Home D., Whitaker A. Einstein's Struggles with Quantum Theory: A Reappraisal

Springer Science+Business Media, 2007. — 370 p. — ISBN: 0387715193.Einsteins Struggles with Quantum Theory: A Re-Appraisal, presents an account of all aspects of Einsteins encounter with quantum theory. Until recently it was accepted that, after important early work, Einstein was simply unable to follow Niels Bohrs approach to quantum theory, and that Einsteins own views, centered on realism, were of no interest. This book follows modern scholarship arguing that Einsteins arguments were well constructed, in the Einstein-Bohr debate his position was legitimate, and his pragmatic approach to realism stimulated John Bell and encouraged the emergence of quantum information theory. The book provides a readable account of Einsteins achievements in quantum theory, his own views, and the progress his work has stimulated since his death. While some chapters use mathematics at an undergraduate physics level, a path is provided for the reader more concerned with ideas than equations, and the book should be of interest to anybody interested in Einstein and his approach to the quantum.Setting the Scene
The Philosophical Background: Einstein and Mach
Einstein and Quantum Theory: The Early Years
Quantum Mechanics and Its Fundamental Issues
The Standard Interpretation of Quantum MechanicsEinstein Confronting Quantum Theory from 1925
Einstein’s Approaches to Quantum Theory 1925–1935
EPR and its Aftermath
Einstein and the Macroscopic Limit of Quantum Mechanics
Summary of Einstein’s ViewsDenouement
Bell’s Contributions and Quantum Non-locality
Non-standard Quantum Interpretations
Einstein and Quantum Information Theory
Bridging the Quantum-Classical DivideLooking Forward
Quantum Foundations: General Outlook
Assessment of Einstein’s Views and Contributions