The Meaning of Quantum Theory: A Guide for Students of Chemistry and Physics (Oxford Science Publications) 1st Edition

An excellent coverage of all things quantum theory. It starts off going over the foundations and concepts of quantum theory, similar to the concepts you would learn in an undergraduate course. Baggott goes over the foundations concisely and logically. It's no textbook (as he says at the beginning) but it's fantastic as a refresher or to solidify your understanding of the concepts. The second part of the book is a discussion of the interpretations of quantum mechanics, looking at the Copenhagen interpretation, hidden variables, many worlds etc. It's a very good account of all the most popular theories, and understanding this book is a great way to get yourself thinking of quantum mechanics in a deeper way then an undergraduate course will give you.

This is the best book I've read on the philosophy of quantum mechanics, complete with mathematical detail. Non-technical readers can appreciate the book without following the math, but for curious students of physics, chemistry, and engineering, this book is a true jewel. I believe all serious students of philosophy should also read this.

I ordered this for my son who is majoring in math & physics. The book is used but in excellent condition. It was a great bargain and my son loves it.

Jim Baggot's ' The Meaning of Quantum Theory' is an excellent book and this reviewer is happy to recommend it to anyone trying the understand what quantum physics is all about. Of course, in the process he makes it clear that a full understanding is not yet available.Although it is not a large book, it is reasonably comprehensive in it's coverage of the topic, where it gives the reader a good outline of the mysteries of quantum world. It is not a popular science book. The author does not shirk from including essential mathematics. It is as the expanded title says: 'A Guide for Students of Chemistry and Physics', and of course those with a scientific backround who are interested in the topic.The mathematics is, though, mainly confined to one chapter. Overall, the book explains the mysteries of the quantum world in a clear and precise manner (insofar as they can be explained). This reviewer is, however, not impressed with the 'Many Worlds' interpretation but I suppose it has to be covered and it is dealt with towards the end of the book.Whether, as indicated by the title of the book: ' The Meaning of Quantum Theory', Quantum Physics has meaning is a debatable point, which is more in the region of philosophy rather than science. It could encourage those who try to connect Quantum Physics to Eastern mysticism to come up with their 'ideas' as to what it is all about. Rather, the book's third chapter: ' Quantum Theory: What Does it Mean' has a different connoctation and is what has occupied a lot of minds over the years. Again, the book's closing chapter entitled 'The hand of God' might also have been better left to a book on philosophy rather than a book on Quantum Physics which is supposed to be aimed at students of Physics and Chemistry.These, though, are minor criticisms which do not really detract from the book's overall merit.

super fast delivery, I loved the product

This is the best exposition of the subject I have ever read. It should be the introductory text for all advanced students.CAB

excellent!

This book covers pretty much the same ground as Gribbins "In Search of Schrodingers Cat", but does so in a more mathematical manner. The math is not overly complex, it does not go beyond algebra, but does use very complicated notation systems (including Dirac's bracket notation). The reader should be familiar with the concept of an operator and not be frightened by the sight of partial differential equations, although none are actually solved. The book is aimed at students of Chemistry and Physics, but it is not a textbook per se, but rather an adjunct to a quantum theory text. This book is about the meaning of quantum theory, rather than about solving specific quantum problems. It focuses on the implications of the various interpretations of quantum theory. It not only goes into the standard Copenhagen interpretation (developed by Niels Bohr and colleagues) and the objections to it raised by Einstein and others, but also goes into several other interpretations, such as Einstein's hidden variable idea, DeBroglie's pilot waves and Bohm's quantum potentials. Baggott not only develops these other ideas, but also shows where many have been abandoned by their developers or proved to be inconsistent with quantum theory and experimental data.By using some math the book Baggott is able to derive the Schridinger wave equation is a very simple manner. This derivation comes from Schrodingers own notebooks and is much simpler than the more sophisticated one that Schrodinger used in his paper describing the wave equation. Baggott also shows where the uncertainty principle comes from and why it is inherent in the mathematics of wave and matrix mechanics because it is a feature of all non-commuting operators. In my opinion the derivation of the wave equation and this analysis of the uncertainty principle are alone worth the price of the book.Baggott also goes into the EPR thought experiment, derives Bell's inequality and describes in some detail the various tests for the EPR experiment and Bell's inequality. Much of this material is also included in "In Search of Schrodingers Cat", but because no math is included, Gribbin's discussion is not as detailed or complete as Baggott's. (This is not a criticism of Gribbin's book, as it is aimed at a more general audience.)Baggott's book a great choice for someone studying quantum mechanics, but is probably beyond those with an insufficient background in mathematics. I recommend Gribbins "In Search of Schrodingers Cat" (see my review of this book for more details on it) for those who want a non-mathematical treatment of this subject.