The Physics of Time Reversal by Robert Sachs

The Physics of Time Reversal by Robert Sachs

The notion that fundamental equations governing the motions of physical systems are invariant under the time reversal transformation (T) has been an important, but often subliminal, element in the development of theoretical physics. It serves as a powerful and useful tool in analyzing the structure of matter at all scales, from gases and condensed matter to subnuclear physics and the quantum theory of fields. The assumption of invariance under T was called into question, however, by the 1964 discovery that a closely related assumption, that of CP invariance (where C is charge conjugation and P is space inversion), is violated in the decay of neutral K mesons. In The Physics of Time Reversal, Robert G. Sachs comprehensively treats the role of the transformation T, both as a tool for analyzing the structure of matter and as a field of fundamental research relating to CP violation. For this purpose he reformulates the definitions of T, P, and C so as to avoid subliminal assumptions of invariance. He summarizes the standard phenomenology of CP violation in the K-meson system and addresses the question of the mysterious origin of CP violation. Using simple examples based on the standard quark model, Sachs summarizes and illustrates how these phenomenological methods can be extended to analysis of future experiments on heavy mesons. He notes that his reformulated approach to conventional quantum field theory leads to new questions about the meaning of the transformations in the context of recent theoretical developments such as non-Abelian gauge theories, and he suggests ways in which these questions may lead to new directions of research.

Sachs, Robert G.: - Robert G. Sachs is professor emeritus in the Department of Physics and the Enrico Fermi Institute at the University of Chicago. He is the author of the book Nuclear Theory as well as scores of journal articles on topics in physics.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780226733319
ISBN 10	0226733319
Title	The Physics of Time Reversal
Author	Robert Sachs
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	University Of Chicago Press
Year published	1987-10-15
Number of pages	326
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.