On classical limits of quantum theory

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• J Butterfield
• Monday 22 January 2007, 16:30-18:00
• Meeting Room 14, Centre for Mathematical Sciences.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Jeremy Nicholas Butterfield.

This talk expounds aspects of the classical limit of quantum theory. I begin with some general points about emergence in physics, and then give a simplifying exposition of some themes in Sections 4 to 6 of N P Landsman’s survey article, Between Classical and Quantum, which is available at: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/archive/00002328/ or at: http://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0506082

These three Sections make some use of algebraic quantum theory; whose elements I will introduce. Sections 4 and 5 introduce quantization theory, and the limit, h goes to 0. Section 6 is about the limit N (i.e. number of systems, or degrees of freedom) goes to infinity.

This talk is part of the Philosophy of Physics series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All Talks (aka the CURE list)
• History and Philosophy of Science long list
• Meeting Room 14, Centre for Mathematical Sciences
• Philosophy and History of Science
• Philosophy of Physics
• jer64's list

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.