Back Of The Envelope Quantum Mechanics

  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Back-of-the-envelope Quantum Mechanics: With Extensions To Many-body Systems, Integrable Pdes, And Rare And Exotic Methods (Second Edition) Maxim Olchanyi (Olshanii), 2024-01-10 Dimensional and order-of-magnitude estimates are practiced by almost everybody but taught almost nowhere. When physics students engage in their first theoretical research project, they soon learn that exactly solvable problems belong only to textbooks, that numerical models are long and resource consuming, and that 'something else' is needed to quickly gain insight into the system they are going to study. Qualitative methods are this 'something else', but typically, students have never heard of them before.The aim of this book is to teach the craft of qualitative analysis using a set of problems, some with solutions and some without, in advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate Quantum Mechanics. Examples include a dimensional analysis solution for the spectrum of a quartic oscillator, simple WKB formulas for the matrix elements of a coordinate in a gravitational well, and a three-line-long estimate for the ionization energy of atoms uniformly valid across the whole periodic table. The pièce de résistance in the collection is a series of dimensional analysis questions in Integrable Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations with no dimensions existing a priori. Solved problems include the relationship between the size and the speed of solitons of the Korteweg-de Vries equation and an expression for the oscillation period of a Nonlinear Schrödinger breather as a function of its width.A new theme that appears in the second edition are the rare and exotic methods in elementary quantum mechanics. The new chapter covers quantum-mechanical supersymmetry, power index method, scale invariance, self-similarity, and circle inversion.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Back-of-the-Envelope Physics Clifford Swartz, 2003-05-30 Offers quantitative analysis of one hundred and one physics questions with simple, approximate answers on a variety of topics.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Constructivism and International Relations Stefano Guzzini, Anna Leander, 2005-12-12 This book addresses both Wendt's social theory and international relations theory, exploring a variety of constructivist debates without reducing constructivism to one single position.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Computational Chemistry of Solid State Materials Richard Dronskowski, 2008-01-08 This is the first book to present both classical and quantum-chemical approaches to computational methods, incorporating the many new developments in this field from the last few years. Written especially for non-theoretical readers in a readily comprehensible and implemental style, it includes numerous practical examples of varying degrees of difficulty. Similarly, the use of mathematical equations is reduced to a minimum, focusing only on those important for experimentalists. Backed by many extensive tables containing detailed data for direct use in the calculations, this is the ideal companion for all those wishing to improve their work in solid state research.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Gravity! Pierre Binétruy, 2018 What force do the Big Bang, the expansion of the Universe, dark matter and dark energy, black holes, and gravitational waves all have in common? This book uncovers gravity as a key to understanding these fascinating phenomena that have so captivated public interest in recent years. Readers will discover the latest findings on how this familiar force in our everyday lives powers the most colossal changes in the Universe. Written by the widely recognized French public scientist and leading astrophysicist Pierre Binetruy, the book also explains the recent experimental confirmation of the existence of gravitational waves.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Electrostatics at the Molecular Level Ulrich Zürcher, 2018-10-24 Electrostatic forces are essential for the hierarchical structure of matter: electrons are bound to the atomic nucleus by electrostatic forces; atoms carry (partial) charges and ions with opposite charges attract and form (chemical) bonds. Small residual electrostatic forces between molecules allow them to form macroscopic structures such as crystals. Electrostatic interactions explain pseudo-forces used in popular computer programs used to model properties of atoms, molecules, and proteins. By beginning with the basics and then diving deeper into the topic, this book aims to familiarize the reader with electrostatic forces at the atomic and molecular level.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Introduction to Many-Body Physics Piers Coleman, 2015-11-26 This book explains the tools and concepts needed for a research-level understanding of the subject, for graduate students in condensed matter physics.