches upon it in several places but none in a way that I considered accessible to a generally educated reader. Perhaps I will just have to try harder.
Excellent book!.......2003-12-08
Excellent book on variety of topics and approaches to reconciling Quantum Mechanics and General Relitivity. This book is very unique. Even though there are not that many formulas in the book, this book is definitely for the serious and advanced. This book is very thought-provoking. All the contributors to different chapters are experts and there are many references to further readings for the topics discussed.
Canonical Quantization can work........2003-02-18
Never quite understood the barrier to quantizing gravity
when one realizes that R^infinity gravity quantizes without
any of the usual barriers (it is renormalizable on the grounds
that all required counter terms are available).
After which it is just a matter of following Einstein's
route to classical gravity, by setting to zero all
renormalized coupling constants, except that associated
with R.
End result, gravity quantized.
Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale.......2002-12-21
Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale: Contemporary theories in quantum gravity edited by Craig Callender and Nick Huggett is a book the gives the reader accessible introductions to the main and sometimes lesser known insight to quantum gravity.
This book was a challenge to read, yes, I must admit. But, that being said, I must say that it helped explain one of the greatest challenges in fundamental physics. How to come up with a plausible theory of quantum gravity out of quantum mechanics and general relativity. Yes, that all encompassing theory of everything aka quantum gravity. Space, time and matter all rolled into one grand theory. The so called problem of time in canonical quantum gravity, black hole thermodynamics and the relationship between the intrepretation of quantum theory and quantum gravity.
This book is divided into five parts, each of these parts has abstracts written to coorespond to the question at hand in these parts as chapters. These parts are as follows:
Part I: Theories of Quantum Garavity and their Philosophical Dimensions
Part II: Strings
Part III: Topological Quantum Field Theory
Part IV: Quantum Gravity and the Interpretation of General Relativity
Part V: Quantum Gravity and the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
This book not only looks at the physics to these, but also, looks at the philosophy that is concerned with fundamental questions regarding the nature of space, time, and matter. Seventeen authors give this book its body and soul for explaination as to how these fit together. What I particularly liked was the three chapters in "Strings" with "Reflections of the fate of spacetime by Edward Witten, A philosopher looks at string theory by Robert Weingard, and Black holes, dumb holes, and entropy by william G.Unruh.
This book isn't for everyone, but should be essential reading for anyone interested in the profound implications of trying to marry the two most important theories in physics. And that's the large and the small of it in a nutshell. But there is also a more positive reason for the connection between quantum gravity and the philosophy: many of these issues arising in quantum gravity are genuinely philosophical in nature.
How should we understand general relativity's general covariance... is it a significant physical principle,or is it merely a question about language with which one writes an equation? What is the nature of time and change? Canthere be a theory of the universe's boundry conditions? These are but a few of the questions asked and the explainations of the answers are trying to be resolved.
All, in all, this is a very good read and it will definately tax your brain.
Missing Table of Contents.......2001-09-07
The book looks interesting and the editors are leading experts in the field of quantum gravity. However, I could not make a purchasing decision since the table of contents is not listed in the ad. This is crucial, since the book apparently contains reprints of previously published material and, for all I know, I already possess this material. Thus, I suggest a table of contents be added to the ad for this book.
In order to post this review, I need to "rate" it. I give it 4 stars, since I know the editors are experts in the field, but not 5 stars since the ad is missing the table of contents.
Customer Reviews:
Mach's Principle Conference.......2007-02-11
I'm hopeful that we will be hearing more about Mach's Principle in the future. Modern Physics may provide the theoretical underpinings that eluded Mach and his contemporaries. It was fascinating to learn just how sketchy Mach's contribution's were- and that the development of a theory of inertia were instead made by Mach's colleges. My only regrets were that the work of Dennis Sciama and Roger Penrose were not included. This book illuminates a topic in physics that is controversial, problematic, and very interesting.
