Quantum Theory, A Very Short Introduction
Review of John Polkinghorne's Guide to Quantum Physics and History
Oct 22, 2009
Quantum theory is one of those areas of science that non-scientist tend to regard as highly technical and even esoteric. For once, that perception is quite accurate. Quantum is one of the hardest-to-comprehend disciplines in physics.
Fortunately, for the layperson there exists a book, John Polkinghorne's Quantum Physics – A Very Short Introduction, that might help lay the foundation of an appreciation, if not full understanding.
Those who, like this writer, are not scientifically minded will not understand quantum theory by the time they finish the book. But the small Very Short Introduction book does provide a very thorough insight into the history and some of the basic theories of quantum physics. Such a reader will quickly realize that nobody fully understands quantum theory.
Quantum Theory was a Huge Breakthrough and a Brand New Physics
At times, quantum physics seems to be less science than a strange, philosophical guessing-game. From its earliest discoveries scientists have had hugely divided opinions as to its usefulness.
Schrödinger, an early quantum theorists quite famous for his cat, became disillusioned by the way it seemed impossible to tie down quantum theory to a single formula or set of formulae. Despite these doubts, quantum theory has led to the invention of technology that is familiar today: one such invention is the laser.
Quantum is quite literally mind-boggling. It is even hard to comprehend how physicists could have figured out the theory in the first place. Quantas, gluons and other unbelievably tiny parts are not visible even through a microscope; their existence can only be inferred from strange behaviors of light. Additionally, measuring the effect of such tiny pieces echanges the result of the experiment. It is amazing that quantum was ever discovered at all.
Quantum Theory for the Non-Scientist
There is something in Quantum Theory – A Very Short Introduction for every level of reader. For example, the non-scientist will probably gain the most from the historical account of each discovery, and how Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Schrödinger and others' discoveries built on one another.
Quantum was brand new and intensely exciting, coming at a time when standard physics couldn't quite explain everything, the kind of scientific climate that has not truly been seen since. This atmosphere of is captured quite well in the book.
Quantum Theory for the Scientifically-Minded
For a science student, much of the theory is written clearly enough to be understood. There are even involved mathematical formulae to back up the described theory, carefully tucked away at the back to avoid intimidating the reader.
Presumably, even a quantum physicist could take something away from the book, even if it's only a few ideas on how to talk about quantum to the layperson. Either way, this Very Short Introduction is an excellent guide to the background of quantum theory and lays out the information in such a way that it can, with effort, be understood.
Quantum Theory – A Very Short Introduction by John Polkinghorne was published in 2002. It is an Oxford University Press Very Short Introduction, ISBN 978-0192802521.
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