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Organic Chemistry Pierre Vogel, Kendall N. Houk, 2019-07-30 Provides the background, tools, and models required to understand organic synthesis and plan chemical reactions more efficiently Knowledge of physical chemistry is essential for achieving successful chemical reactions in organic chemistry. Chemists must be competent in a range of areas to understand organic synthesis. Organic Chemistry provides the methods, models, and tools necessary to fully comprehend organic reactions. Written by two internationally recognized experts in the field, this much-needed textbook fills a gap in current literature on physical organic chemistry. Rigorous yet straightforward chapters first examine chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, reaction rates and mechanisms, and molecular orbital theory, providing readers with a strong foundation in physical organic chemistry. Subsequent chapters demonstrate various reactions involving organic, organometallic, and biochemical reactants and catalysts. Throughout the text, numerous questions and exercises, over 800 in total, help readers strengthen their comprehension of the subject and highlight key points of learning. The companion Organic Chemistry Workbook contains complete references and answers to every question in this text. A much-needed resource for students and working chemists alike, this text: -Presents models that establish if a reaction is possible, estimate how long it will take, and determine its properties -Describes reactions with broad practical value in synthesis and biology, such as C-C-coupling reactions, pericyclic reactions, and catalytic reactions -Enables readers to plan chemical reactions more efficiently -Features clear illustrations, figures, and tables -With a Foreword by Nobel Prize Laureate Robert H. Grubbs Organic Chemistry: Theory, Reactivity, and Mechanisms in Modern Synthesis is an ideal textbook for students and instructors of chemistry, and a valuable work of reference for organic chemists, physical chemists, and chemical engineers.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Metaphors and Analogies in Sciences and Humanities Shyam Wuppuluri, A. C. Grayling, 2022-05-30 In this highly-interdisciplinary volume, we systematically study the role of metaphors and analogies in (mis)shaping our understanding of the world. Metaphors and Analogies occupy a prominent place in scientific discourses, as they do in literature, humanities and at the very level of our thinking itself. But when misused they can lead us astray, blinding our understanding inexorably. How can metaphors aid us in our understanding of the world? What role do they play in our scientific discourses and in humanities? How do they help us understand and skillfully deal with our complex socio-political scenarios? Where is the dividing line between their use and abuse? Join us as we explore some of these questions in this volume.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: High Energy Physics - Proceedings Of The 25th International Conference (In 2 Volumes) Kok Khoo Phua, Y Yamaguchi, 1991-07-15 This proceedings contains the talks delivered at the plenary and parallel sessions. Topics covered include e⁺e⁻ Physics at Z0, String Theory and Theory of Extended Objects, High Energy pp Physics, Non-Accelerator Particle Physics, Conformal Field Theory, e⁺e⁻ Physics below Z⁰, Structure Functions and Deep Inelastic Scattering, Neutrino Physics, Recent Developments in 2-Dimensional Gravity, Lattice Gauge Theory and Computer Simulations, CP Violation , Accelerator Physics, Cosmology and Particle Physics, Interface Between Particle and Condensed Matter Physics, Detector R&D, and Astroparticle Physics.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Group Theory in a Nutshell for Physicists Anthony Zee, 2016-03-29 A concise, modern textbook on group theory written especially for physicists Although group theory is a mathematical subject, it is indispensable to many areas of modern theoretical physics, from atomic physics to condensed matter physics, particle physics to string theory. In particular, it is essential for an understanding of the fundamental forces. Yet until now, what has been missing is a modern, accessible, and self-contained textbook on the subject written especially for physicists. Group Theory in a Nutshell for Physicists fills this gap, providing a user-friendly and classroom-tested text that focuses on those aspects of group theory physicists most need to know. From the basic intuitive notion of a group, A. Zee takes readers all the way up to how theories based on gauge groups could unify three of the four fundamental forces. He also includes a concise review of the linear algebra needed for group theory, making the book ideal for self-study. Provides physicists with a modern and accessible introduction to group theory Covers applications to various areas of physics, including field theory, particle physics, relativity, and much more Topics include finite group and character tables; real, pseudoreal, and complex representations; Weyl, Dirac, and Majorana equations; the expanding universe and group theory; grand unification; and much more The essential textbook for students and an invaluable resource for researchers Features a brief, self-contained treatment of linear algebra An online illustration package is available to professors Solutions manual (available only to professors)
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Nanotechnology Ben Rogers, Jesse Adams, Sumita Pennathur, 2011-07-05 Winner of a CHOICE Outstanding Academic Book Award 2011!Transistors using one electron at a time. Sunscreens made with titanium dioxide particles that look transparent to our eyes but block harmful UV rays. Nanometer-sized specks of gold that change color to red and melt at 750 C instead of 1064 C. Nanotechnology takes the unique physical propertie
