The freely downloadable volumes IV and V present the foundations of quantum physics and its applications in nature, life and technology. The volumes guarantee to be interesting, vivid and surprising on every page: they include many colour animations and a large number of colour photographs, riddles, internet links and curiosities.
Download volume IV : THE QUANTUM OF CHANGE
(20 MB)
Download volume V : PLEASURE, TECHNOLOGY AND STARS
(30 MB)
Volume IV presents the foundations of quantum physics in a simple way, with few formulae, using many puzzles and observations from everyday life. It is shown that colours, atoms and living beings only exist because nature is described by a quantum of action, also called Planck's constant.
Volume V explains how life, pleasure, colours, chemistry, material properties, stars, nuclear reactors and particle physics follow from the quantum of action. It leads from molecular motors in muscles to the colour of gems, from the working of nerves to the processes that make volcanoes erupt, and from the structure of DNA to the reasons that stars shine.
Enjoy!
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IV | THE QUANTUM OF CHANGE | |
| 1 | Minimum action - quantum theory for poets | 13 |
| 2 | Light - the strange consequences of the quantum of action | 35 |
| 3 | Motion of matter - beyond classical physics | 60 |
| 4 | The quantum description of matter and its motion | 74 |
| 5 | Permutation of particles - Are particles like gloves? | 94 |
| 6 | Rotations and statistics - visualising spin | 105 |
| 7 | Superpositions and probabilities - quantum theory without ideology | 120 |
| 4 | Colours and other interactions between light and matter | 145 |
| 8 | Quantum physics in a nutshell | 169 |
| Appendix A | Units, measurements and constants | 175 |
| Appendix B | Numbers and vector spaces | 192 |
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volume V |
PLEASURE, TECHNOLOGY AND STARS | |
| 1 | Motion for enjoying life | 14 |
| 2 | Changing the world with quantum theory | 44 |
| 3 | Quantum electrodynamics - the origin of virtual reality | 81 |
| 4 | Quantum mechanics with gravitation - the first approach | 98 |
| 5 | The structure of the nucleus - the densest clouds | 118 |
| 6 | The sun, stars and the birth of matter | 147 |
| 7 | The strong interaction | 156 |
| 8 | The weak nuclear interaction and the handedness of nature | 175 |
| 9 | The standard model of elementary particle physics - as seen on television | 190 |
| 10 | Dreams of unification | 195 |
| 11 | Bacteria, flies and knots | 203 |
| 12 | Quantum physics in a nutshell – again | 232 |
| Appendix A | Units, measurements and constants | 246 |
| Appendix B | Composite particle properties | 260 |
| Appendix C | Space, algebras and shapes | 276 |
Read the volumes online, without downloading them, by clicking on volume IV or volume V.
Get a paper edition, in black an white, delivered to your home
via lulu.com,
by clicking here.
Enjoy the reading!