Basic Physics Of Quantum Theory, The. Basil S Davis

Basic Physics Of Quantum Theory, The

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The Basic Physics of

Quantum

Theory

The Basic Physics of

Quantum

Theory

Basil S Davis

Xavier University of Louisiana, USA

Published by

World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore 596224

USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite 401-402, Hackensack, NJ 07601

UK office: 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020015390

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

THE BASIC PHYSICS OF QUANTUM THEORY

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher.

For photocopying of material in this volume, please pay a copying fee through the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. In this case permission to photocopy is not required from the publisher.

ISBN 978-981-121-939-9 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-981-121-995-5 (paperback)

ISBN 978-981-121-940-5 (ebook for institutions)

ISBN 978-981-121-941-2 (ebook for individuals)

For any available supplementary material, please visit

https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/11801#t=suppl

Printed in Singapore

Preface

This book arose out of a one-semester class for non-science majors that I taught at Tulane University in Fall 2016. None of the students had taken any college level physics, and some had studied no physics even in high school. While it is fair to say that the course challenged the students, all 33 of them passed the class, thereby demonstrating their adequate grasp of quantum theory. I therefore know from experience that anyone can learn quantum theory with the proper guidance. And so I have written this book for all who wish to learn this subject, to be used either as a college textbook or by individual readers who wish to improve their own understanding of physics.

I owe a special debt of gratitude to Dr. Jim McGuire, who as Chair of the physics department of Tulane invited me to do a doctorate in physics, to Dr. Lev Kaplan, my doctoral advisor, whose cheerful patience made every one of our meetings a delight, and to Dr. John Perdew, who as my quantum mechanics professor inspired a deep love for the subject in me. It is seldom that one meets such brilliant physicists who are also men of genuine compassion with a total commitment to their students. It is a matter of pride and honor for me to call them my friends.

I am particularly grateful to my wife Shyla who gave her full support to my decision to pursue a career in science and embraced the challenges that accompanied that decision. It is with much love that I dedicate this book to Shyla and to our three children Melinda, Jessica and Peter who have accompanied me, whether they like it or not, in my quest for the ultimate realities of the universe.

Basil S. Davis

New Orleans, 2020.

Contents

Preface

1.Introduction

1.1A new understanding of reality

1.2A theory of particles and fields

1.3Outline of the book

2.Newtonian Physics

2.1Observation of the night sky

2.2Measurement of time

2.3Ptolemy’s model