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Handbook of Benzoxazine Resins Hatsuo Ishida, Tarek Agag, 2011-07-13 This handbook provides a wide overview of the field, fundamental understanding of the synthetic methods and structure/property correlation, as well as studies related to applications in a wide range of subjects. The handbook also provides 1H and 13C NMR spectra, FTIR spectra, DSC and TGA thermograms to aid in research activities. Additional tables on key NMR and FTIR frequencies unique to benzoxazine, heat of polymerization, Tg, and char yield will greatly aid in the choice of proper benzoxazine for a specific application. - Provides thorough coverage of the chemistry and applications of benzoxazine resins with an evidence-based approach to enable chemists, engineers and material scientists to evaluate effectiveness - Features spectra, which allow researchers to compare results, avoid repetition and save time as well as tables on key NMR frequency, IR frequency, heat of polymerization, of many benzoxazine resins to aid them in selection of materials - Written by the foremost experts in the field
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: The Chemical Bond Gernot Frenking, Sason Shaik, 2014-07-08 This is the perfect complement to Chemical Bonding - Across the Periodic Table by the same editors, who are two of the top scientists working on this topic, each with extensive experience and important connections within the community. The resulting book is a unique overview of the different approaches used for describing a chemical bond, including molecular-orbital based, valence-bond based, ELF, AIM and density-functional based methods. It takes into account the many developments that have taken place in the field over the past few decades due to the rapid advances in quantum chemical models and faster computers.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Defects and Geometry in Condensed Matter Physics David R. Nelson, 2002-03-18 Thermally excited defects such as vortices, disclinations, dislocations, vacancies and interstitials play a key role in the physics of crystals, superfluids, superconductors, liquid crystals and polymer arrays. Geometrical aspects of statistical mechanics become particularly important when thermal fluctuations entangle or crumple extended line-like or surface-like objects in three dimensions. In the case of entangled vortices above the first-order flux lattice melting transition in high temperature superconductors, the lines themselves are defects. A variety of low temperature theories combined with renormalization group ideas are used to describe the delicate interplay between defects, statistical mechanics and geometry characteristic of these problems in condensed matter physics. In this 2002 book, David Nelson provides a coherent and pedagogic graduate level introduction to the field of defects and geometry.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Applications of Contact Geometry and Topology in Physics Arkady Leonidovich Kholodenko, 2013 Although contact geometry and topology is briefly discussed in V I Arnol''d''s book Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics (Springer-Verlag, 1989, 2nd edition), it still remains a domain of research in pure mathematics, e.g. see the recent monograph by H Geiges An Introduction to Contact Topology (Cambridge U Press, 2008). Some attempts to use contact geometry in physics were made in the monograph Contact Geometry and Nonlinear Differential Equations (Cambridge U Press, 2007). Unfortunately, even the excellent style of this monograph is not sufficient to attract the attention of the physics community to this type of problems. This book is the first serious attempt to change the existing status quo. In it we demonstrate that, in fact, all branches of theoretical physics can be rewritten in the language of contact geometry and topology: from mechanics, thermodynamics and electrodynamics to optics, gauge fields and gravity; from physics of liquid crystals to quantum mechanics and quantum computers, etc. The book is written in the style of famous Landau-Lifshitz (L-L) multivolume course in theoretical physics. This means that its readers are expected to have solid background in theoretical physics (at least at the level of the L-L course). No prior knowledge of specialized mathematics is required. All needed new mathematics is given in the context of discussed physical problems. As in the L-L course some problems/exercises are formulated along the way and, again as in the L-L course, these are always supplemented by either solutions or by hints (with exact references). Unlike the L-L course, though, some definitions, theorems, and remarks are also presented. This is done with the purpose of stimulating the interest of our readers in deeper study of subject matters discussed in the text.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Nanoelectronics and Photonics Anatoli Korkin, Federico Rosei, 2008-09-23 Nanoelectronics and Photonics provides a fundamental description of the core elements and problems of advanced and future information technology. The authoritative book collects a series of tutorial chapters from leaders in the field covering fundamental topics from materials to devices and system architecture, and bridges the fundamental laws of physics and chemistry of materials at the atomic scale with device and circuit design and performance requirements.