Beyond Measure: Modern Physics, Philosophy and the Meaning of Quantum Theory

Quantum theory is one of the most important and successful theories of modern physical science. This book grounds the discussion of the theory's problems directly in its mathematical formalism in a way that under-graduate students and interested individuals can follow. Quantum theory is one of the most important and successful theories of modern physical science. A fact all the more remarkable because quatum theory is a theory that few understand. Most academic textbooks on the subject are written for specialists, filled with complex jargon and dense mathematics. In contrast there are many popular presentations of the inherent 'weirdness' of the quantum world that are light on jargon and contain no mathematics.Together these presentations serve to create the impression that there are two theories - the 'serious, one and the 'wierd' one. Baggott successfully bridges the gulf between these presentations by grounding the discussion of the theory's profound problems directly in its mathematical formalism in a way that under-graduate students and interested individuals can follow.