What is the role and meaning of probability in physical theory, in particularin two of the most successful theories of our age, quantum physics and statistical mechanics? Laws once conceived as universal and deterministic, such as Newton's laws of motion, or the second law of thermodynamics, are replaced in these theories by inherently probabilistic laws. This collection of essays by some of the world's foremost experts, presents an in-depth analysis of the meaning of probabilities in contemporary physics. Among the questions addressed are: how are probabilities conceived? - What is their nature and explanatory value? - What can and cannot be achieved by them? - What are the differences between quantum and the classical probabilities? The result is an informative and thought-provoking book for the scientifically inquisitive. Presents the views of twenty eminent physicists on fundamental questions of probability. Demonstrates the central role of probability in our best physical theories. Presents historical background and new ideas on longstanding questions. Treats philosophical aspects such as the status of natural laws in general. INDICE: Introduction. Physics and Chance. Typicality and the Role of the Lebesgue Measure in Statistical Mechanics. Typicality and Notions of Probability in Physics. Deterministic Laws and Epistemic Chances. Measures over Initial Conditions. A New Approach to the Approach to Equilibrium. Revising Statistical Mechanics - Probability, Typicality and Closure Time. How Many Maxwell's Demons and Where?. Locality and Determinism: the Odd Couple. Why the Tsirelson Bound?. Three Attempts at Two Axioms for Quantum Mechanics. Generalized Probability Measures and the Framework of Effects. Infinitely Challenging: Pitowsky's Subjective Interpretation and the Physics of Infinite Systems. Bayesian Conditioning, the Reflection Principle, and Quantum Decoherence. The World Accordingto de Finetti. Four and a Half Axioms for Finite-Dimensional Quantum Probability. Probability in the Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics.-
- ISBN: 978-3-642-21328-1
- Editorial: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
- Encuadernacion: Cartoné
- Páginas: 300
- Fecha Publicación: 31/08/2011
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés