1900年頃から、物理学者たちは電子、陽子、中性子といった粒子を発見し始め、その発見によって原子の内部挙動を予測できると考えていました。しかし、その予測と現実の実験結果とを比較した結果、古典物理学や力学の原理では原子レベルの現象を説明できないことが明らかになります。そこで登場することになったのが「量子物理学」です。
今日、量子物理学は、コンピュータの動作やラジオが音を伝える仕組みを説明し、自然界のほぼすべての粒子の挙動を正確に予測することを可能にしています。量子物理学の応用はヒッグス粒子の発見にもつながっていて、私たちの世界と宇宙に関連する最も広範な問題を解き明かす上で、基本的な役割を担っています。しかし、量子物理学の分野と原理が、ほぼ無限に応用できることが知られる一方で、なぜそうなるのかについてはあまり理解されていません。本書は、量子物理学という抽象的な分野の基本原理を整理して、量子物理学が今日の科学やそれ以外の分野でいかに重要な役割を担っているかを解説します。量子状態の定義をはじめ、データ暗号化やマイクロ回路などの応用、絶対零度やハイゼンベルグの不確定性原理などの原理や概念、英国政府が量子技術の研究に2億7千万ポンドを投じる計画の背景まで、幅広い疑問を取り上げています。量子物理学が関わる問題やアイディアの幅の広さを俯瞰できる入門書です。
    

• Presented in an easily accessible "question and answer" format
• Illustrated with helpful drawings to demonstrate the quantum physics concepts the author describes

 
Around 1900, physicists started to discover particles like electrons, protons, and neutrons, and with these discoveries they believed they could predict the internal behavior of the atom. However, once their predictions were compared to the results of experiments in the real world, it became clear that the principles of classical physics and mechanics were far from capable of explaining phenomena on the atomic scale. With this realization came the advent of quantum physics, one of the most important intellectual movements in human history.
　　　
Today, quantum physics is everywhere: it explains how our computers work, how radios transmit sound, and allows scientists to predict accurately the behavior of nearly every particle in nature. Its application led to the recent discovery of the Higgs Boson, and continues to be fundamental in the investigation of the broadest and most expansive questions related to our world and the universe. However, while the field and principles of quantum physics are known to have nearly limitless applications, the reasons why this is the case are far less understood. In "Quantum Physics: What Everyone Needs to Know," Michael Raymer distills the basic principles of such an abstract field, and addresses the many ways quantum physics is a key factor in today's scientific climate and beyond. The book tackles questions as broad as the definition of a quantum state and as specific and timely as why the British government plans to spend 270 million GBP on quantum technology research in the next five years. Raymer's list of topics is diverse, and showcases the sheer range of questions and ideas in which quantum physics is involved. From applications like data encryption and micro-circuitry to principles and concepts like Absolute Zero and Heisenberg's Uncertainty principle, "Quantum Physics: What Everyone Needs to Know" is wide-reaching introduction to a nearly ubiquitous scientific topic.