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The Physical Basis of The Direction of Time

  • Book
  • © 1992

Overview

Authors:
  1. H.-Dieter Zeh

    1. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Fed. Rep. of Germany

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-X
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  2. Introduction

    • H.-Dieter Zeh
    Pages 1-7

  3. The Physical Concept of Time

    • H.-Dieter Zeh
    Pages 8-11

  4. The Time Arrow of Radiation

    • H.-Dieter Zeh
    Pages 12-31

  5. The Thermodynamical Arrow of Time

    • H.-Dieter Zeh
    Pages 32-72

  6. The Quantum Mechanical Arrow of Time

    • H.-Dieter Zeh
    Pages 73-109

  7. The Time Arrow of Spacetime Structure and Cosmology

    • H.-Dieter Zeh
    Pages 110-141

  8. The Quantization of Time

    • H.-Dieter Zeh
    Pages 142-163

  9. Epilogue

    • H.-Dieter Zeh
    Pages 164-167

  10. Back Matter

    Pages 169-188
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Keywords

About this book

The asymmetry of natural phenomena under time reversal is striking. Here Zehinvestigates the most important classes of physical phenomena that characterize the arrow of time, discussing their interrelations as well as striving to uncover a cosmological common root of the phenomena, such as the time-independent wave function of the universe. The description of irreversible phenomena is shown to be fundamentally "observer-related". Both physicists and philosophers of science who reviewed the first edition considered this book a magnificent survey, a concise, technically sophisticated, up-to-date discussion of the subject, showing fine sensivity to some of the crucial philosophicalsubtleties. This new and expanded edition will be welcomed by both students and specialists.

Reviews


FROM THE REVIEWS:

MATHEMATICAL REVIEWS
"The presentation is clear and readable. The book gives an excellent overview of the phenomena which characterize a direction of time like radiation, thermodynamics, quantum indeterminism and the structure of black holes.”

SCIENCE MAGAZINE
"…I recommend this book to those willing to devote serious effort to learning part of the subject.”

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
"…an excellent summary of what is known at present about this fascinating mystery.”

 

FROM THE REVIEWS:

ZENTRALBLATT MATH
"The book contains an impressive (we’d say exhaustive) list of references: almost 300 titles (papers and books)…We have to mention the high scientific value of the book, its rigorous well-documented discussion of the subject, refinement and subtlety of its reasonings. We strongly recommend it to students and specialists in various fields of theoretical physics.”

Authors and Affiliations

  • Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    H.-Dieter Zeh

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