This collection of essays is above all intended to pay tribute to the fact that while QM today
is a refined and incredibly successful instrument many issues concerning the internal
consistency and the interpretation of this theory are still not nearly as well understood as
they ought to be. In addition whenever possible these essays take the opportunity to link
foundational issues to the many exciting developments that are often linked to major
experimental and technological breakthroughs in exploiting the electromagnetic field and in
particular its quantum properties and its interactions with matter as well as to advances in
solid state physics (such as new quantum Hall liquids topological insulators and graphene).
The present volume also focuses on various areas including new interference experiments with
very large molecules passing through double-slits which test the validity of the
Kochen-Specker theorem new tests of the violation of Bell's inequalities and the consequences
of entanglement new non-demolition measurements and tests of wave-function collapse to name
but a few. These experimental developments have raised many challenging questions for theorists
leading to a new surge of interest in the foundations of QM which have puzzled physicists ever
since this theory was pioneered almost ninety years ago. The outcome of a seminar program of
the same name on foundational issues in quantum physics (QM) organized by the editors of this
book and addressing newcomers to the field and more seasoned specialists alike this volume
provides a pedagogically inspired snapshot view of many of the unresolved issues in the field
of foundational QM.
