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<font color="red">'''[Timeframe: May 2019]'''</font> I am definitely not an authority on quantum mechanics (see my [[User:Tohline#Joel_E._Tohline|brief bio]]), but I have for some time been interested in interpretations of the wave function. In an [[User:Tohline/Appendix/CGH/QuantumTransitions#Speculation_Regarding_Quantum_Transitions|accompanying ''Ramblings Appendix'' chapter]], I am exploring how this interest might be effectively coupled with my quantitative understanding of digital holography. Very shortly after I began recording in this ''MediaWiki'' environment my speculative thoughts on this topic, I stumbled upon a book review published in ''Science'' (see Vol. 359, Issue 6383, dated 30 March 2018) by Mélanie Frappier. The book review, itself, carried the title, ''Questioning quantum mechanics,'' and it focused on the book by Adam Becker titled, [https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/adam-becker/what-is-real/9780465096053/ "What is Real? The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics" (2018, Basic Books)]. To my delight, I found this book at the main branch of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it for two principal reasons: | <font color="red">'''[Timeframe: May 2019]'''</font> I am definitely not an authority on quantum mechanics (see my [[User:Tohline#Joel_E._Tohline|brief bio]]), but I have for some time been interested in interpretations of the wave function. In an [[User:Tohline/Appendix/CGH/QuantumTransitions#Speculation_Regarding_Quantum_Transitions|accompanying ''Ramblings Appendix'' chapter]], I am exploring how this interest might be effectively coupled with my quantitative understanding of digital holography. Very shortly after I began recording in this ''MediaWiki'' environment my speculative thoughts on this topic, I stumbled upon a book review published in ''Science'' (see Vol. 359, Issue 6383, dated 30 March 2018) by Mélanie Frappier. The book review, itself, carried the title, ''Questioning quantum mechanics,'' and it focused on the book by Adam Becker titled, [https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/adam-becker/what-is-real/9780465096053/ "What is Real? The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics" (2018, Basic Books)]. To my delight, I found this book at the main branch of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it for two principal reasons: | ||
* In his historical recounting of the development of quantum theory, from its infancy all the way up to the present time, Becker describes numerous scientific discoveries and associated philosophical discussions at a level that | * In his historical recounting of the development of quantum theory, from its infancy all the way up to the present time, Becker describes numerous scientific discoveries and associated philosophical discussions at a level that is perfectly pitched for me, given my own background. | ||
* He highlights contributions that have been made by individuals whom I have known personally, in the context of professional settings with which I am familiar. | * He highlights contributions that have been made over the years by individuals whom I have known personally, in the context of professional settings with which I am familiar. | ||
Just for fun, in the paragraphs provided below I provide examples of how my own career in astrophysics has guided me along paths that have either crossed or closely paralleled those individuals whom Becker has identified as important contributors to the developing field of Quantum Mechanics. | |||
==University of California, Santa Cruz== | |||
From 1974 - 1978 I was a graduate student in the Astronomy Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz (Lick Observatory). Employing computational-science techniques, my research focused on developing a hydrodynamical algorithm that would facilitate modeling the transformation of interstellar gas clouds into stars. Simulations were conducted in full three-dimensional generality and were especially designed to help astronomers understand how cloud fragmentation happens and, in particular, why stars preferentially form in pairs — as binary star systems. Through my dissertation advisors, Peter Bodenheimer and David Black, I was afforded access to some of the largest computers of the day, at NASA Ames Research Center. | |||
During this period of time, I also had many opportunities to interact with faculty at UC, Berkeley. In the context of one — perhaps it was more than one — small-group discussion of broad problems that were currently facing astronomers in the star formation arena, <font color="orange">I had the pleasure of meeting Charles Townes</font>. On pp. 206 - 207 of his book, "What Is Real?", Adam Becker tells how it came to pass that John Clauser was able to perform experimental tests of ''Bell's inequality'' in Charles Townes' research laboratory. (See also Figure 9.2.) Although I was aware that Townes had "… won the Nobel Prize … for inventing the laser …", I had no idea, at the time, that this fundamental test of the behavior of quantum systems was actively being conducted in Townes' group at Berkeley. | |||
==Yale, Columbia, and the GISS== | |||
=See Also= | =See Also= | ||
Revision as of 21:54, 20 May 2019
What Is Real?
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[Timeframe: May 2019] I am definitely not an authority on quantum mechanics (see my brief bio), but I have for some time been interested in interpretations of the wave function. In an accompanying Ramblings Appendix chapter, I am exploring how this interest might be effectively coupled with my quantitative understanding of digital holography. Very shortly after I began recording in this MediaWiki environment my speculative thoughts on this topic, I stumbled upon a book review published in Science (see Vol. 359, Issue 6383, dated 30 March 2018) by Mélanie Frappier. The book review, itself, carried the title, Questioning quantum mechanics, and it focused on the book by Adam Becker titled, "What is Real? The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics" (2018, Basic Books). To my delight, I found this book at the main branch of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it for two principal reasons:
- In his historical recounting of the development of quantum theory, from its infancy all the way up to the present time, Becker describes numerous scientific discoveries and associated philosophical discussions at a level that is perfectly pitched for me, given my own background.
- He highlights contributions that have been made over the years by individuals whom I have known personally, in the context of professional settings with which I am familiar.
Just for fun, in the paragraphs provided below I provide examples of how my own career in astrophysics has guided me along paths that have either crossed or closely paralleled those individuals whom Becker has identified as important contributors to the developing field of Quantum Mechanics.
University of California, Santa Cruz
From 1974 - 1978 I was a graduate student in the Astronomy Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz (Lick Observatory). Employing computational-science techniques, my research focused on developing a hydrodynamical algorithm that would facilitate modeling the transformation of interstellar gas clouds into stars. Simulations were conducted in full three-dimensional generality and were especially designed to help astronomers understand how cloud fragmentation happens and, in particular, why stars preferentially form in pairs — as binary star systems. Through my dissertation advisors, Peter Bodenheimer and David Black, I was afforded access to some of the largest computers of the day, at NASA Ames Research Center.
During this period of time, I also had many opportunities to interact with faculty at UC, Berkeley. In the context of one — perhaps it was more than one — small-group discussion of broad problems that were currently facing astronomers in the star formation arena, I had the pleasure of meeting Charles Townes. On pp. 206 - 207 of his book, "What Is Real?", Adam Becker tells how it came to pass that John Clauser was able to perform experimental tests of Bell's inequality in Charles Townes' research laboratory. (See also Figure 9.2.) Although I was aware that Townes had "… won the Nobel Prize … for inventing the laser …", I had no idea, at the time, that this fundamental test of the behavior of quantum systems was actively being conducted in Townes' group at Berkeley.
Yale, Columbia, and the GISS
See Also
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