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: The Beauty of Physics: Patterns, Principles, and Perspectives A. R. P. Rau, 2014-09-25 The beauty of physics lies in its coherence in terms of a few fundamental concepts and principles. Even physicists have occasion to marvel at the overarching reach of basic principles and their ability to account for features stretching from the microscopic sub-atomic world to the cosmological expanses of the Universe. While mathematics is its natural language, physics is mostly about patterns, connections, and relations between objects and phenomena, and it is this aspect that is emphasized in this book. Since science tries to connect phenomena that at first sight appear widely different, while boiling them down to a small set of essential principles and laws, metaphor and analogy pervade our subject. Consider the pendulum, its swing from one extreme to the other often invoked in social or economic contexts. In molecular vibrations, such as in the CO2 molecule, the quantum motions of electrons and nuclei are metaphorically the pendulums. In electromagnetic radiation, including the visible light we observe, there are not even any concrete material particles, only electric and magnetic fields executing simple harmonic motion. But, to a physicist, they are all just a pendulum. The selection of topics reflects the author's own four-decade career in research physics and his resultant perspective on the subject. While aimed primarily at physicists, including junior students, this book also addresses other readers who are willing to think with symbols and simple algebra in understanding the physical world around us. Each chapter, on themes such as dimensions, transformations, symmetries, or maps, begins with simple examples accessible to all while connecting them later to more sophisticated realizations in more advanced topics of physics.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Particle Physics Lev Borisovich Okunʹ, 1985 Written by one of the world's leading theoretical physicists, this comprehensive volume offers a thorough overview of elementary particle physics and discusses progress in the field over the past two decades. The book forges links between new theoretical concepts and long-established facts in a style that both experts and students will find readable, informative, and challenging. A special section explains the use of relativistic quantum units, enabling readers to carry out back-of-the-envelope dimensional estimates. This ambitious book opens the door to a host of intriguing possibilities in the field of high-energy physics.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Fly by Night Physics A. Zee, 2020-10-27 The essential primer for physics students who want to build their physical intuition Presented in A. Zee's incomparably engaging style, this book introduces physics students to the practice of using physical reasoning and judicious guesses to get at the crux of a problem. An essential primer for advanced undergraduates and beyond, Fly by Night Physics reveals the simple and effective techniques that researchers use to think through a problem to its solution—or failing that, to smartly guess the answer—before starting any calculations. In typical physics classrooms, students seek to master an enormous toolbox of mathematical methods, which are necessary to do the precise calculations used in physics. Consequently, students often develop the unfortunate impression that physics consists of well-defined problems that can be solved with tightly reasoned and logical steps. Idealized textbook exercises and homework problems reinforce this erroneous impression. As a result, even the best students can find themselves completely unprepared for the challenges of doing actual research. In reality, physics is replete with back of the envelope estimates, order of magnitude guesses, and fly by night leaps of logic. Including exciting problems related to cutting-edge topics in physics, from Hawking radiation to gravity waves, this indispensable book will help students more deeply understand the equations they have learned and develop the confidence to start flying by night to arrive at the answers they seek. For instructors, a solutions manual is available upon request.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: 2004 Physics Education Research Conference Jeffrey Marx, Paula Heron, Scott Franklin, 2005-09-29 The 2004 Physics Education Research (PER) Conference brought together researchers in how we teach physics and how it is learned. Student understanding of concepts, the efficacy of different pedagogical techniques, and the importance of student attitudes toward physics and knowledge were all discussed. These Proceedings capture an important snapshot of the PER community, containing an incredibly broad collection of research papers of work in progress.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Quantum Physics of Semiconductor Materials and Devices Debdeep Jena, 2022 Aimed at upper-level undergraduate students and graduate students in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Materials Science, and Engineering, this textbook covers the quantum physics of semiconductors, including their practical applications in various areas and their future potential.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Conquering the Physics GRE Yoni Kahn, Adam Anderson, 2018-03 A self-contained guide to the Physics GRE, reviewing all of the topics covered alongside three practice exams with fully worked solutions.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Stanford Bulletin , 2006
