Author Talk Series Continues on Oct. 20 with Emeritus Professor Tom Williams
The Anne and Edgar Basse Jr. Author Talk Series, presented by the Leyburn University Library at Washington and Lee University, continues at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, with a talk by H. Thomas Williams, emeritus professor of physics at W&L.
Williams will give a talk titled “The Secret Life of Schrödinger’s Cat,” during which he will discuss his book “Discrete Quantum Mechanics” (2016). It will be in Northen Auditorium, Leyburn Library.
The talk is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Library. It is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided.
Williams said his book is “a brief look at the history of the development of quantum theory that illuminates two distinct formal approaches to the subject and their ultimate unification. One of these approaches, that of Werner Heisenberg, justifies the use of ‘discrete’ in the book’s title, and motivates the topics it covers. The Heisenberg approach and its modern applications will be discussed with help from the spooky cat conceived by Erwin Schrödinger.”
Williams’ recent publications include articles in journals dedicated to physics and mathematical research in 2016, 2013 and 2012. He retired from W&L in 2011.
“The Anne and Edgar Basse Jr. Author Talk Series showcases the creative and scholarly works produced by members of the W&L community,” said Emily Cook, the instructional design specialist in Leyburn Library. “During each talk, a W&L author speaks about a recently published monographic work, fields audience questions and is available to sign copies of the discussed book.”
Talks are sponsored by the library’s Anne and Edgar Basse Jr. Endowment. This fund was created in 1988 to support the varied activities of the University’s Special Collections and Archives — including book signings. All books published by W&L faculty are housed in the library’s Special Collections and Archives.
