Rational Reconstructions of Modern Physics (eBook)

Preface 6
Acknowledgements 8
Introduction 10
Contents 12
Chapter 1: Rise and Fall of Physical Theories 14
1.1 The Evolution of Modern Physics from the Classical World 14
1.2 Intuitiveness and Truth of Modern Physics 18
1.3 The New Approach: Reduction and Elimination of Metaphysical Hypotheses 19
Chapter 2: Reconstruction of Special and General Relativity 24
2.1 Historical Development Versus Rational Reconstruction 24
2.2 Reconstruction of Special Relativity 25
2.2.1 Transformations Between Inertial Systems 28
2.2.2 Digression: Derivation of the Galilei Transformation 29
2.2.3 End of the Digression 32
2.3 Space-Time Intervals and Relativistic Mechanics 38
2.3.1 Measurements of Space-Time Intervals 38
2.3.1.1 Relativity of Distant Simultaneity 40
2.3.1.2 Time Dilatation 40
2.3.1.3 Lorentz Contraction 41
2.3.2 Relativistic Kinematics and Dynamics 43
2.3.2.1 Relativistic Velocity 43
2.3.2.2 Relativistic Acceleration 44
2.4 The Numerical Value of the Constant omega: The First Answer to the Problem 47
2.4.1 The Invariance of the Einstein-Synchronisation 48
2.4.2 Time Dilatation 48
2.4.2.1 Lorentz Contraction 49
2.4.2.2 The Inertial Mass of a Moving Body 50
2.5 Could Special Relativity Have Been Discovered Already by Newton? 50
2.5.1 A Pseudo-Historical Digression 50
2.6 The Attempt to Reconstruct General Relativity 55
2.6.1 The Pseudo-Riemannian Character of Space-Time 55
2.6.2 Einstein´s Field Equations 58
2.7 Conclusion 61
Chapter 3: Reconstruction of Quantum Mechanics 62
3.1 The Historical Development of Quantum Mechanics 62
3.2 The Reduction of Ontological Hypotheses 63
3.3 The Formal Languages of Classical Physics and of Quantum Physics 65
3.3.1 The Formal Language of Classical Physics 65
3.3.2 The Formal Language of Quantum Physics 70
3.4 The Approach to Orthomodular Quantum Logic 74
3.5 The Bottom-up Reconstruction of Quantum Mechanics in Hilbert Space 77
3.6 Physics of Indistinguishable Objects 82
3.7 Are the Laws of Quantum Logic Laws of Nature? 84
3.8 Quantum Physics and Classical Physics - Their Respective Roles 89
Chapter 4: Three Constants of Nature 91
4.1 The Problem of Constants of Nature in Modern Physics 91
4.2 The Meaning of the Constant ``c´´ in Special Relativity 92
4.2.1 Preliminary Remarks 92
4.2.2 Metaphysics and Ontology 93
4.2.3 Reconstruction of Special Relativity 94
4.2.4 The Meaning of the Constant omega 97
4.2.5 One More Fundamental Question 99
4.3 Planck´s Constant in the Light of Quantum Logic 99
4.3.1 Ontological Preliminaries 99
4.3.2 The Quantum Logic Approach 102
4.3.3 In Search of Planck´s Constant 103
4.3.3.1 Localizability 104
4.3.3.2 Homogeneity 104
4.3.3.3 Canonical Commutation Relations 105
4.3.3.4 Physical Objects 105
4.3.3.5 Elementary Particles 106
4.3.4 The Meaning of in the Quantum World 109
4.4 The Problem of the Gravitational Constant k 110
4.5 Three Constants of Nature: Concluding Remarks 112
Chapter 5: Interpretations of Modern Physics 114
5.1 Introductory Remarks 114
5.2 Two Interpretations 115
5.2.1 The Interpretation of the Theory of Special Relativity 115
5.2.2 Interpreting Quantum Mechanics 118
5.2.2.1 The Copenhagen Interpretation 118
5.2.2.2 The Quantum Theory of Measurement 121
5.3 Summary 122
Chapter 6: Concluding Remarks 124
6.1 Intuitiveness and Truth in Physical Theories 124
Index 133