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Creative Mathematical Sciences Communication Henning Fernau, Inge Schwank, Jacqueline Staub, 2024-10-04 This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Computer Science and Mathematics , CMSC 2024, held in Trier, Germany, during October 7–10, 2024. The 17 full and short papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 26 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: Invited Papers; Tactile Learning: Unplugged Graphs, Trees, and Patterns; Teaching Advanced Concepts Using Tangible Machines; Curricular Desicion-Making; Computational Thinking and Interdisciplinary Instruction; Innovative Teaching Beyond the Classroom.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Imaging and Manipulation of Adsorbates Using Dynamic Force Microscopy Philip Moriarty, Sebastien Gauthier, 2015-04-28 Imaging and Manipulation of Adsorbates using Dynamic Force Microscopy provides an overview of the latest developments in dynamic force microscopy (DFM) of atoms, molecules, and nanoparticles adsorbed on solid surfaces. Significant advances in the capabilities of this technique have been made in the last decade and this book represents a timely snapshot of the major research themes in the field, with a particular focus on the manipulation of matter at the atomic and (sub)molecular levels. This edited volume will be of keen interest to researchers active in nanoscience and its various sub-fields including, in particular, scanning probe microscopy. This book expands on the previous volumes in the series Advances in Atom and Single Molecule Machines. DFM is an exceptionally powerful tool for the imaging and probing of adsorbates on insulators and is now a component of the type of multiprobe interconnection systems described in Vol. 1 of the series. DFM can also be used to translate atoms and molecules in the context of the fabrication of the type of logic gates described in Vol. 2. When used in conjunction with STM, DFM also enables a detailed comparison of the chemical ‘architecture’ of a molecule with the spatial distribution of its orbital density, as described in Vol. 3. In this book readers will gain key insights into the current capabilities, and future potential, of dynamic force microscopy.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Perspectives on Statistical Thermodynamics Yoshitsugu Oono, 2017-12-14 This original text develops a deep, conceptual understanding of thermal physics and highlights the important links between statistical physics and classical thermodynamics. It examines how thermal physics fits within physics as a whole, and is perfect for undergraduate and graduate students, and researchers interested in a fresh approach to the subject.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: In the Shadow of the Bomb Silvan S. Schweber, 2000 By examining how Bethe and Oppenheimer - two men with similar backgrounds but divergent aspirations and characters - struggled with these moral dilemmas, one of our foremost historians of physics tells the story of modern physics, the development of atomic weapons, and the Cold War.--BOOK JACKET.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Our Mathematical Universe Max Tegmark, 2014-01-07 Max Tegmark leads us on an astonishing journey through past, present and future, and through the physics, astronomy and mathematics that are the foundation of his work, most particularly his hypothesis that our physical reality is a mathematical structure and his theory of the ultimate multiverse. In a dazzling combination of both popular and groundbreaking science, he not only helps us grasp his often mind-boggling theories, but he also shares with us some of the often surprising triumphs and disappointments that have shaped his life as a scientist. Fascinating from first to last—this is a book that has already prompted the attention and admiration of some of the most prominent scientists and mathematicians.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Optical Trapping And Manipulation Of Neutral Particles Using Lasers: A Reprint Volume With Commentaries Arthur Ashkin, 2006-12-29 This important volume contains selected papers and extensive commentaries on laser trapping and manipulation of neutral particles using radiation pressure forces. Such techniques apply to a variety of small particles, such as atoms, molecules, macroscopic dielectric particles, living cells, and organelles within cells. These optical methods have had a revolutionary impact on the fields of atomic and molecular physics, biophysics, and many aspects of nanotechnology.In atomic physics, the trapping and cooling of atoms down to nanokelvins and even picokelvin temperatures are possible. These are the lowest temperatures in the universe. This made possible the first demonstration of Bose-Einstein condensation of atomic and molecular vapors. Some of the applications are high precision atomic clocks, gyroscopes, the measurement of gravity, cryptology, atomic computers, cavity quantum electrodynamics and coherent atom lasers.A major application in biophysics is the study of the mechanical properties of the many types of motor molecules, mechanoenzymes, and other macromolecules responsible for the motion of organelles within cells and the locomotion of entire cells. Unique in vitro and in vivo assays study the driving forces, stepping motion, kinetics, and efficiency of these motors as they move along the cell's cytoskeleton. Positional and temporal resolutions have been achieved, making possible the study of RNA and DNA polymerases, as they undergo their various copying, backtracking, and error correcting functions on a single base pair basis.Many applications in nanotechnology involve particle and cell sorting, particle rotation, microfabrication of simple machines, microfluidics, and other micrometer devices. The number of applications continues to grow at a rapid rate.The author is the discoverer of optical trapping and optical tweezers. With his colleagues, he first demonstrated optical levitation, the trapping of atoms, and tweezer trapping and manipulation of living cells and biological particles.This is the only review volume covering the many fields of optical trapping and manipulation. The intention is to provide a selective guide to the literature and to teach how optical traps really work.