PhilosophyofQuantumMechanics.docVIP

Reading list for the philosophy of quantum mechanics (Revised David Wallace, October 2006) This is a fairly thorough reading list on philosophy of QM; it contains more material on each topic than is practical for a weekly tutorial, but it may serve as a basis for constructing tutorial reading lists, as a source for further reading or revision, or as a starting point for anyone considering writing a thesis on one of these topics. Contents General Texts Formalism of quantum mechanics The measurement problem Nonlocality: the EPR argument and the Bell inequality Dynamical-collapse theories Hidden-variable theories The Copenhagen interpretation The Everett interpretation Decoherence and consistent histories Other interpretations Uncertainty relations Suggested tutorial topics General texts Introductory D. Albert, Quantum Mechanics and Experience, (Harvard University Press, 1994) A. Rae, Quantum Mechanics: Illusion or Reality? (Cambridge, 2004) E. Squires, Conscious Mind in the Physical World, (Adam Hilger, 1990) Slightly more advanced J.S. Bell, Speakable and unspeakable in quantum mechanics, (Cambridge, 1987) R.I.G. Hughes, The Structure and Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, (Harvard University Press, 1989) M. Redhead, Incompleteness, Nonlocality and Realism, (Clarendon Press, 1989) D. Home, Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Physics, (Plenum,1997) D. Wallace, “Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics” (available on Weblearn) Formalism of quantum mechanics A handout to accompany the Intermediate Philosophy of Physics lecture course is available on Weblearn. Some physics textbooks which present the formalism at a suitable level are: P.A.M. Dirac, The Principles of Quantum Mechanics, 4th edition (Clarendon Press, 1958). A classic; still relevant and readable. J.S. Townsend, A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanics (McGraw-Hill, 1992.) C. Cohen-Tannoudji et al, Quantum Mechanics (Wiley, 1977). A bit dry, but more technically careful than some. S. Gasiorowicz, Quantum