Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You (20 page)

BOOK: Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You
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WAVE FUNCTION A mathematical entity that contains all that is knowable about a quantum object such as an atom. The wave function changes in time and space according to the Schrödinger equation.

WAVELENGTH The distance for a wave to go through a complete oscillation cycle.

WAVE-PARTICLE DUALITY The ability of a subatomic particle to behave as a localised billiard ball-like particle or a spread-out wave.

WEAK NUCLEAR FORCE The second force experienced by protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus, the other being the strong nuclear force. The weak nuclear force can convert a neutron into a proton and so is involved in beta decay.

WHITE DWARF A star that has run out of fuel and that gravity has compressed until it is about the size of Earth. A white dwarf is supported against further shrinkage by electron degeneracy pressure. A sugar cube of white dwarf material weighs about as much as a family car.

WORMHOLE A tunnel through space-time that connects widely spaced regions and so provides a shortcut.

X-RAYS A high-energy form of light.

ATOMS AND QUANTUM THEORY

Quantum: A Guide for the Perplexed
, by Jim Al-Khalili (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 2003).

Taming the Atom
, by Hans Christian von Baeyer (Penguin, London, 1994).

Minds, Machines, and the Multiverse,
by Julian Brown (Little Brown, New York, 2000).

The Magic Furnace
, by Marcus Chown (Vintage, London, 2000).

The Fabric of Reality
, by David Deutsch (Penguin, London, 1997).

Thirty Years That Shook Physics,
by George Gamow (Dover, New York, 1985).

The Great Physicists from Galileo to Einstein
, by George Gamow (Dover, New York, 1988).

The New Quantum Universe,
by Tony Hey and Patrick Walters, 2nd edition (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, 2004).

The Feynman Lectures on Physics,
edited by Robert Leighton et al. (Addison-Wesley, New York, 1989).

RELATIVITY AND COSMOLOGY

Afterglow of Creation
, by Marcus Chown (University Science Books, Sausalito, California, 1994).

The Universe Next Door,
by Marcus Chown (Headline, London, 2002).

Cosmology
, by Edward Harrison (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, 1991).

The River of Time
, by Igor Novikov (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, 1998).

Einstein’s Legacy,
by Julian Schwinger (Scientific American Library, New York, 1986).

The Physical Universe
, by Frank Shu (University Science Books, Sausalito, California, 1982).

