The Physics of Chance: From Blaise Pascal to Niels Bohr - Couverture souple

Ruhla, Charles

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0198539770 ISBN 13 : 9780198539773

Editeur : Oxford University Press, 1992

Synopsis

This is an introduction to the ideas of randomness that are central to much of modern physics and have overthrown the "clock-work universe" conceptions of earlier centuries. The author shows how the laws of probability and statistics were developed by such mathematicians as Fermat, Pascal, and Gauss, and how they received their first major application in physics in the kinetic theory of gases developed by Maxwell and Boltzmann. Here the use of statistics is necessary because the number of particles involved is too great for a deterministic calculation. But soon the mathematician and physicist Poincare demonstrated the unpredictability if certain systems containing only a small number of bodies, because of extreme sensitivity to initial conditions. He thus became a founder of chaos theory. Finally, with the advent of quantum theory, physics seemed to be based on an essential randomness, whose reality was debated by Bohr and Einstein till the end of their lives. Only recently, in the experiments of Alain Aspect, has a convincing demonstration been given the inescapable randomness of quantum theory is a fact of nature. Professor Ruhla guides the reader skilfully through all these developments and provides mathematical details in appendices. The book provides an accessible introduction to the modern physicist's conception of the world of cause and chance.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

This is an introduction to the ideas of randomness that are central to much of modern physics and have overthrown the `clock-work universe' conceptions of earlier centuries. The author shows how the laws of probability and statistics were developed by such mathematicians as Fermat, Pascal, and Gauss, and how they received their first major application in physics in the kinetic theory of gases developed by Maxwell and Boltzmann. Here the use of statistics is necessary because the number of particles involved is too great for a deterministic calculation. But soon the mathematician and physicist Poincare demonstrated the unpredictability of certain systems containing only a small number of bodies, because of extreme sensitivity to initial conditions. He thus became a founder of chaos theory. Finally with the advent of quantum theory, physics seemed to be based on an essential randomness, whose reality was debated by Bohr and Einstein till the end of their lives. Only recently, in the experiments of Alain Aspect, has a convincing demonstration been given that the inescapable randomness of quantum theory is a fact of nature. Professor Ruhla guides the reader skilfully through all these developments and provides mathematical details in appendices. The book provides an accessible introduction to the modern physicist's conception of the world of cause and chance.

Revue de presse

'He has a clear and lively style, and the text is excellently translated from the original French.' Sir Brian Pippard, University of Cambridge, Nature

'it is an interesting book that addresses one of the most important philosophical questions around.' Tania Montero, Royal Holloway College, New Scientist, September 1993

'This is an excellent monograph covering all aspects of physics which are influenced by probability ... very readable and interesting, and also useful to practising physicists - particularly those involved in teaching physics.' John Bell, University of Technology, Sydney, Australian & New Zealand Physicist, Volume 30, Number 7, July 1993

'Charles Ruhla has written a splendid book ... which the new students of such things will find accessible and entertaining. This is a lovely book which will stimulate the imagination of any reader, whether a freshman student or a lecturer quarrying the text for ideas for courses. I strongly recommend it.' Professor P.L. Knight, Imperial College, London,. Contemporary Physics, 1993, volume 34, number 3

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Oxford University Press
• Date d'édition: 1992
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0198539770
• ISBN 13: 9780198539773
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 234
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: Messaggerie Libri ; ufficio.anagrafiche@meli.it; ; Via Verdi, 8; Assago Milano; Italie