Albert Einstein, Boris Podolsky, Nathan Rosen: Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?

Description

The work published by Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR) in 1935 is a classic in modern physics. It discusses, for the first time, the central feature of the quantum theory: entanglement. In general, systems are intertwined with each other in nature; that is, they have only one common, non-divisible state. This fact is responsible for all the oddities commonly associated with quantum theory, including the famous thought experiments with Schrödinger’s cat and Wigner’s friend. The entanglement of quantum mechanics plays a central role in experiments with atoms and photons (Nobel Prize 2012 for Haroche and Wineland) and the planned construction of quantum computers.  This book presents EPR’s original work amplified with a detailed commentary, which examines both the historical context and all aspects of entanglement. In particular, it focuses on the interpretation of quantum theory and its consequences for a basic understanding of nature. Preface Contents 1 Backstory 1.1 Einstein's Contributions to Early Quantum Theory 1.2 Interpretations of Quantum Theory Before 1935 1.3 The Bohr-Einstein Debate During the Solvay Conferences 1.4 John von Neumann and the Wave Function Collapse 2 The Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen Paper 2.1 Reprint of the Paper 2.2 Critical Summary 2.3 Bohm's Version of the Thought Experiment 2.4 The Contributions of Einstein's Co-Authors 2.5 Critical Evaluation 3 Translation of Einstein's 1948 Paper 3.1 Quantum Mechanics and Reality 3.2 Summary 4 Reception and Impact of the EPR Paper 4.1 Reprint of Bohr's Paper 4.2 Bohr's Reply 4.3 Schrödinger and Entanglement 4.4 Pauli and Heisenberg 4.5 Some More Early Responses 5 Further Developments 5.1 Bohm's Theory 5.2 The Bell Inequalities 5.3 The Many-Worlds Interpretation 5.4 The Classical Limit 6 Future Relevance A The Formalism of Quantum Theory References