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: The Visual Problem of High Energy Physics, Gravitation and Cosmology Leo G. Sapogin, V. A. Dzhanibekov, Yu. A. Ryabov, This article describes a model of Unitary Quantum Field theory where the particle is represented as a wave packet. The frequency dispersion equation is chosen so that the packet periodically appears and disappears without form changings. The envelope of the process is identified with a conventional wave function. Equation of such a field is nonlinear and relativistically invariant. With proper adjustments, they are reduced to Dirac, Schrödinger and Hamilton-Jacobi equations. A number of new experimental effects have been predicted both for high and low energies. Fine structure constant (1/137) was determined in 1988, masses of numerous elementary particles starting from electron were evaluated in 2007 with accuracy less than 1 %.2 pentaquarks, 𝜃𝜃+barion, Higgs boson and particle 28 GeV were discovered 11 years later, all of them were evaluated with high accuracy before.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Taking Care Alastair Sharp, 2020-04-24 When the comfortable routine life of a retired country accountant and his wife abruptly shifts, he finds himself in a new rôle. On an otherwise ordinary day, she asks him to take care of everyone and without giving it much thought he promises that he will. When he returns from shopping, however, she has had a stroke and has gone into a coma. Her command stays with him and even while he sits at her bedside in the hospital, he recalls what she has said. And so he sets out to fulfill her command. Whoever looks like they might need taking care of, he offers. Not all his offers are appreciated or taken up and some bear unexpected consequences. He finds himself riding a wave of activity, way outside his normal humdrum existence. His house fills with those who need his help and the community around him begins to discover and appreciate the benefactor in their midst. While his wife remains on life support, she continues to inspire him and perhaps, somehow even instruct him. In moments where decisions have to be made, she seems to be there, in a subtle form urging him along. Little by little, he finds himself in the midst of a group of those who do need taking care of and he rises and rises to the challenge.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Introductory Nanoscience Masaru Kuno, 2011-08-19 Designed for students at the senior undergraduate and first-year graduate level, Introductory Nanoscience takes a quantitative approach to describing the physical and chemical principles behind what makes nanostructures so fascinating. This textbook provides a foundation for understanding how properties of materials change when scaled to nano-size, explaining how we may predict behavior and functionality.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Proceedings Royal Society (Great Britain), 1992
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: We Are Our Brains D. F. Swaab, 2014-01-07 A vivid account of what makes us human. Based groundbreaking new research, We Are Our Brains is a sweeping biography of the human brain, from infancy to adulthood to old age. Renowned neuroscientist D. F. Swaab takes us on a guided tour of the intricate inner workings that determine our potential, our limitations, and our desires, with each chapter serving as an eye-opening window on a different stage of brain development: the gender differences that develop in the embryonic brain, what goes on in the heads of adolescents, how parenthood permanently changes the brain. Moving beyond pure biological understanding, Swaab presents a controversial and multilayered ethical argument surrounding the brain. Far from possessing true free will, Swaab argues, we have very little control over our everyday decisions, or who we will become, because our brains predetermine everything about us, long before we are born, from our moral character to our religious leanings to whom we fall in love with. And he challenges many of our prevailing assumptions about what makes us human, decoding the intricate “moral networks” that allow us to experience emotion, revealing maternal instinct to be the result of hormonal changes in the pregnant brain, and exploring the way that religious “imprinting” shapes the brain during childhood. Rife with memorable case studies, We Are Our Brains is already a bestselling international phenomenon. It aims to demystify the chemical and genetic workings of our most mysterious organ, in the process helping us to see who we are through an entirely new lens. Did you know? • The father’s brain is affected in pregnancy as well as the mother’s. • The withdrawal symptoms we experience at the end of a love affair mirror chemical addiction. • Growing up bilingual reduces the likelihood of Alzheimer’s. • Parental religion is imprinted on our brains during early development, much as our native language is. Praise for We Are Our Brains “Swaab’s ‘neurobiography’ is witty, opinionated, passionate, and, above all, cerebral.”—Booklist (starred review) “A fascinating survey . . . Swaab employs both personal and scientific observation in near-equal measure.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A cogent, provocative account of how twenty-first-century ‘neuroculture’ has the potential to effect profound medical and social change.”—Kirkus Reviews
