There is a need to provide an account of the foundations of the theory because recent experience has largely confirmed the theory and offered a wealth of new discoveries and possibilities. On the other side, the following results have generated a new basis for discussing the problem of the interpretation: the new developments in measurement theory; the experimental generation of "Schrödinger cats"; recent developments which allow, for the first time, the simultaneous measurement of complementary observables; quantum information processing, teleportation and computation.

To accomplish this task, the book combines historical, systematic and thematic approaches.

Contents:

• Basic Formalism and Extensions of Quantum Mechanics:
• Where the Problems Begin
• Basic Quantum Mechanics
• Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
• Quantum Optics
• The Copenhagen Interpretation:
• First Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics
• Uncertainty Principle
• The Complementarity Principle
• First Foundations of Quantum Mechanics:
• QM Axiomatics
• Hilbert Spaces and Operators
• Classical and Quantum Probability: An Overview
• Geometric Phase
• Measurement Problem:
• Some Preliminary Notions
• Von Neumann Theory and Its Refinements
• Many-World Interpretation
• Solutions Using Classical or Semiclassical Apparata
• Decoherence
• Operational Stochastic QM
• Non-Demolition Measurement Theory
• Information Without Interaction
• Microphysics/Macrophysics:
• Decoherence and Thermodynamics
• Quantum Jumps
• Reductions to Classical Case
• Generation of the Cat
• Time and QM:
• Consistent and Decohering Histories
• Delayed Choice
• Reversibility and Irreversibility
• Wave/Particle Dualism:
• The Reality of Quantum Waves and States
• The Indeterminacy of Quantum Waves and States
• Between Wave and Particle
• Completeness and Determinism:
• Einstein/Podolsky/Rosen Argument
• Examination and Interpretation of Hidden-Variable Theories
• Stochastic Generalization
• The Problem of Non-Locality:
• Initial Criticisms of the Einstein/Podolsky/Rosen Argument
• Bell Inequalities
• The Problem of Separability as Such
• More Exact Bounds for the Inequalities
• Entanglement with Pure States and with Mixtures
• Generalized Bell Inequalities
• Bell Inequalities for Other Observables
• Other Non-Local Effects
• Information and Quantum Mechanics:
• Information and Entropy in Quantum Mechanics
• Quantum Cryptography and Teleportation
• Quantum Information and Computation
• Conclusions:
• A Foundational Synthesis
• Outline of an Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

"It is a tour de force that deserves to be treated as a definitive reference to the twentieth century's contribution to our understanding of quantum physics."

"It is a comprehensive exposition of many different aspects of modern quantum mechanics ... I have found this book to be a very good reference for all these topics ... it can serve as a good overview of many different aspects of quantum mechanics at the postgraduate or advanced undergraduate level."

"... the reader is presented with a most extensive panorama of interesting developments offering original and sometimes quite promising views in the quantum mechanical domain, and also, correlatively, that he is given an access to an exceptionally rich bibliography. These are elements of which it can reasonably be expected that they will substantially help and/or foster further researches."

"The book by Auletta is remarkable because it offers the most complete and systematic review from the origins of the theory up to the present day ... We strongly recommend physicists and philosophers of science alike."