Time in Quantum Mechanics

Beschreibung

The treatment of time in quantum mechanics is still an important and challenging open question in the foundation of the theory. This book describes the problems, and the attempts and achievements in defining, formalizing and measuring different time quantities in quantum theory, such as the parametric (clock) time, tunneling times, decay times, dwell times, delay times, arrival times or jump times. This multiauthored book, written as an introductory guide for the non-initiated as well as a useful source of information for the expert, covers many of the open questions. A brief historical overview is to be found in the introduction. It is followed by 12 chapters devoted to conceptual and theoretical investigations as well as experimental issues in quantum-mechanical time measurements. This unique monograph should attract physicists as well as philosophers of science working in the foundations of quantum physics.
Time and quantum mechanics have, each of them separately, captivated s- entists and laymen alike, as shown by the abundance of popular publications on “time” or on the many quantum mysteries or paradoxes. We too have been seduced by these two topics, and in particular by their combination. Indeed, the treatment of time in quantum mechanics is one of the important and challenging open questions in the foundations of quantum theory. This book describes the problems, and the attempts and achievements in de?ning, formalizing and measuring di?erent time quantities in quantum theory, such as the parametric (clock) time, tunneling times, decay times, dwell times, delay times, arrival times or jump times. The theoretical analysis of several of these quantities has been controversial and is still subject to debate. For example, there are literally hundreds of research papers on the tunneling time. In fact, the standard recipe to link the observables and the formalism does not seem to apply, at least in an obvious manner, to time observables. This has posed the challenge of extending the domain of ordinary quantum mechanics.
There seems to be no recent comprehensive treatment of the concept of time in quantum theory This book partially closes this gap It should have at least potentially a huge readership Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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J.G. Muga

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"I enjoyed reading this valuable addition to Springer’s Lecture Notes in Physics series. Beginning with a clear introduction to the perplexing issue of the nature of time in quantum mechanics, the reader then undertakes a stimulating excursion through a sequence of chapters written by leading researchers. Theory and experiment are nicely balanced, and extensive lists of references accompany each chapter. [...] this text is currently the final word as it presents a representative survey of current topics on this subject." (Berry Sanders, The Physicist, 39/5, 2002)

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