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: The Coming of Materials Science R.W. Cahn, 2001-03-16 The Coming of Materials Science both covers the discipline of materials science, and draws an impressionistic map of the present state of the subject.The first chapter examines the emergence of the materials science concept, in both academe and industry. The second and third chapters delve back into the prehistory of materials science, examining the growth of such concepts as atoms, crystals and thermodynamics, and also examine the evolution of a number of neighbouring disciplines, to see what helpful parallels might emerge. The book contains numerous literature references. Many refer to the earliest key papers and books, while others are to sources, often books, offering a view of the present state of a topic. Early references are to the past but as the book continues, it brings the reader up to date with more recent sources.The author, Professor Robert Cahn FRS, has striven to be critical about the history of the discipline of materials science and to draw general conclusions about scientific practice from what he has discovered about the evolution of materials science. Further issues that the book highlights include: What is a scientific discipline? How do disciplines merge and differentiate? Can a discipline also be interdisciplinary? Is materials science a real discipline? A large range of themes is presented in the book and readers are invited to interact with the author if they reach alternative conclusions. This book is not just for reading and reference, but exists to stimulate thought and provoke discussion as well.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Many Worlds in One Alex Vilenkin, 2007-07-10 A Leading Figure in the Development of the New Cosmology Explains What It All Means Among his peers, Alex Vilenkin is regarded as one of the most imaginative and creative cosmologists of our time. His contributions to our current understanding of the universe include a number of novel ideas, two of which—eternal cosmic inflation and the quantum creation of the universe from nothing—have provided a scientific foundation for the possible existence of multiple universes. With this book—his first for the general reader—Vilenkin joins another select group: the handful of first-rank scientists who are equally adept at explaining their work to nonspecialists. With engaging, well-paced storytelling, a droll sense of humor, and a generous sprinkling of helpful cartoons, he conjures up a bizarre and fascinating new worldview that—to paraphrase Niels Bohr—just might be crazy enough to be true.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Genius James Gleick, 1993-11-02 To his colleagues, Richard Feynman was not so much a genius as he was a full-blown magician: someone who “does things that nobody else could do and that seem completely unexpected.” The path he cleared for twentieth-century physics led from the making of the atomic bomb to a Nobel Prize-winning theory of quantam electrodynamics to his devastating exposé of the Challenger space shuttle disaster. At the same time, the ebullient Feynman established a reputation as an eccentric showman, a master safe cracker and bongo player, and a wizard of seduction. Now James Gleick, author of the bestselling Chaos, unravels teh dense skein of Feynman‘s thought as well as the paradoxes of his character in a biography—which was nominated for a National Book Award—of outstanding lucidity and compassion.
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: Introduction to Physical Electronics Karl Erik Lonngren, 1988
  back of the envelope quantum mechanics: The Astronomers' Magic Envelope Prasenjit Saha, Paul A. Taylor, 2018 Working physicists, and especially astrophysicists, value a good back-of-the-envelope' calculation, meaning a short, elegant computation or argument that starts from general principles and leads to an interesting result. This book guides students on how to understand astrophysics using general principles and concise calculations -- endeavouring to be elegant where possible and using short computer programs where necessary. The material proceeds in approximate historical order. The book begins with the Enlightenment-era insight that the orbits of the planets is easy, but the orbit of the Moon is a real headache, and continues to deterministic chaos. This is followed by a chapter on spacetime and black holes. Four chapters reveal how microphysics, especially quantum mechanics, allow us to understand how stars work. The last two chapters are about cosmology, bringing us to 21st-century developments on the microwave background and gravitational waves.
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Lying on your back near the edge of the bed, bend one leg with your foot flat on the bed. Hang your . other leg over the edge, relaxed. Bend your knee back until a stretch is felt in the front of …

Back Pain: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Steps to Take
Doctors treat back pain with various options, including medications, nonsurgical treatments, and surgical treatments. Medications. Over-the-counter pain relievers taken by mouth or applied to …

Back pain care and prevention - Mayo Clinic Health System
Jun 6, 2017 · Stretching and exercising your back keeps the sensitivity and pain away — staying far from that threshold of pain. Below are a few great ways to prevent and treat back pain: …

Back Pain: Research & Resources - National Institute of Arthritis …
Research Progress Related to Back Pain. Research on back pain focuses on: Managing chronic low back pain. The NIH Back Pain Research Consortium (BACPAC) is a patient-centered …

Not all low back pain is the same - Mayo Clinic Health System
Feb 18, 2022 · About 80% of adults in the U.S. will experience low back pain at some point. Not all back pain is the same and symptoms can vary widely, ranging from intense, shooting or …

8 common back pain myths - Mayo Clinic Health System
Jul 28, 2023 · Back pain is more common than homeownership in the U.S. While about 65% of adults own a home, nearly 80% of adults will have back pain at some point. Despite how …