At what level of physical existence does "quantum behavior" begin? How does it develop from classical mechanics? This book addresses these questions and thereby sheds light on fundamental conceptual problems of quantum mechanics. Quantum-Classical Correspondence elucidates the problem by developing a procedure for quantizing stochastic systems (e.g. Brownian systems) described by Fokker-Planck equations. The logical consistency of the scheme is then verified by taking the classical limit of the equations of motion and corresponding physical quantities. Perhaps equally important, conceptual problems concerning the relationship between classical and quantum physics are identified and discussed. Physical scientists will find this an accessible entrée to an intriguing and thorny issue at the core of modern physics.

Inhalt

1 Towards a Non-Galilean View of Physics.- 2 Some Basics of Stochastic Processes.- 3 Classical Physics.- 4 Quantum Physics.- 5 Classical Limit of Quantum Physics.- 6 Summary and Open Questions.- A Elements of Set Theory.- A.1 Definitions.- A.2 Algebraic Structure.- A.3 Borel Field.- A.4 Set Function and Point Function.- B Quantization of the Smoluchowski Equation.- B.1 Constant Force.- B.2 Linear Force.- B.3 General Case.- C Dynamical Quantization Versus Dirac Quantization.- D Dynamical Quantization Versus Feynman Quantization.- E Wigner Representation of Classical Mechanics.- E.1 Dynamics.- E.2 Kinematics.- References.