Consistent Quantum Theory Robert B Griffiths 9780511606052 Books
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This volume elucidates the consistent quantum theory approach to quantum mechanics at a level accessible to university students in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science, making this an ideal supplement to standard textbooks. Griffiths provides a clear explanation of points not yet adequately treated in traditional texts and which students find confusing, as do their teachers. The book will also be of interest to physicists and philosophers working on the foundations of quantum mechanics.
Consistent Quantum Theory Robert B Griffiths 9780511606052 Books
This is a very interesting, clearly written introduction to the consistent histories (CH) interpretation of quantum mechanics that addresses many of the short-comings of the traditional Copenhagen interpretation. The book is self-contained and should be easy to understand for anyone with some prior exposure to quantum physics, linear algebra, and probability. While people curious about quantum mechanics and its interpretations could read this book by itself, physics students should read it as a supplement to standard textbooks.After laying out the basic principles of quantum theory, Griffiths introduces consistent families of quantum histories and illustrates how they can be applied to quantum phenomena. He argues convincingly that applying CH principles avoids the confusion that many people feel when learning quantum mechanics. He then introduces a key principle called the "single-framework rule" which prohibits combining conclusions from inconsistent families of histories. The second half of the book discusses measurements in the context of quantum physics and explores many of the famous paradoxes of quantum theory, showing that they all result from violations of the single-framework rule.
One of the strengths of the CH interpretation is that it addresses the measurement problem of quantum mechanics in a way that applies the same quantum principles to all physical processes including measurements. Griffiths interprets the so-called "collapse" of the wave function introduced by von Neumann as a mathematical procedure for calculating probabilistic correlations rather than as an actual physical phenomenon. This approach avoids non-local effects and eliminates the need to assign any special role to conscious beings.
One thing did bother me about the CH approach: in many situations a physicist can select multiple incompatible frameworks of consistent histories to describe physical phenomena and derive contradictory conclusions from them. While Griffiths argues that incompatible frameworks cannot lead to contradictory results if they share the same initial data, a physicist is free to ignore some or all of the initial data available to him (via measurements) when constructing a family of consistent histories. The CH interpretation could benefit from some additional rules that would restrict the choice of frameworks.
Despite this objection, I enjoyed this book very much and encourage everyone interested in quantum mechanics to read it.
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Consistent Quantum Theory Robert B Griffiths 9780511606052 Books Reviews
I doubt that even at the time it was formulated anyone really considered the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics to be fundamental. I would guess that even then it was looked at as a provisional point of view that was good enough to allow work to continue. Among its problems are the assumed existence of a classical world, that there are external observers (since quantum mechanics applies to the universe this is clearly a problem) and that these external observers play some sort of fundamental role in quantum mechanics. One unfortunate consequence of this is that it is easy to get the impression that there are two kinds of dynamical processes in quantum mechanics, unitary evolution and wavefunction collapse, the latter of which seems to violate the spirit of special relativity. This book provides important material that will help students avoid these misconceptions.
This book presents the consistent histories formulation of quantum mechanics. This approach has the advantage of not requiring external observers and that wavefunction collapse is seen a calculatingly tool.
It begins with an overview of many quantum mechanics concepts, most of which would be familiar to what I believe to be the intended audience, people already familiar with quantum mechanics at least at the level of a good undergraduate course. This includes things like wavefunctions, Schrodinger's equation, Dirac notation, observables and Hermitian operators, probability and more.
The concept of consistent histories is then introduced. Consistent histories are used in the book to analyze the common paradoxes of quantum mechanics such as Schrodinger's cat and the EPR paradox. In addition, some less common ones are considered. One strength of the book is that it clarifies concepts with toy models (usually quantum systems with a finite number of states) that simplify the physics as much as possible. There is also some material that I do not recall seeing elsewhere, such as a nice discussion of counterfactual arguments. One quibble is that I would have like to have seen an expanded discussion of decoherence, but he may have omitted that because such discussions appear elsewhere.
What is the audience? It won't help you calculate scattering cross sections or the energy levels of a hydrogen atom, but it should help you understand the concepts of quantum mechanics better.
I always had difficulties with the "Copenhagen-Bohr" interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, which presents a bewildering view on how a quantum system develops and is influenced by observations.
The way Griffiths treats the material, plays with toy models en clears all sorts of paradoxes is most reassuring and facilitates the acceptance of this wonderful piece of science.
An up to date knowledge of physics at graduate level and an interest in QM is sufficient to read and understand the book.
This is a very interesting, clearly written introduction to the consistent histories (CH) interpretation of quantum mechanics that addresses many of the short-comings of the traditional Copenhagen interpretation. The book is self-contained and should be easy to understand for anyone with some prior exposure to quantum physics, linear algebra, and probability. While people curious about quantum mechanics and its interpretations could read this book by itself, physics students should read it as a supplement to standard textbooks.
After laying out the basic principles of quantum theory, Griffiths introduces consistent families of quantum histories and illustrates how they can be applied to quantum phenomena. He argues convincingly that applying CH principles avoids the confusion that many people feel when learning quantum mechanics. He then introduces a key principle called the "single-framework rule" which prohibits combining conclusions from inconsistent families of histories. The second half of the book discusses measurements in the context of quantum physics and explores many of the famous paradoxes of quantum theory, showing that they all result from violations of the single-framework rule.
One of the strengths of the CH interpretation is that it addresses the measurement problem of quantum mechanics in a way that applies the same quantum principles to all physical processes including measurements. Griffiths interprets the so-called "collapse" of the wave function introduced by von Neumann as a mathematical procedure for calculating probabilistic correlations rather than as an actual physical phenomenon. This approach avoids non-local effects and eliminates the need to assign any special role to conscious beings.
One thing did bother me about the CH approach in many situations a physicist can select multiple incompatible frameworks of consistent histories to describe physical phenomena and derive contradictory conclusions from them. While Griffiths argues that incompatible frameworks cannot lead to contradictory results if they share the same initial data, a physicist is free to ignore some or all of the initial data available to him (via measurements) when constructing a family of consistent histories. The CH interpretation could benefit from some additional rules that would restrict the choice of frameworks.
Despite this objection, I enjoyed this book very much and encourage everyone interested in quantum mechanics to read it.
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