Paul Halpern
Author The Quantum Labyrinth: How Richard Feynman and John Wheeler Revolutionized Time and Reality
Book Recommendations:
Recommended by Paul Halpern
“In Significant Figures, Ian Stewart brings mathematics to life with intriguing accounts of twenty-five extraordinary contributors to the field. His biographical sketches blend equal parts passion--love affairs and rivalries--with insights--groundbreaking discoveries--to offer vivid, complete portraits of his subjects. By showing how even mathematical geniuses face all-too-human challenges, Stewart offers a riveting chronicle of one of humankind's loftiest endeavors.” (from Amazon)
A celebrated mathematician traces the history of math through the lives and work of twenty-five pioneering mathematicians In Significant Figures, acclaimed mathematician Ian Stewart explores the work of 25 of history's most important mathematicians, showing how they developed on each other's work and built the mathematics we use today. Through these short biographies, we get acquainted with the history of mathematics from Archimedes to William Thurston, and learn about those too often left out of the cannon, such as Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, the creator of algebra; Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer programmer; and Emmy Noether, whose research on symmetry paved the way for modern physics. Tracing the evolution of mathematics over the course of two millennia, Significant Figures will educate and delight aspiring mathematicians and experts alike.
Recommended by Paul Halpern
“The Quantum Menagerie is a wonderfully clear introduction to the notoriously demanding subject of quantum mechanics. Uniquely it blends the history of the field, including the work of Planck, Einstein, and others, with a splendidly lucid, step-by-step approach to the maths behind its key findings. James Stone explains milestone results that might appear abstract at first glance, such as Bell's inequality, in a delightfully visual manner. Recommended to anyone who would like to understand the formalism of quantum mechanics and needs the guidance of a seasoned explorer.” (from Amazon)
James V Stone(you?)
Understanding quantum mechanics matters because it is the engine that powers the universe. This engine is fuelled by a few simple principles, but the consequences of those principles are both profound and strange. In this richly illustrated book, quantum mechanics is explained using a finely balanced combination of words, diagrams and mathematics. The result is a tour of the most intriguing aspects of quantum mechanics, including Einstein's `spooky action at a distance', Bell's inequality, Schroedinger's cat, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, and de Broglie's matter waves. Supported by a comprehensive Glossary, Further Readings, and tutorial appendices, this is an ideal introduction to the mathematics of quantum mechanics.