A Mysterious Universe - Zubairy, M. Suhail

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Résumé :
A Mysterious Universe introduces the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics, theory of relativity, and cosmology to a novice in simple language. This concise book deals with deep issues related to the mysteries of modern physics. Both quantum mechanics and relativity are highly mathematical subjects and are not easily accessible. In 2020, the author wrote a book Quantum Mechanics for Beginners with the aim of introducing the fundamentals of quantum theory to someone with elementary knowledge of physics and algebra. Here he goes one step further and introduces these ideas to someone with no prior knowledge of physics and mathematics. In the first part of the book, topics like the wave-particle duality, the probabilistic nature of the measurement, the possibility of multiple universes, and the nature of reality are discussed. In the second part, Einstein's special and general theories of relativity and their amazing and mind-boggling consequences are presented. The impact of the theory of relativity on cosmology is immense. The big bang model of the universe, black holes, and the current hot topics of dark matter and dark energy are explained and discussed. These fields that may hold the key to many unanswered questions about the universe are still evolving. This book is intended for readers, young and old, who would like to understand the incomprehensible laws that govern the universe without any prior background in physics and mathematics....

Biographie:
Professor M. Suhail Zubairy is a University Distinguished Professor and the holder of the Munnerlyn-Heep Chair in Quantum Optics at Texas A&M University. He has made many pioneering contributions in the fields of quantum optics and quantum information. He is co-author (with Marlan Scully) of a classic textbook on Quantum Optics and the author of a book Quantum Mechanics for Beginners. Prof. Zubairy has received many honors including the Willis E. Lamb Award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics, Alexander von Humboldt Research Prize for Distinguished Scientists, and the George H. W. Bush Award for Excellence in International Research. He is a Fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the Optical Society of America....

Sommaire:

• HISTORICAL
• 1.: Introduction
• 2.: Newtonian mechanics and the deterministic world
• 3.: Quantum mechanics is born
• 4.: What is light?
• 5.: What does an atom look like?
• MYSTERIES OF QUANTUM MECHANICS
• 6.: A single photon - An amazing quantum system
• 7.: Does God play dice?
• 8.: An uncertain world!
• 9.: Vacuum is not 'nothing'
• 10.: Wave-particle duality
• 11.: Schrodinger's cat and entanglement
• 12.: Is reality really real?
• 13.: Single universe or multiple universes?
• RELATIVITY AND COSMOLOGY
• 14.: Stellar objects
• 15.: Einstein's spatial theory of relativity
• 16.: General theory of relativity
• 17.: Black holes
• 18.: Big bang - birth of the universe
• 19.: Dark matter and dark energy
• EPILOGUE
• 20.: Dreams of the future