A

Acceleration

curvature of space and,
1

gravity and,
1

Adams, Douglas,
1
,
2

Aging

general theory of relativity,
1

gravity effects,
1

special theory of relativity,
1
,
2

Allen, Woody,
1

Alpha particle

decay,
1
,
2

definition,
1

escape from nucleus,
1
,
2

scattering studies,
1
,
2

tunnelling,
1

Alpher, Ralph,
1

Anaxagoras,
1

Antimatter,
1
n
,
2

Aspect, Alain,
1

Aston, Francis,
1
,
2

Atkinson, Robert,
1

Atmosphere,
1

Atomic theory

atomic decay,
1
,
2

chemical properties,
1
,
2

duration of atoms,
1
,
2

nature of light,
1
,
2

origins and development,
1

quantum theory and,
1

size of atoms,
1
,
2

structure and properties of atoms,
1
,
2
,
3

structure and properties of matter,
1
,
2

types of atoms,
1

uncertainty principle,
1

Atomic weight,
1
,
2

Attraction, atomic,
1

B

Becquerel, Henri,
1

Beginning of Universe.
See
Big Bang

Bernoulli, Daniel,
1

Big Bang

cosmic background radiation as evidence of,
1
,
2
,
3

distribution of matter after,
1
,
2

entanglement and,
1

expansion of universe after,
1

explanatory power,
1

general theory of relativity and,
1
,
2

inflation theory,
1

singularity at moment of,
1

visibility of stars and,
1

Big Crunch,
1

Binary calculations,
1
n

Binnig, Gerd,
1

Biosphere,
1

Black body,
1

Black holes

definition and properties,
1
,
2
,
3

Einstein’s theory,
1

energy conversion in,
1

event horizon,
1

gravity in,
1

in quasars,
1

singularity in,
1

space-time distortions in,
1
,
2

Bohr, Niels,
1

Bose-Einstein condensation,
1

Bosons

behaviour in presence of other bosons,
1

definition,
1

fermions behaving as,
1

Boyle, Robert,
1

Bragg, William,
1

Breathing, shared atoms in,
1

Brown, Julian,
1

Brown, Robert,
1

Brownian motion,
1
,
2

Bruno, Giordano,
1

C

Carbon,
1

Centrifugal force,
1

Chance, in quantum theory,
1

Chandrasekhar, Subrahmanyan,
1

Chandrasekhar limit,
1

Charge, atomic,
1
,
2
n

Chemistry, atomic basis of,
1
,
2

Chiao, Raymond,
1

Chronology protection conjecture,
1

Cloud chamber,
1

Comets,
1
,
2
,
3

Compton effect,
1

Computers, quantum.
See
Quantum computers

Contraction of universe,
1

Cooper pairs,
1

Copenhagen Interpretation,
1

Cosmic Background Explorer Satellite,
1

Cosmic background radiation,
1

Big Bang theory and,
1
,
2
,
3
,
4

discovery,
1

distribution of,
1
,
2
,
3

temperature,
1
,
2

Cosmology,
1

Critical mass,
1
,
2

D

Dark matter,
1
,
2

Decay

atomic,
1

of organic matter,
1

Decoherence,
1
,
2

Degeneracy pressure,
1
,
2

Democritus,
1
,
2

Deutsch, David,
1

Double slit experiment

design,
1

indistinguishability and,
1

interference pattern,
1
,
2
,
3

particle physics of,
1
,
2
,
3

significance of,
1
,
2
,
3

uncertainty principle and,
1

Duration of atoms,
1
,
2

E

Eclipse, solar,
1

Eddington, Arthur,
1
,
2
,
3

Einstein, Albert,
1
,
2
,
3
,
4
,
5
,
6
,
7
,
8
,
9
,
10
,
11
,
12
,
13
,
14
,
15
,
16
,
17
,
18
,
19
,
20
,
21

Electric force,
1
,
2

Electricity

atomic theory,
1
,
2

electric current,
1

electrical charge,
1

photoelectric effect,
1

Electromagnetism

light and,
1
,
2

special theory of relativity,
1

theory of,
1
,
2
,
3

Electrons,
1

atomic structure,
1
,
2
,
3

in Cooper pairs,
1

discovery,
1

ejection event,
1

indistinguishability,
1

nucleus and,
1
,
2
,
3

orbitals,
1
,
2
,
3
,
4
,
5

Pauli exclusion principle,
1
,
2

in photoelectric effect,
1

properties,
1
,
2

spin,
1

in stars,
1

uncertainty principle,
1

velocity,
1

vibration,
1
,
2

wave frequency,
1

See also
Fermions

Elements,
1
,
2

E=mc
2
,
1
,
2

Emptiness

of matter,
1
,
2
,
3

quantum vacuum,
1

Energy

atomic weight and,
1

in black holes,
1

dark energy,
1

in electron orbit jump,
1

in empty space,
1

gravity effects,
1

hydrogen bomb,
1

mass and,
1
,
2

mass converted into,
1

of motion,
1

to reach speed of light,
1

as source of gravity,
1
,
2

of stars,
1

transformation of,
1
,
2
,
3

weight of,
1
,
2

Entanglement,
1

Equivalence, Principle of,
1
,
2

Event horizon,
1

Everett, Hugh, III,
1

Exclusion principle.
See
Pauli exclusion principle

Expanding universe

discovery of,
1

future of,
1

rate,
1

See also
Inflation of Universe

F

Faraday, Michael,
1

Fermions

boson behaviour in,
1

definition,
1

probability waveflipping and,
1

Feynman, Richard,
1
,
2
,
3
,
4
,
5
n
,
6
,
7

Fourth dimension,
1

Frame dragging,
1

Free fall,
1
,
2
,
3

Frequencies, wave,
1

Friction,
1
,
2
n

Friedman, Aleksandr,
1

G

Gaarder, Jostein,
1
,
2
,
3
,
4

Galaxies

dark matter of,
1

distribution,
1

in expanding universe,
1

Galileo,
1
,
2

Gamboge particles,
1

Gamow, George,
1
,
2
n
,
3

Gas, pressure of,
1

Geiger, Hans,
1
,
2
,
3

General theory of relativity

bending of light in,
1

cosmological application,
1
,
2

goals,
1
,
2

gravity waves in,
1

nonlinearity of,
1

principles of,
1

quantum theory and,
1

real-world implications,
1
,
2

time travel and,
1

Geodesics,
1

Gravitational red shift,
1
n

Gravitons,
1

Gravity

acceleration and,
1

bending of light by,
1

of black holes,
1
,
2

creation of gravity by,
1
,
2

of dark matter,
1

effects on time,
1

experience of,
1

frame dragging,
1

general theory of relativity,
1

as inertial force,
1

mass and,
1

Newtonian conceptualisation,
1

particle carriers of,
1

in production of energy,
1

quantum theory of,
1

repulsive force and,
1

sources of,
1

speed of,
1

as warped space,
1

waves,
1
,
2

without mass,
1

Ground state,
1

Guth, Alan,
1

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