Applied Bohmian Mechanics

“Bohmian mechanics, a version of quantum mechanics that is far simpler and much more understandable than the standard textbook theory, has been widely ignored by physicists. Ironically, one of the reasons for this is that since it makes precisely the same predictions for the results of experiments as the standard theory, many believe it to be of little practical value. This book makes the case that this is not so — that the additional resources provided by Bohmian mechanics lead not only to enhanced understanding but also to new tools for dealing with  difficult practical quantum problems.”

~Prof. Sheldon Goldstein, Rutgers University, USA

“The flow lines associated with quantum matter waves may be  helpful for computational or interpretational purposes as demonstrated in this stimulating book, which shows in great detail how the widespread prejudices against Bohmian mechanics should not preclude the use of the underlying formalism for solving practical problems in chemistry and physics.”

~Prof. Juan Gonzalo Muga, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Spain

After a lengthy and useful introduction to Bohmian mechanics by the editors, eight sections on the use of Bohmian mechanics in specific fields of physics and chemistry are presented. Each is by a different set of authors – mainly from Barcelona or Madrid – and covers an area ranging from hydrogen photoionisation to quantum cosmology. Some are very practical: quantum control of atomic states, quantum electron transport in nanostructures; some didactic: relativistic Bohmian mechanics, classical wave propagation and the eikonol approximation (making explicit Schrödinger’s curious influence) and some calculational: quantum chemistry and quantum Monte Carlo exploitation of Bohmian mechanics. The format leads to a degree of repetition and overlap, but this has been kept to an acceptable minimum. However, the work is definitely a series of connected monographs, some at a rather advanced level, rather than a unified textbook.

~P. T. Greenland, University College London, UK