The Development of Elementary Quantum Theory (eBook)

Contents 6
Abstract 8
1 Introduction and Outline 9
2 The Fundamental Differences Between Classical and Quantum Physics 13
3 Planck'saut]Planck Quantum Hypothesis and Einstein'saut]Einstein Contributions to the Foundations of Quantum Theory 15
3.1 Einstein'saut]Einstein Quanta of Light 16
3.2 Einstein's Application of Quantization Concepts to the Properties of Matter 19
3.3 The Momentum and Energy Fluctuations of the Radiation Field 20
3.4 The Quantum Theory of Radiation 21
3.5 Boseaut]Bose Statistics, Indistinguishability of Particles, and Bose-Einstein Condensation 22
4 The ``Old Quantum Theory'' 26
5 The Quantum Theory of Born, Heisenberg, and Jordan 30
5.1 aut]BornBorn's Discontinuous ``Quantenmechanik'' 31
5.2 M. Bornaut]Born and P. Jordanaut]Jordan: ``Zur Quantentheorie Aperiodischer Vorgänge'' 34
5.3 Werner Heisenbergaut]Heisenberg: ``Über Quantentheoretische Umdeutung Kinematischer und Mechanischer Beziehungen'' 36
5.4 Maxaut]Born Born and Pascual Jordanaut]Jordan: ``Zur Quantenmechanik'' 38
5.5 M. Born, W. Heisenbergaut]Heisenberg, P. Jordan: ``Zur Quantenmechanik II'' 40
5.6 Pauli'saut]Pauli Solution of the Hydrogen Problem 42
5.7 Differences in Understandingaut]Born Between Born-Jordanaut]Jordan and Bohr-Heisenberg 42
5.8 Brief Summary of the New Quantum Theory 46
6 Continuous Representations of the New Quantum Laws 47
6.1 Kornel Lanczosaut]Lanczos: Field Theoretical Representations 47
6.2 Linear Hermitian Operators and ``Time Representation'' 48
6.3 Wave Mechanics 49
6.4 De Broglie: Particles and Associated Phase-Waves 49
6.5 Schrödinger'saut]Schrödinger ``Position Representation'' 50
6.6 Max Born: The Probabilistic Significance of Wave Functions 53
6.7 Brief Summary 55
7 The Consequences of the Basic Quantum Laws on Wave Phenomena and Quantum Uncertainties 56
7.1 The Solution to Einstein'saut]Einstein Problem: How to Connect Particle Properties and Wave Phenomena 56
7.2 Quantum Uncertainties 60
7.3 Bohr's Complementarity Principle and Dual Properties 63
8 Early Opposition to the Copenhagen Interpretation 65
8.1 Einstein's Understanding of Quantum Theory 67
9 Orthodox Portrayals of the Development of Quantum Mechanics, Comparison and Differences 74
10 Later Criticism of the Copenhagen Interpretation 80
General Conclusions 85
Appendix 88
Scattering Processes and the Basic Quantum Laws 88
Particle Properties and Diffraction Phenomena 89
Measuring the Quantum Mechanical Position Uncertainty 92
Remarks Concerning Field Quantization 93
Author Index 95
Subject Index 97