Einstein's Dice and Schrödinger's Cat

How Two Great Minds Battled Quantum Randomness to Create a Unified Theory of Physics

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Physics, General Physics
Cover of the book Einstein's Dice and Schrödinger's Cat by Paul Halpern, Basic Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Paul Halpern ISBN: 9780465040650
Publisher: Basic Books Publication: April 14, 2015
Imprint: Basic Books Language: English
Author: Paul Halpern
ISBN: 9780465040650
Publisher: Basic Books
Publication: April 14, 2015
Imprint: Basic Books
Language: English

"A fascinating and thought-provoking story, one that sheds light on the origins of... the current challenging situation in physics."

--Wall Street Journal

When the fuzzy indeterminacy of quantum mechanics overthrew the orderly world of Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrödinger were at the forefront of the revolution. Neither man was ever satisfied with the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics, however, and both rebelled against what they considered the most preposterous aspect of quantum mechanics: its randomness. Einstein famously quipped that God does not play dice with the universe, and Schrödinger constructed his famous fable of a cat that was neither alive nor dead not to explain quantum mechanics but to highlight the apparent absurdity of a theory gone wrong. But these two giants did more than just criticize: they fought back, seeking a Theory of Everything that would make the universe seem sensible again.

In Einstein's Dice and Schrödinger's Cat, physicist Paul Halpern tells the little-known story of how Einstein and Schrödinger searched, first as collaborators and then as competitors, for a theory that transcended quantum weirdness. This story of their quest-which ultimately failed-provides readers with new insights into the history of physics and the lives and work of two scientists whose obsessions drove its progress.

Today, much of modern physics remains focused on the search for a Theory of Everything. As Halpern explains, the recent discovery of the Higgs Boson makes the Standard Model-the closest thing we have to a unified theory- nearly complete. And while Einstein and Schrödinger failed in their attempt to explain everything in the cosmos through pure geometry, the development of string theory has, in its own quantum way, brought this idea back into vogue. As in so many things, even when they were wrong, Einstein and Schrödinger couldn't help but get a great deal right.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

"A fascinating and thought-provoking story, one that sheds light on the origins of... the current challenging situation in physics."

--Wall Street Journal

When the fuzzy indeterminacy of quantum mechanics overthrew the orderly world of Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrödinger were at the forefront of the revolution. Neither man was ever satisfied with the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics, however, and both rebelled against what they considered the most preposterous aspect of quantum mechanics: its randomness. Einstein famously quipped that God does not play dice with the universe, and Schrödinger constructed his famous fable of a cat that was neither alive nor dead not to explain quantum mechanics but to highlight the apparent absurdity of a theory gone wrong. But these two giants did more than just criticize: they fought back, seeking a Theory of Everything that would make the universe seem sensible again.

In Einstein's Dice and Schrödinger's Cat, physicist Paul Halpern tells the little-known story of how Einstein and Schrödinger searched, first as collaborators and then as competitors, for a theory that transcended quantum weirdness. This story of their quest-which ultimately failed-provides readers with new insights into the history of physics and the lives and work of two scientists whose obsessions drove its progress.

Today, much of modern physics remains focused on the search for a Theory of Everything. As Halpern explains, the recent discovery of the Higgs Boson makes the Standard Model-the closest thing we have to a unified theory- nearly complete. And while Einstein and Schrödinger failed in their attempt to explain everything in the cosmos through pure geometry, the development of string theory has, in its own quantum way, brought this idea back into vogue. As in so many things, even when they were wrong, Einstein and Schrödinger couldn't help but get a great deal right.

More books from Basic Books

Cover of the book A Land So Strange by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book Pale Girl Speaks by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book The Infinity Puzzle by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book Meathooked by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book Patterns In The Mind by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book A History of American Sports in 100 Objects by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book The Bottomless Well by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book Games Primates Play, International Edition by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book Science In Public by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book Don't Tell Me to Wait by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book Should I Medicate My Child? by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book Lying About Hitler by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book The Positive Power Of Negative Thinking by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book The Universe Speaks in Numbers by Paul Halpern
Cover of the book Tournament of Shadows by Paul Halpern
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy