Quantum-classical analogies. (Q1889804)

The authors known for their book [Advanced Optoelectronic Devices. Sprin\-ger Series in Photonics. 1. (Berlin: Springer) (1999; Zbl 0907.00008)] devote their new book to the striking analogies between classical and quantum physics. The topic is not to be confused with the correspondence principle, the Ehrenfest theorem, the WKB method or sending Planck's constant to zero. These frequently debated and widely known problems are the subject of another book of the series: [\textit{A. O. Bolivar}, Quantum-Classical Correspondence. The Frontiers Collection. (Berlin: Springer) (2004; Zbl 1074.81002)]. Instead, the authors wish to show that the classical and quantum worlds share many common concepts despite striking differences (wave-and-particle here, wave-or-particle there). Very often the analogy is only formal, i.e. the mathematical equations look the same though the interpretation of the amplitudes involved may differ substantially. Sometimes one discovers a common treatment of classical and quantum phenomena in phase space. From their position of authority the authors choose mainly topics from condensed matter physics, optoelectronics and acoustics to demonstrate analogies including a comparison of quantum and classical computing. The wealth of analogies thus discovered and presented in ten distinct chapters sheds some light on the genuine significance of both the quantum world and its classical counterpart. The book addresses students and researchers alike specialising in the study of quantum devices, atom optics or quantum optics.