Informative and Entertaining.......2001-12-16
If you are interested in Mach's Principle, you will like this book . Experts discuss what Mach really intended when he formulated his principle. The book provides english translations of some classic articles on Mach's Principle, and it discusses some of the lastest research and thinking on the topic. I recommend it very highly.
Average customer rating:
- Interesting mix of topics
|
Conceptual Problems of Quantum Gravity (Einstein Studies)
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Customer Reviews:
Interesting mix of topics.......2006-04-22
This book is a collection of lectures based on talks given at the second Osgood Hill Conference. Although this occurred in 1988 and many advances have been made in quantum gravity (particularly in the two leading candidates, string theory and loop quantum gravity), much of the material in this book is still very relevant. Of course a lot of things aren't covered, like the possible resolutions of black hole information paradox. The book is true to the title, the material is mostly very conceptual, but it is also fairly advanced.
The book opens with an excellent introduction to general issues in quantum gravity, this is the most basic chapter in the book the rest of it is considerably more advanced. Following this there are five major sections: quantum mechanics and measurements, the issue of time, strings, other approaches to quantum gravity and topology and black holes.
At a high level the talks cover issues in quantum mechanics, quantum cosmology and quantum gravity. By and large the discussions don't revolve around specific approaches to quantum gravity, but rather they focus on more general issues such as topology change or decoherence. Two topics stand out as receiving exceptional coverage, quantum cosmology and the problem of time. There is definitely a lot of material that isn't frequently covered.
I found most of the talks to be quite interesting. One of the really nice features of the book is that it often contains the question and answer sessions that followed the talks. Although I liked this book, given the nature of the contents and the price I can't really recommend it for purchase.
Amazon.com
Will quantum physics let us reduce consciousness to computation? Roger Penrose says "no" with great force and eloquence in The Large, the Small, and the Human Mind. Prepared as a series of three lectures in Cambridge's Tanner Series on Human Values, the material is both meticulously thought out and informally presented, including many illustrations by Penrose and others. For publication, the author sought out rebuttals and commentary by philosophers Abner Shimony and Nancy Cartwright, as well as his own colleague and occasional rival, the well-known theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. Penrose then reserves the last word for himself, an author's prerogative. The result is a sharp but polite argument on the nature of thinking and its reducibility. Readers familiar with The Emperor's New Mind and Shadow of the Mind will find the arguments from quantum physics fleshed out in greater detail, but also attacked with good-natured aplomb. Those who missed out on Penrose's older forays into this territory (or are somehow uninterested in the nature of thought) will find this an excellent broad overview of the modern conception of physics, from subatomic shenanigans to the radius of the universe, as well as a stimulating debate among several great modern thinkers. Despite Penrose's certainty that our brains can't be modeled by computational systems--and hence that strong artificial intelligence will remain in science fiction--the argument continues, and will continue for some time. The Large, the Small, and the Human Mind crystallizes that debate for readers who want to keep up with the latest thinking about thinking. --Rob Lightner
Book Description
Roger Penrose's views on the large-scale physics of the Universe, the small-scale world of quantum physics and the physics of the mind are controversial and widely discussed. This book is a fascinating and accessible summary of Roger Penrose's current thinking on those areas of physics in which he feels there are major unresolved problems. It is also a stimulating introduction to the radically new concepts that he believes will be fruitful in understanding the workings of the brain and the nature of the human mind.
Customer Reviews:
Lucid approach to establish a quantum-based mind theory.......2004-04-07
Penrose concisely manages to give us an overview about 3 somehow interconnected fields, the mathematically described large-scale world, the deterministic quantum microcosm and the recently emergent mind science. His major aspiration is to see the new generation of scientists erecting a bridge between the quantum world and the always controversial substance of conscience.
