Philosophy of Physics
Regular price
101.750 KD
inc. VAT
Couldn't load pickup availability
Table of contents
- Cover
- Table of Contentsix
- General Prefacev
- Introductionxiii
- List of Contributorsxxiii
- Part A1
- On Symplectic Reduction in Classical Mechanics1
- 1 Introduction1
- 2 Symplectic reduction: an overview8
- 3 Some geometric tools29
- 4 Actions of lie groups56
- 5 Poisson manifolds79
- 6 Symmetry and conservation revisited: Momentum maps103
- 7 Reduction119
- Acknowledgements130
- Bibliography130
- The Representation of Time and Change in Mechanics133
- 1 Introduction133
- 2 Hamiltonian and lagrangian mechanics139
- 3 Symplectic matters146
- 4 Lagrangian field theory154
- 5 Time and change in well-behaved field theories162
- 6 Complications171
- 7 The problem of time in general relativity196
- Acknowledgements221
- Bibliography221
- Classical Relativity Theory229
- 1 Introduction229
- 2 The structure of relativity theory230
- 3 Special topics256
- Acknowledgements271
- Bibliography272
- Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics275
- 1 The theory276
- 2 Whence the kinematical formalism?309
- 3 Empirical content321
- 4 Uncertainty339
- 5 The ‘measurement problem’355
- 6 Non-locality381
- 7 Mathematical appendix397
- Acknowledgements409
- Bibliography409
- Between Classical and Quantum417
- 1 Introduction417
- 2 Early history422
- 3 Copenhagen: A reappraisal433
- 4 Quantization446
- 5 The limit ℏ → 0471
- 6 The limit N → ∞492
- 7 Why classical states and observables?515
- 8 Epilogue530
- Acknowledgements531
- Bibliography531
- Quantum Information and Computing555
- 1 Introduction555
- 2 Classical information557
- 3 Quantum information565
- 4 Entanglement assisted quantum communication590
- 5 Quantum cryptography594
- 6 Quantum computation614
- 7 Quantum foundations from the perspective of quantum information632
- Acknowledgements655
- Bibliography655
- The Conceptual Basis of Quantum Field Theory661
- 1 Introduction to the notion of quantized fields661
- 2 Scalar fields663
- 3 Spinor fields678
- 4 Gauge fields684
- 5 The brout-englert-higgs mechanism694
- 6 Unitarity699
- 7 Renormalization707
- 8 Anomalies712
- 9 Asymptotic freedom716
- 10 Topological twists719
- 11 Confinement723
- 12 Outlook725
- Bibliography727
- Algebraic Quantum Field Theory731
- Introduction731
- 1 Algebraic prolegomena732
- 2 Structure of the net of observable algebras740
- 3 Nonlocality and open systems in AQFT752
- 4 Prospects for particles758
- 5 The problem of value-definiteness in AQFT763
- 6 Quantum fields and spacetime points768
- 7 The problem of inequivalent representations780
- 8 The category Δ of localized transportable endomorphisms785
- 9 From fields to representations808
- 10 From representations to fields816
- 11 Foundational implications of the reconstruction theorem842
- Acknowledgements857
- Bibliography857
- Appendix: Abstract Duality Theory for Symmetric Tensor *-Categories865
- A Categorical preliminaries865
- B Abstract duality theory for symmetric tensor *-Categories883
- Part B922b
- Compendium of the Foundations of Classical Statistical Physics923
- 1 Introduction923
- 2 Orthodox thermodynamics932
- 3 Kinetic theory from bernoulli to maxwell941
- 4 Boltzmann952
- 5 Gibbs’ statistical mechanics992
- 6 Modern approaches to statistical mechanics1005
- 7 Stochastic dynamics1038
- Bibliography1063
- Quantum Statistical Physics1075
- 1 Introduction1075
- 2 Early successes1077
- 3 Axiomatic prunings1088
- 4 The KMS condition for equilibrium1114
- 5 KMS condition, QSP and thermodynamics1122
- 6 Whence and whither QSP?1155
- Bibliography1170
- Issues in the Philosophy of Cosmology1183
- 1 Introduction1183
- 2 Outline of cosmology1185
- 3 Issue A: The uniqueness of the universe1216
- 4 Issue B: The large scale of the universe in space and time1220
- 5 Issue C: The unbound energies in the early universe1232
- 6 Issue D: Explaining the universe „ The question of origins1234
- 7 Issue E: The universe as the background for existence1238
- 8 Issue F: The explicit philosophical basis1242
- 9 Key issues1248
- 10 Conclusion1272
- Acknowledgement1274
