Mon compte
Wishlist
Panier 00:00
Panier 00:00

The Bit and the Pendulum: From Quantum Computing to M Theory-The New Physics of Information

  • The Bit and the Pendulum: From Quantum Computing to M Theory-The New Physics of Information
Le Pitch
Présentation de l'éditeur Funny, clear, deep, and right on target. [Siegfried] lets us get a handle on ideas that are essential for understanding the evolving world -K. C. Cole, author of The Universe and the Teacup "An eager, ambitious book. A stimulating, accessible introduction to scientific theory" -Dallas Morning News An award-winning journalist surveys the horizon of a new revolution in science Everything in the universe, from the molecules in our bodies to the heart of a black hole, is made up of bits of information. This is the radical idea at the center of the new physics of information, and it is leading to exciting breakthroughs in a vast range of science, including the invention of a new kind of quantum computer, millions of times faster than any computer today. Acclaimed science writer Tom Siegfried offers a lively introduction to the leading scientists and ideas responsible for this exciting new scientific paradigm. Revue de presse "Light stopped." So read a number of headlines over recent news articles, about scientists bringing light to a full stop in a laboratory. The more careful writers explained that actually the experiments consisted of capturing all the information about some light rays in a soup of atoms and laser beams; this information could be used to reassemble the rays later and send them on their way. "The Bit and the Pendulum" explores the possibility that everything, heaven and earth and all that is in them, is, like that light, but a manifestation of information. Physical scientists are likely to meet this idea with a dismissive shrug; they are quite happy with energy as the foundation of everything. On the other hand, information scientists are likely to find the idea quite natural and exciting. Tom Siegfried, the science editor of The Dallas Morning News, invites the general reader to come to a personal conclusion. Siegfried posits that science, particularly physics, and by extension the rational view of the universe, have been driven by a succession of metaphorical worldviews – "superparadigms." In turn, these are motivated by the dominant machines of the era. The first: The universe as clockwork (the pendulum of the title) is manifested in Newtonian mechanics. Here force is a key concept, and energy, kinetic and potential, first appears as a conserved quantity. The second, some centuries later: The universe as a large heat engine Is manifested in the theory of thermodynamics, motivated by the steam engine. Energy, the key concept, is conserved, but entropy, or useless heat energy, increases, so the universe is running down. The third, motivated by the computer, the dominant machine of today, sees the universe as a large information processor. Entropy is information. Information has a precise definition as the state of a system. The simplest bit of information is an either–or state, a zero or one, up or down, yes or no, or a protein either active or inactive (this last connects biology and information). Any system – an atom, a human, the universe – can be completely described by the answers to a few tens of yes–no questions (20 questions, anyone?); that is, a few tens of bits. An information processor, a computer, is a system that transforms its state, according to rules, into a new state. Do not underestimate the import of all this. The thesis developed in the book is that information is not a formal way of analyzing systems and their behavior. "Information is real. Information is physical," Siegfried writes. And later: "Information is more than a metaphor –it is a new reality." And the progression of events through time is computation, so the universe is essentially a huge. If mysterious, computer. To illustrate, Siegfried begins with the idea of teleportation: "Beam me up, Scotty." If teleportation really exists – and Siegfried shows it does in some sense – it would consist of transporting not matter but the complete information about the structure of an object, every molecule of Cap Afficher moinsAfficher plus

The Bit and the Pendulum: From Quantum Computing to M Theory-The New Physics of Information

Indisponible
Sélectionnez la condition
Indisponible
Etre averti(e) de la disponibilité

Le Pitch

Présentation de l'éditeur Funny, clear, deep, and right on target. [Siegfried] lets us get a handle on ideas that are essential for understanding the evolving world -K. C. Cole, author of The Universe and the Teacup "An eager, ambitious book. A stimulating, accessible introduction to scientific theory" -Dallas Morning News An award-winning journalist surveys the horizon of a new revolution in science Everything in the universe, from the molecules in our bodies to the heart of a black hole, is made up of bits of information. This is the radical idea at the center of the new physics of information, and it is leading to exciting breakthroughs in a vast range of science, including the invention of a new kind of quantum computer, millions of times faster than any computer today. Acclaimed science writer Tom Siegfried offers a lively introduction to the leading scientists and ideas responsible for this exciting new scientific paradigm. Revue de presse "Light stopped." So read a number of headlines over recent news articles, about scientists bringing light to a full stop in a laboratory. The more careful writers explained that actually the experiments consisted of capturing all the information about some light rays in a soup of atoms and laser beams; this information could be used to reassemble the rays later and send them on their way. "The Bit and the Pendulum" explores the possibility that everything, heaven and earth and all that is in them, is, like that light, but a manifestation of information. Physical scientists are likely to meet this idea with a dismissive shrug; they are quite happy with energy as the foundation of everything. On the other hand, information scientists are likely to find the idea quite natural and exciting. Tom Siegfried, the science editor of The Dallas Morning News, invites the general reader to come to a personal conclusion. Siegfried posits that science, particularly physics, and by extension the rational view of the universe, have been driven by a succession of metaphorical worldviews – "superparadigms." In turn, these are motivated by the dominant machines of the era. The first: The universe as clockwork (the pendulum of the title) is manifested in Newtonian mechanics. Here force is a key concept, and energy, kinetic and potential, first appears as a conserved quantity. The second, some centuries later: The universe as a large heat engine Is manifested in the theory of thermodynamics, motivated by the steam engine. Energy, the key concept, is conserved, but entropy, or useless heat energy, increases, so the universe is running down. The third, motivated by the computer, the dominant machine of today, sees the universe as a large information processor. Entropy is information. Information has a precise definition as the state of a system. The simplest bit of information is an either–or state, a zero or one, up or down, yes or no, or a protein either active or inactive (this last connects biology and information). Any system – an atom, a human, the universe – can be completely described by the answers to a few tens of yes–no questions (20 questions, anyone?); that is, a few tens of bits. An information processor, a computer, is a system that transforms its state, according to rules, into a new state. Do not underestimate the import of all this. The thesis developed in the book is that information is not a formal way of analyzing systems and their behavior. "Information is real. Information is physical," Siegfried writes. And later: "Information is more than a metaphor –it is a new reality." And the progression of events through time is computation, so the universe is essentially a huge. If mysterious, computer. To illustrate, Siegfried begins with the idea of teleportation: "Beam me up, Scotty." If teleportation really exists – and Siegfried shows it does in some sense – it would consist of transporting not matter but the complete information about the structure of an object, every molecule of Cap Afficher moinsAfficher plus

Détails du livre

Titre complet
The Bit and the Pendulum: From Quantum Computing to M Theory-The New Physics of Information
Editeur
Wiley
Format
Broché
Publication
05 décembre 2000
Pages
288
Taille
23.5 x 16.2 x 2 cm
Poids
395
ISBN-13
9780471399742
Livré entre : 24 juillet - 27 juillet
Disponible chez le fournisseur
Impression à la demande
Expédition immédiate
Chez vous entre :
Les délais de livraison ont tendance à s'accélérer ces dernières semaines, le temps indiqué peut être plus court que prévu. Les délais de livraison ont tendance à s'allonger ces dernières semaines, le temps indiqué peut être plus long que prévu.
Livraison gratuite (FR et BE) à partir de 20,00 € de livres d'occasion
Retour GRATUIT sous 14 jours.
Image to render

Revendez-le sur notre application!

Acheter la série complète

Siegfried, Tom

( livres)

Voir toute la série
Total-

Aller plus loin

Vous pouvez également aimer

Récemment consultés