UID:
edocfu_9959235739702883
Format:
1 online resource (302 p.)
ISBN:
981-279-262-7
Uniform Title:
Selections
Content:
N G van Kampen is a well-known theoretical physicist who has had a long and distinguished career. His research covers scattering theory, plasma physics, statistical mechanics, and various mathematical aspects of physics. In addition to his scientific work, he has written a number of papers about more general aspects of science. An indefatigable fighter for intellectual honesty and clarity, he has pointed out repeatedly that the fundamental ideas of physics have been needlessly obscured.As those papers appeared in various journals, partly in Dutch, it was felt that it would be worthwhile to col
Note:
Description based upon print version of record.
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Preface; CONTENTS; Prologue; CHAPTER I PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICS; PHYSICS, IS IT A SCIENCE?; WHAT IS SCIENCE?; References; DETERMINISM AND PREDICTABILITY; 1. INTRODUCTION; 2. LAPLACIAN DETERMINISM; 3. PREDICTABILITY; 4. PREDICTABILITY IN PHYSICS; 5. INSTABILITIES; 6. SUMMARY OF STATISTICAL MECHANICS; NOTES; REFERENCES; THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING; MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PHYSICS; Notes; QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS; THE RETREAT OF RATIONALITY; CHAPTER II STATISTICAL MECHANICS; IRREVERSIBILITY; PROBABILITY IN THEORETICAL PHYSICS; ENTROPY; A measure for disorder?; Lack of information?
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PROBABILITY AND NOISE IN PHYSICSReferences; THE FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION; References; INTRODUCTION TO CHAOS THEORY; Examples.; Remark.; FROM STATISTICAL MECHANICS TO QUANTUM THEORY; An example from mathematics.; Statistical mechanics.; Statistical mechanics outside equilibrium.; Is quantum mechanics mysterious?; Quantum mechanics is not mysterious.; HOW DO STOCHASTIC PROCESSES ENTER INTO PHYSICS?; References; CHAPTER III QUANTUM MECHANICS; ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS PROBLEMATICAL?; Literature; TEN THEOREMS ABOUT QUANTUM MECHANICAL MEASUREMENTS; 1. Formulation of the problem
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2. Preliminary remarks about quantum mechanics3. The measuring process according to von Neumann; 4. Macroscopic systems; 5. Schrödinger's cat; 6. A model for a measuring apparatus; 7. The collapse of the wave function; References; POSTMODERN OBSCURANTISM; Introduction; Model of a quantum mechanical measurement; The measurement; Macroscopic systems; Final remarks; References; QUANTUM CHAOS; Introduction about classical chaos; The semi-classical approach; A pragmatic approach; Statistical mechanics; References; AGAINST BELL; MYSTERY OF QUANTUM MEASUREMENT; CHAPTER IV ATAVISMS
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REVIEW OF A BOOK BY LOUIS DE BROGLIEA REDUNDANT THEORY; CHANCE IS NOT ACCIDENTAL; THE DANGER OF POPULARIZATION; CHAPTER V GREAT PHYSICISTS; COPERNICUS; Notes; THE LEGACY OF SMOLUCHOWSKI AND EINSTEIN IN STATISTICAL PHYSICS; DRESDEN'S LIFE OF KRAMERS; REMEMBERING KRAMERS; H.A. KRAMERS: 17 December 1894 - 24 April 1952; References; KRAMERS AND THE PROBLEM OF ESCAPE OVER A BARRIER; HISTORIOGRAPHY AND THE WORK OF H. A. KRAMERS; References; EINSTEIN'S EARLY YEARS; LEON CHARLES PRUDENT VAN HOVE; EUGENE PAUL WIGNER; CHAPTER VI MISCELLANEOUS; SPACE TRAVEL AND PHYSICS; Introduction; Plasma physics
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The critical pointThe theory of relativity; The clock paradox; PHYSICS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY; 1. The preceding development; 2. The inheritance of the nineteenth century; 3. The theory of relativity; 4. Quantum mechanics; 5. Statistical mechanics; 6. The physics of small particles; 7. Trespassing across borders; 8. Expectations; References; MEMORABLE EVENTS IN HISTORY; THE DANGER OF SCIENCE MANAGEMENT; BIBLIOMETRY - IS IT A SCIENCE?; BIZARRE SCIENCE; PHYSICS AND THE PARANORMAL; Apology; Phenomena at variance with physics; Phenomena outside the scope of physics; Misuse of physics
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Quantum mechanics
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English
Additional Edition:
ISBN 981-02-4357-X
Language:
English
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