Exploring Quantum Physics: Understanding Experiments and Interpretations

[Risk]

Greetings…

I am interested in philosophy and while reading about "philosophy of physics" I came across "Quantum Physics" (quantum mechanics to be exact). I need a book (or several books if one can't encompass what I want) that explains the experiments that were conducted on this matter and the scientific facts that were deduced from them on one hand. On the other, (most importantly) I want it to present objectively the different theories/interpretations/models that were constructed to explain the mechanics (like Copenhagen, Bohmian, pilot-wave, multiworld interpretation, etc). I came across different websites and scientific papers that present these interpretations but they contradict one another, so I need the guidance from experts in this forum.

In short, what I need is a book(s) that separates what was established as scientific facts from the interpretations (scientific theories) that were constructed to explain the phenomena, with an adequate and objective presentation to these theories.

Excuse me for this "naïve" request, I am a medical student. And I hope I posted this thread in the right section, for as you can see I am new here.

Thanks in advance.

P.S.: are the Bohmian mechanics, pilot-wave mechanics and stochastic mechanisms the same?

 

[jedishrfu]

The openstax.org website has many math and science books. The College Physics book has a chapter on Quantum Mechanics:

https://openstax.org/details/books/college-physics

There is also the University Physics book Volume 3 which also has a Quantum Mechanics chapter but requires some knowledge of Calculus:

https://openstax.org/details/books/university-physics-volume-3

 

[dextercioby]

If you know college calculus, then the book by Bernard D'Espagnat https://www.amazon.com/dp/0738201049/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[DrClaude]

You can also look at Do we really understand quantum mechanics? by Franck Laloë. A shorter version is available for free: https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0209123

 

[jedishrfu]

One more book for the pile is Leonard Susskind's recent book on Quantum Mechanics. It is a good treatment and at a level for folks who've been away from school for at least twenty years who want a better than pop-sci understanding of Quantum Mechanics.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465062903/?tag=pfamazon01-20

He also has two other books in the sequence on Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity.

 

[Demystifier]

P.S.: are the Bohmian mechanics, pilot-wave mechanics and stochastic mechanisms the same?

The first two are the same, the last one is not.

By the way, the recommendations of d'Espagnat and Laloe above are very good. If they are too technical for you, try also A. Whitaker, The New Quantum Age
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0198754760/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[Risk]

I am very thankful for you guys, I'll check them out.

 

[StevieTNZ]

In addition to Demystifier's excellent book suggestion, which I have, you can also try "Sneaking a Look at God's Cards" by Giancarlo Ghirardi -- https://www.amazon.com/dp/069113037X/?tag=pfamazon01-20