Having in his mind (in a neo-platonic way) the idealistic nature of mathematics that apply to the physical world as a well-justified model, he firstly presents some themes from cosmology and abstract mathematics (e.g. hyperbolic, Riemann geometry), and why, in his opinion, Guth's inflationary universe theory, has weak points (see also Penrose's book- Difficulties with inflationary cosmology) In chapter 2 ,quantum physics related, he gives us interesting examples (the paradox& puzzles reference shows his great sense of humor) and explain us how wavefunction's reduction can assist us to deal with the probabilistic nature of events in this level.
In the most interesting third one, he is concerned to lay an in-depth foundation between quantum procedures through neurons, so as to explain his main belief - brain function (that creates conscience) can't be simulated through A.I. Even though I tend to prefer J.Searle opinion (presented in his book Mind,Brain & Science) Penrose's points are adequately justified, thus leaving an open window for Free Will.
In the next three chapters certain Penrose's point's are opposed from Shimony (physician, philosopher) Nancy Cartwright(logician, philosopher) and the renowned Steven Hawking.
Shimony in a formalistic language, but slightly excessive for the common reader, finally makes a conjecture about a hyperselection law, in order to avoid quantum dualism, while Mrs Cartwright sets a contronversy against the usefulness of a perception that sets Physics the only explanatory science for mind theory and not for example Biology.(which for Penrose is reduced to Physics)
Hawking denies an indispensable and direct correlation between quantum gravity and the yet inextricable conscience and in chapter 7 Penrose responds to all so as to end this dialectically fair and fruitful discussion.
Overall this was worth my time, not only for this subject's great interest but because Penrose explains his thesis, clearly and distinctly.The uprising need for 'popular' science is reflected and adequately satisfied through this lucid book which succinctly presents a contemporary overview in a 'hot' scientific field.
Even non-expert readers (no special background in maths or physics is needed) will be able to follow and admire the ongoing revolution of scientific thought.Given it was written in'97 I'm looking forward and will benevolently embrace another similar work of a splendid thinker such as Penrose
Biology Contradicted........2003-12-12
What I am writing here in no way does justice to the book, I am merely trying to add a corrective to the way the book is reviewed. With Penrose, biology and the brain itself become epiphenomena. Biology loses its status as protected economic mythology (by default, not in the book). To become a neurobiologist (for instance) one usually has to accept at least some of the assumptions of the discipline or accept some responsibility for them; even by the questions Penrose raises he is fundamentally undermining such disciplines (even categorically) and at the same time seriously calling into question the judgment of their adherents. After all why would one have accepted or promoted such polluted theories when (after the fact) clarity was there all along... unless there was another motive. So more than their judgment is at stake, this work even calls into question their character as reflected in their basic sense of things. What are they going to do? Reform? It calls into question their basic forum.
With reservations, a fascinating discussion.......2003-06-30
As my background is mainly in the brain sciences, I was most interested in what Penrose had to say about consciousness and the brain in this book, so I'll concentrate mostly on the chapter that had to do with that. This is not to say I didn't enjoy the other chapters, just that I'm not as qualified to critique those as I am the one on the brain. There has been a lot of speculation in recent years about such things as computability and the brain, quantum consciousness, and so on, and I was interested to find out what Penrose might have to say about that.
One of Penrose's major ideas in this chapter is his demonstration that consciousness, although perhaps mathematical, isn't computable, in the sense that you could program a computer to simulate it. Penrose uses the example of geometric tilings or polyominos that are deterministic in their coverage of the Euclidean plane, but that aren't computable, to show this. Since, as Penrose points out, there are plenty of mathematical concepts that aren't computable and that can't be done on a computer, but that the human mind can understand, Penrose concludes that there is something beyond computability in both pure mathematics and the human brain.
This is interesting, and Penrose might be right about that. However, I must point out that while consciousness itself may not be computable (and I'm not really prepared to conclude this for sure at this point, because of what I'm about to say), nevertheless, many aspects of the brain's functioning have been shown to be computable, so I'd like to discuss that briefly.
