Quaternionic Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Fields

ISBN-13: 9780195066432 / Angielski / Twarda / 1995 / 608 str.

Stephen L. Adler

Opis

It has been known since the 1930s that quantum mechanics can be formulated in quaternionic as well as complex Hilbert space. But systematic work on the quaternionic extension of standard quantum mechanics has scarcely begun. Authored by a world-renowned theoretical physicist, this book signals a major conceptual advance and gives a detailed development and exposition of quaternionic quantum mechanics for the purpose of determining whether quaternionic Hilbert space is the appropriate arena for the long sought-after unification of the standard model forces with gravitation. Significant results from earlier literature, together with many new results obtained by the author, are integrated to give a coherent picture of the subject. The book also provides an introduction to the problem of formulating quantum field theories in quaternionic Hilbert space. The book concludes with a chapter devoted to discussions on where quaternionic quantum mechanics may fit into the physics of unification, experimental and measurement theory issues, and the many open questions that still challenge the field. This well-written treatise is a very significant contribution to theoretical physics. It will be eagerly read by a wide range of physicists.

Recenzje

The book is highly professional and despite the feeling that any effort in investigating the quaterionic approach is useless, the reviewer is advocating for paying an interest in the field. The greatest merit of the monograph does not derive from the analyed aspects of the relativistic and non-relativistic quaternionic quantum mechanics but mainly from the impressive list of open questions presented by the author at the end of the monograph. That list is showing that the author is not practicing a "Glasperlenspiel" but rather that he is highly involved in the effort of understanding the very terrestrial physics.