Table of Contents

A: Quantum theory: an introductory sketch
1: Quantum theory - basic ideas
2: Quantum theory and discreteness
3: The Schrödinger equation
4: Superposition
5: Further complications
6: Orthodox and non-orthodox interpretations of quantum theory
B: Investigating quantum theory
7: Entanglement
8: The achievement of John Bell
9: Experimental philosophy: The first decade
10: Alain Aspect: ruling out signalling
11: Recent developments on Bell's inequalities
12: Bell's theorem without inequalities
13: The new age
14: Bell's last thoughts
C: Quantum information theory
15: Knowledge, information and (a little about) quantum information
16: Feynman and the prehistory of quantum computation
17: Quantum computation
18: Constructing a quantum computer
19: More techniques in quantum information theory

About the Author

Andrew Whitaker lectured at the University of Ulster from 1978-1988 before joining Queen's University Belfast where he is now Professor of Physics. For 25 years his main field of research has been on the Foundations of Quantum Theory, which has developed into the present 'hot topic' of Quantum Information Theory. Whitaker has published around 50 papers on this subject and has numerous publications on the History of Physics and Physics Education.

Reviews

`During this century there has been an explosion in interest in fundamental issues in quantum mechanics, especially about the mysterious properties of entanglement. Interestingly, many of these studies into the fundamentals of quantum mechanics are driven and motivated by technological quests. This book is ideally placed to tap into this genuine enthusiasm about the fundamental and applied nature of the mysteries at the heart of quantum mechanics.'
Ifan G Hughes, Durham University