For example, sensory neurophysiology has been shown to be both quite mathematical and computational as a result of the work of a pioneering mathematician by the name of David Marr 25 years ago, whose ideas revolutionized neurobiology almost overnight, after which the field was never the same. Marr examined a number of different fundamental sensory mechanisms, and showed, for the first time, that the way in which the visual system was processing light information was consistent with the operation of certain sophisticated spatial-frequency filtering transforms that are well-known in many engineering applications. To mention just a few of his important ideas, Marr's demonstrations that retinal receptive-field geometry could be derived by Fourier transformation of spatial-frequency sensitivity data, that edges and contours could be detected by finding zero crossings in the light gradient by taking the Laplacian or second directional derivative, that excitatory and inhibitory receptive fields could be constructed from "DOG" functions (the difference of two Gaussians), and that the visual system used a two-dimensional convolution integral with a Gaussian prefilter as an operator for bandwidth optimization on the retinal light distribution, were more powerful than anything that had been seen up to that time.
It was as if vision research suddenly acquired its own Newtonian Principia Mathematica, or perhaps General Relativity Theory, in terms of the new explanatory power Marr's theories provided. Basically, in one fell swoop sensory neurobiology also became an area of theoretical physics rather than purely biology, giving the area a rigor and elegance never before seen--an amazing achievement for a young man who died so prematurely from leukemia at the age of 36.
The main point of all this is that all of these mechanisms are both mathematical and computable, although the way in which they're done in the brain is probably more like how a computer would use numerical analysis to solve a differential equation, rather than using the original equations in a purely analytical way themselves. Since Marr's time, there has been further progress in this area, such as the great Bela Julesz's demonstrations that the visual system can extract and compute binocular disparity cues point-by-point for depth information from abstract, non-representational pictures or textures such as random-dot stereograms, the extension of Marr's ideas about monochromatic edge detection into color edge detection, the mathematical bases of non-linear visual field distortions present in optical illusions, and many other areas.
Furthermore, in the last few years, the nature of consciousness itself has been shown to be composed of many different separate mechanisms in the brain that are being coordinated in time in order for consciousness to occur. It simply isn't one process or central program that runs in the brain, nor is there a "master" brain center that one can point to where it can be said that consciousness resides. I'm sure the progress of this research will also have implications for ideas about the nature and computability of consciousness.
So overall, a fascinating and enjoyable discussion about the brain and consciousness by Penrose, even if I don't completely accept one of his major ideas about it for the reasons that I discuss above.
Penrose: Science needs a "revolution"........2003-03-12
Let me first say something about Roger Penrose. One notices how certain other mathematicians and mathematical physicists speak of him. He is not only admired and respected; it seems that he is positively enjoyed! This may be a bit surprising when one notices that Penrose is something of a thorn in the side of several popular ideas in contemporary physics (and psychology). Cosmic inflation theories and ideas regarding the fundamental nature of quantum uncertainty find a formidable and articulate critic in the Oxford mathematician. Of the somewhat less popular, but ever fanciful "many-worlds" interpretation of quantum superpositioning, Penrose says "[the 'many-worlds' view] is not a very economical description of the Universe but I think things are rather worse than that for the many-worlds description. It is not just its lack of economy that worries me. The main problem is that it does not really solve the problem." He brings the same mental rapier to what he has called "the missing science" of mind and to the idea of computational / artificial intelligence. It is the problem of superpositioning described by Schrodinger and the decoherence caused by quantum measurement that prompt Penrose's search for an 'objective reduction' (OR) of quantum state vectors, the key ingredient in a "revolutionary" physical theory that remains a mystery. He speculates that this physical mystery may be related to the mystery of consciousness. He is unconvincing in this regard, but his ideas and arguments are quite interesting.
