Elegance and Enigma The Quantum Intervies [Hardcover]

Quantum mechanics is one of mankind's most remarkable intellectual achievements. Stunningly successful and elegant, it challenges our deepest intuitions about the world. In this book, seventeen physicists and philosophers, all deeply concerned with understanding quantum mechanics, reply to Schlosshauer's penetrating questions about the central issues. They grant us an intimate look at their radically different ways of making sense of the theory's strangeness. What is quantum mechanics about? What is it telling us about nature? Can quantum information or new experiments help lift the fog? And where are we headed next? Everyone interested in the contemporary but often longstanding conundrums of quantum theory, whether lay reader or expert, will find much food for thought in these pages. A wealth of personal reflections and anecdotes guarantee an engaging read.

Participants: Guido Bacciagaluppi, Caslav Brukner, Jeffrey Bub, Arthur Fine, Christopher Fuchs, GianCarlo Ghirardi, Shelly Goldstein, Daniel Greenberger, Lucien Hardy, Anthony Leggett, Tim Maudlin, David Mermin, Lee Smolin, Antony Valentini, David Wallace, Anton Zeilinger, and Wojciech Zurek.

This book examines quantum mechanics, one of humanity's most?remarkable intellectual achievements, through interviews with seventeen leading scientists and philosophers. They illuminate the discipline, offering valuable insight on its past, present and future.First Encounters.-?Big Issues.- My Favorite Interpretation.- Quantum States.- Randomness.- Quantum Probabilities.- The Measurement Problem.- Bell's Inequalities.- Quantum Information.- Reconstructions.- The Experiment of My Dreams.- Switching Sides.- Beliefs and Values.- The Role of Philosophy.- Unification.- The Next Big Bang.- Dear Oracle.- Epilogue.- Glossary.- Index.

From the reviews:

Max Schlosshauers latest book is a collection of interviews with seventeen prominent reselS%