Chance In Physics. Foundations And Perspectives

The foundations of statistical physics have always been and still are a matter of heated debate. Mixed up with the foundations of quantum theory and with the advances in chaotic dynamical systems, the status of probability in physics has become gradually more unclear than it was in Boltzmann's time. This book consists of self-contained lectures on the foundations of statistical mechanics, the foundations of quantum theory, particularly emphazising the role of probability, and on the philosophical aspects arising from chance in physics.
The lectures extend from the history of statistical mechanics to the meaning of probability in quantum and relativistic physics. Addressing primarily graduate students and lecturers, this book will also be a useful reference for ail researchers interested in the field of probability in science.