Well, let me now take this a bit further. Penrose also seems to terribly irk certain others! In particular he really raises the hackles of proponents of strong AI and the Dawkins/Dennett camp of 'consciousness-is-merely-mechanism' dogmatists. His views are much closer to those of perhaps most mathematicians and philosophers and stand on a deeper logical footing than do the doctrines that the human mind is mere biology. Let me say that I agree with Penrose in that the 'simple biology' view is never going to win this argument for reasons that can be demonstrated by the application of mathematical logic. To say that Penrose "doesn't understand biology" is to miss the point. The author freely admits, "there is a good deal of speculation in many of these ideas". Of course there is; science is largely -- we might even say wholly -- speculation. A more perceptive analysis would suggest that those committed to a rigid materialistic aesthetic don't understand (don't want to understand) the mathematics. Those who summarily dismiss Penrose do so unwisely. Given his contributions to mathematics (e.g., Penrose tiling, computability, mathematical logic) and his stature within the mathematics community, and given that the history of mathematics is essentially written by mathematicians, Roger Penrose may come to be considered the greatest mathematician of his generation. Given his work on black holes and space-time geometry (he recognizes the apparent "flatness" of the universe but suggests a more elegant geometry to describe that flatness), he may be one of his day's greatest physicists as well. Should his hunch ("OR") one day prove "true", his stature would approach that of a Newton or Einstein. The point being that any scientist who avoids or ignores Penrose's views, or is inclined to dismiss them by erroneously characterizing them, does so, as I say, unwisely.
Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are challenges to Penrose from A. Shimony, N. Cartwright, and S. Hawking, respectively. Apart from Shimony's discussion of A. N. Whitehead's views, its not on a par with the author's discourses; Cartwright suggests that nature may be a mess of "patchwork" laws (her view itself seems a horrible mess), and Hawking is disappointingly flippant. Penrose certainly meets these challenges.
I must say that the "controversy" over Penrose's Platonism is nothing less than nonsensical. Hawking complains "basically, he's a Platonist," as though calling him an offensive name and thereby granting the reader cause to disregard Penrose's arguments. That's unfortunate. Most of history's great minds have been Platonists; even Aristotle*, so often cited as the philosophical godfather of reductionism, was arguably a Platonist. Augustine, Kepler, Descartes, Pascal, Newton, Leibniz, Kant, Linnaeus, Einstein*, Schrödinger, Gödel, Whitehead -- the list of Platonists is long and impressive. As Penrose has said, "... it is my direct personal impression that the considerable majority of working mathematicians are at least 'weak' Platonists." Yet it seems as if some who call themselves "positivists" feel a calling to be science's mind-police. I suggest that this should be the real controversy... So-called positivists would do well to honesty consider Gödel's observation that the idea that mind/mentality is simply material is nothing more than the "prejudice of our time."
There is a rather child-like glee in the way Penrose sees and uses mathematics. His investigations and speculations are those of an extremely astute mind having fun! In his aggressive curiosity, his boldness, his clear-eyed honesty about the frailties of human thought and the limits of science, it seems to me that Penrose is something of a treasure and an inspiration. As he candidly states, "... the world-view that present-day physicists tend to present may well be grossly overstated as to its closeness to completion, or even to its correctness!" This volume presents a concise look at the Penrose ideas/arguments and even if nothing much ever comes of these arguments, they present a shining example of the kind of creative thinking that moves science into new frontiers.
*(footnote: While recognizing that it can easily be argued that Aristotle and Einstein were not "strong" Platonists, it seems obvious to me that they were each Platonists in some fundamental ways. I consider them to have been "weak" Platonists.)
It just doesn't work..........2002-04-08
Turned off by the strong AI type point of view of consciousness, yet looking for a scientific explanation, I have repeatedly turned to Penrose's work hoping he would have enlightening ideas. At first, he seems to be on the right track, but when he starts making conclusions, things go awry.
As a biology student, I can say that his understanding of biology seems mediocre at best. And physics may be even worse - in fact his skepticism about the "flatness" of the universe has recently been rendered bascially obsolete.
