Quantum Physics, Mini Black Holes and the Multiverse

Professor John Terning is a Professor of Physics at University of California, Davis. He received his Ph.D. from University of Toronto and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University. He was also a researcher at Boston University, University of California, Berkeley and Harvard University. Professor Terning was a staff member at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. John Terning's research Interests include theoretical particle physics, electroweak symmetry breaking, supersymmetry, cosmology, extra dimensions, and AdS/CFT correspondence. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and his research papers have over eight thousand citations.

Professor L. William Poirier is Chancellor's Council Distinguished Research Professor and also Barnie E. Rushing Jr. Distinguished Faculty Member at Texas Tech University, in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and also the Department of Physics. He received his Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by a chemistry research associateship at the University of Chicago. He is also the recipient of a DoE Early Career Award, and the TTU Tribute to Teachers Award. His research interest lies in understanding and solving the Schroedinger equation of quantum mechanics, from both foundational and practical perspectives. In 2009, he developed a new theory of quantum mechanics without wavefunctions, together with an interpretation that has now come to be known as "many interacting worlds." He is also the recent author of A Conceptual Guide to Thermodynamics (Wiley, 2014).

Professor Yasunori Nomura is director of the Berkeley Center for Theoretical Physics. He received his Ph.D from University of Tokyo in 2000. After serving as a Miller research fellow at University of California, Berkeley and as an Associate Scientist at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, he was appointed to the faculty of University of California, Berkeley in 2003. Professor Nomura is a leading theoretical physicist working on particle physics, quantum gravity, and cosmology. He developed theories of grand unification in higher dimensional spacetime and constructed the first realistic composite Higgs model in which the Higgs boson arises from a symmetry breaking. He also proposed that the eternally inflating multiverse is the same thing as quantum many worlds. Professor Nomura is a recipient of the DOE Outstanding Junior Investigator Award, Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, Hellman Family Faculty Fund Award, and Simons Fellowship in Theoretical Physics.

Preface

Chapter 1 Misconceptions about Space-Time and Particle Physics

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Particles are little balls

1.3 Atoms are tiny Solar Systems

1.4 Seeing atoms requires a really big optical microscope

1.5 Collider spawns planet devouring black hole

1.6 God particle could wipe out the Universe

1.7 LHC could prove existence of parallel Universe

1.8 Scientists raise concerns about cell-phones

1.9 The cold fusion race just heated up

1.10 Spinach: a cautionary tale

1.11 Extra material: The equations behind the words

1.12 Summary

Chapter 2 Misconceptions in Quantum Physics

2.1 Introduction

What the experts say

Why quantum physics is weird

What is the real role of science?

2.2 Wave Particle Duality

2.3 Quantum Probability Waves

2.4 Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

2.5 Double Slit Experiment

Single slit experiment (classical)

Single slit experiment (quantum)

Double slit experiment (classical)

Double slit experiment (quantum)

2.6 Wavefunction Revisited

Many particle wavefunctions

Wavefunction measurement (quantum tomography, weak measurement)

Collapse and Schrödinger's cat

2.7 Nonlocality

Hidden variables

Bell's theorem

EPR experiment as a quantum coin toss game

2.8 Interpretations of Quantum Physics

2.9 Popular Depictions of Quantum Physics

2.10 Summary

Chapter 3 Misconceptions in Cosmology

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Our Universe

3.3 The Multiverse

3.3 Future Progress (Observations & Theoretical)

3.4 Summary

Glossary

About the Authors