Constructing Reality: Quantum Theory and Particle Physics

by John Marburger

Questions of the fundamental nature of matter continue to inspire and engage our imagination. However, the exciting new concepts of strings, supersymmetry and exotic matter build on ideas that are well known to physicists but mysterious and puzzling to people outside of these research fields. Covering key conceptual developments from the last century, this book provides a background to the bold ideas and challenges faced by physicists today. Quantum theory and the Standard Model of particles are explained with minimal mathematics, and advanced topics, such as gauge theory and quantum field theory, are put into context. With concise, lucid explanations, this book is an essential guide to the world of particle physics.

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2011

Reviews

[Bob Finch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A densely packed survey of modern physics, replete with historical context and abundant personal perspective. Something of a polemic for the Copenhagen Interpretation, the author lays out the foundations and experimental evidence for the idea that physics is about what it can measure, and our classical (naïve) view of reality is a poor guide to understanding concepts such as wave or particle when used to describe quantum mechanics. He is especially critical of "particle", making the case that there are no particles; there are no little discrete entities made of "stuff". Of course, he is restricted by language to use the term himself.

It is a slow read, but I don't think it is inherently difficult because of the subject. The author's nearly complete avoidance of mathematics makes a good deal of the book read like an extended "word problem" from elementary school (... If a chicken and a half lays an egg and a half in a day and a half, how many eggs do seven chickens lay in a week?).

Such criticism aside, this is, overall, a good introduction to the Standard Model. It is otherwise a specific viewpoint of physics, its objective as a fundamental science, and of the underlying "reality" that physics experiments can reveal. It is also a great lesson in how language can impede understanding concepts unlike any the language evolved to explain.

[Norah S. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book would be good for a beginner.

[Bart Billard · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting, well-written, challenging.