I feel that the unified brain quantum undulation camp, if you will (penrose, zohar) paint themselves into a frightful corner. For instance, penrose never explains why his microtubule ideas would apply to the brain in particular...we've got oodles of them in every cell in our body! Basically, these ideas try to strike out against the strong AI poing of view, but actually create a new version of it! It's not the neuron construction, they say, instead it's a mechanism even more arbitrarily linked to the brain!
Penrose seems to be a great mathematician...and should stick to that. Still searching for explanations...
Book Description
The debate between Bohr and Einstein, which raged in the 1920s and 1930s, is still highly relevant today. It involved the two greatest physicists of the twentieth century and played a large part in Einstein's going into an effective scientific exile. The debate concerned the quantum theory, probably the most successful physical theory of all time. This book explores the details of the conflict, as well as its significance for contemporary views on the foundations of quantum theory. The author gives sympathetic accounts of the views of both Bohr and Einstein, and a thorough study of the argument between them. The book also includes nontechnical and nonmathematical accounts of the development of quantum theory and relativity, as well as the work of David Bohm and John Bell in the 1950s and 1960s that restored interest in Einstein's views. The author also includes a full account of the many current experimental and theoretical developments in quantum theory.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent overview.......2006-08-17
For students of physics, professional physicists and interested lay persons this is undoubtedly the most complete and objective overview of the many 'interpretations' of quantum mechanics as of today. For those interested in looking "behind the mathematical formalism of QM" an absolute must read.
One minor point of critique though: this book explicitly addresses lay persons (which is supposedly why you won't find many equations in the book). Although in chapters 2 - 4 prof Whitaker splendidly epitomizes the evolution of classical (with a glance at relativity) and quantum mechanics, I fear those readers not already familiar with physics may find this a little too terse (a lot of ground is covered in very few pages). Chapters 5 - 7 explaining the Bohr-Einstein debate and Bell's theorem are simply splendid reading for everyone. Chapter 8, rounding up recent developments, is very comprehensive, but again, the average lay person may find the summaries of quite a number of recent articles a bit tedious in the end (but ideal for students or physicists). Chapter 9 introduces quantum information theory, again a very good overview, but in my opinion a bit out of place and surely a subject that is worthy of a book on its own.
All in all, there are many good popular science books out there explaining one or two QM interpretations, but this one covers them all, and it's absolutely the best explaining the Bohr-Einstein debate and the impact of Bell's theorem on this debate.
Superb history and introduction.......2006-05-20
This is not a textbook; it is a combined history and introduction to modern physics. It is clear, well written and a good starting point for anyone interested in Relativity or Quantum Theory.
A truly excellent book.......2001-04-27
I have found this to be an extremely helpful book due to my interests in physics. It is an interesting philosophical taint on a subject matter which is mostly fought in obscure mathematics. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in quantum physics philosophies.
Dillema is spelt "dilemma".......2000-07-11
This book is an excellent introduction, summary of and history of the debate on interpretation of quantum theory, a subject which demands careful reading. As such, it may be read to profit by those interested in some of the twists and turns of "received opinion". It is not for those who might like their pages covered in equations (- the text discusses J S Bell's elucidation of Von Neumann's errors on the subject of hidden variable theories - a clear case where the mathematics concealed rather than revealed). The book is widely referenced which should have enough range of material to satisfy and extend readers at all levels. In my top ten on the subject area.
Dillema is spelt "dilemma".......2000-07-11
This book is an excellent introduction, summary of and history of the debate on interpretation of quantum theory, a subject which demands careful reading. As such, it may be read to profit by those interested in some of the twists and turns of "received opinion". It is not for those who might like their pages covered in equations (- the text discusses J S Bell's elucidation of Von Neumann's errors on the subject of hidden variable theories - a clear case where the mathematics concealed rather than revealed). The book is widely referenced which should have enough range of material to satisfy and extend readers at all levels. In my top ten on the subject area.
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