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The Physical Basis of The Direction of Time

  • Book
  • © 1999

Overview

Authors:
  1. H. Dieter Zeh

    1. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

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  • By now this book has become a classic frequently cited in the literature
  • The new edition is completely revised and in part now also takes care of the discussions going on in the community of philosophers of science
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XII
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  2. Introduction

    • H. Dieter Zeh
    Pages 1-8

  3. The Physical Concept of Time

    • H. Dieter Zeh
    Pages 9-14

  4. The Time Arrow of Radiation

    • H. Dieter Zeh
    Pages 15-36

  5. The Thermodynamical Arrow of Time

    • H. Dieter Zeh
    Pages 37-82

  6. The Quantum Mechanical Arrow of Time

    • H. Dieter Zeh
    Pages 83-130

  7. The Time Arrow of Spacetime Geometry

    • H. Dieter Zeh
    Pages 131-166

  8. The Time Arrow in Quantum Cosmology

    • H. Dieter Zeh
    Pages 167-194

  9. Epilog

    • H. Dieter Zeh
    Pages 195-198

  10. Back Matter

    Pages 199-228
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Keywords

About this book

For this third edition H. D. Zeh has thoroughly revised his book to include important new results. At the same time it retains the features that make it a classic text on irreversibility, and one which clearly distinguishes the latter from time asymmetry. New findings are presented particularly in the chapters on the arrow of time in quantum mechanics and quantum cosmology. Concepts such as decoherence and timelessness are discussed. The book has gained a reputation for its thorough survey of what is known about irreversibility in physics. It investigates physical phenomena in classical, quantum and cosmological settings. Both physicists and philosophers of science who reviewed earlier editions considered this book a magnificent survey, a concise, technically sophisticated, up-to-date discussion of the subject, showing fine sensitivity to some of the crucial philosophical subtleties.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    H. Dieter Zeh

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