Ken Ford's mission is to help us understand the
''great ideas'' of quantum physics--ideas such as
wave-particle duality, the uncertainty principle,
superposition, and conservation. These fundamental
concepts provide the structure for 101 Quantum
Questions, an authoritative yet engaging book for the
general reader in which every question and answer brings
out one or more basic features of the mysterious world
of the quantum--the physics of the very small. Nuclear
researcher and master teacher, Ford covers everything
from quarks, quantum jumps, and what causes stars to
shine, to practical applications ranging from lasers and
superconductors to light-emitting diodes. Ford's lively
answers are enriched by Paul Hewitt's drawings, numerous
photos of physicists, and anecdotes, many from Ford's
own experience. Organized for cover-to-cover reading,
101 Quantum Questions also is great for browsing. Some
books focus on a single subject such as the standard
model of particles, or string theory, or fusion energy.
This book touches all those topics and more, showing us
that disparate natural phenomena, as well as a host of
manmade inventions, can be understood in terms of a few
key ideas. Yet Ford does not give us simplistic
explanations. He assumes a serious reader wanting to
gain real understanding of the essentials of quantum
physics. Ken Ford's other books include The Quantum
World: Quantum Physics for Everyone (Harvard 2004),
which Esquire magazine recommended as the best way to
gain an understanding of quantum physics. Ford's new
book, a sequel to the earlier one, makes the quantum
world even more accessible. |
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