- Bibliography1275
- Summary table of issues and theses1284
- Quantum Gravity1287
- 1 Introduction1287
- 2 Approaches1290
- 3 Methodological issues1303
- 4 The nature of space and time1306
- 5 Relation with other open problems1320
- 6 Conclusion1323
- Acknowledgements1324
- Bibliographical note1324
- Bibliography1325
- Symmetries and Invariances in Classical Physics1331
- 1 Introduction1331
- 2 Symmetries of objects and of laws1332
- 3 Symmetry and group theory: Early history1337
- 4 What are symmetries in physics? Definitions and varieties1342
- 5 Some applications of symmetries in classical physics1345
- 6 General covariance in general relativity1349
- 7 Noether’s theorems1355
- 8 The interpretation of symmetries in classical physics1359
- Acknowledgements1364
- Bibliography1364
- Aspects of Determinism in Modern Physics1369
- 1 Introduction1369
- 2 Preliminaries1369
- 3 Determinism and indeterminism in classical physics1375
- 4 Determinism in special relativistic physics1393
- 5 Determinism and indeterminism in ordinary QM1399
- 6 Determinism in classical GTR1409
- 7 Determinism in relativistic QFT1423
- 8 Determinism and quantum gravity1424
- 9 Conclusion1428
- Acknowledgement1429
- Bibliography1429
- Index1435
The ambition of this volume is twofold: to provide a comprehensive overview of the field and to serve as an indispensable reference work for anyone who wants to work in it. For example, any philosopher who hopes to make a contribution to the topic of the classical-quantum correspondence will have to begin by consulting Klaas Landsman’s chapter.
The organization of this volume, as well as the choice of topics, is based on the conviction that the important problems in the philosophy of physics arise from studying the foundations of the fundamental theories of physics. It follows that there is no sharp line to be drawn between philosophy of physics and physics itself. Some of the best work in the philosophy of physics is being done by physicists, as witnessed by the fact that several of the contributors to the volume are theoretical physicists: viz., Ellis, Emch, Harvey, Landsman, Rovelli, ‘t Hooft, the last of whom is a Nobel laureate.
The organization of this volume, as well as the choice of topics, is based on the conviction that the important problems in the philosophy of physics arise from studying the foundations of the fundamental theories of physics. It follows that there is no sharp line to be drawn between philosophy of physics and physics itself. Some of the best work in the philosophy of physics is being done by physicists, as witnessed by the fact that several of the contributors to the volume are theoretical physicists: viz., Ellis, Emch, Harvey, Landsman, Rovelli, ‘t Hooft, the last of whom is a Nobel laureate.
Key features
- Definitive discussions of the philosophical implications of modern physics
- Masterly expositions of the fundamental theories of modern physics
- Covers all three main pillars of modern physics: relativity theory, quantum theory, and thermal physics
- Covers the new sciences grown from these theories: for example, cosmology from relativity theory; and quantum information and quantum computing, from quantum theory
- Contains special Chapters that address crucial topics that arise in several different theories, such as symmetry and determinism
- Written by very distinguished theoretical physicists, including a Nobel Laureate, as well as by philosophers
- Definitive discussions of the philosophical implications of modern physics
- Masterly expositions of the fundamental theories of modern physics
- Covers all three main pillars of modern physics: relativity theory, quantum theory, and thermal physics
- Covers the new sciences that have grown from these theories: for example, cosmology from relativity theory; and quantum information and quantum computing, from quantum theory
- Contains special Chapters that address crucial topics that arise in several different theories, such as symmetry and determinism
- Written by very distinguished theoretical physicists, including a Nobel Laureate, as well as by philosophers