The Collected Works of P. A. M. Dirac: Volume 1
1924-1948
Published on 26. October 1995
Book
Hardback
1334 pages
978-0-521-36231-3 (ISBN)
Description
P. A. M. Dirac was one of this century's most outstanding theoretical physicists. Among many fundamental advances, he formulated a fully relativistic theory of the electron, and predicted the existence of the positron. Dirac was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1933, at the age of just thirty-one. This volume brings together for the first time all of Dirac's scientific publications from 1924 until 1948, his most productive years. Each paper is reproduced in its original form and, for the few not in English, a matching translation is provided. Also included here are reset versions of Dirac's hitherto unpublished wartime research papers. This comprehensive collection will provide a valuable and convenient reference source, and will allow students of the history of science to trace the development of the ideas of one of the founders of quantum mechanics.
Reviews / Votes
'By editing Dirac's collected works from 1924 to 1948, Richard Dalitz (emeritus professor of theoretical physics at Oxford University) has helped reveal the breadth and depth of Dirac's interests ... Dalitz has arranged Dirac's collected works in a simple and lucid way. Following a seven-page chronology of Dirac's life, the papers are arranged by order of publication ... A complete bibliography of Dirac's works rounds out this massive tome.' American Scientist 'To summarize: anyone interested in the physical sciences can enjoy browsing through this book; for the professional historian of twentieth century physics it will be invaluable.' M. J. Seaton The ObservatoryMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
3 Halftones, unspecified; 9 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 255 mm
Width: 182 mm
Thickness: 74 mm
Weight
2490 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-36231-3 (9780521362313)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Content
Biographical details of P. A. M. Dirac; Acknowledgements; Titles of papers; 1. Dissociation under a temperature gradient; 2. Note on the relativity dynamics of a particle; 3. Note on the Doppler principle and Bohr's frequency condition; 4. The conditions for statistical equilibrium between atoms, electrons and radiation; 5. The adiabatic invariants of the quantum integrals; 6. The effect of Compton scattering by free electrons in a stellar atmosphere; 7. The adiabatic hypothesis for magnetic fields; 8. The fundamental equations of quantum mechanics; 9. Quantum mechanics and a preliminary investigation of the hydrogen atom; 10. The elimination of the nodes in quantum mechanics; 11. Relativity quantum mechanics with an application to Compton scattering; 12. Quantum mechanics (title page of dissertation); 13. On quantum algebra; 14. On the theory of quantum mechanics; 15. The Compton effect in wave mechanics; 16. The physical interpretation of the quantum dynamics; 17. The quantum theory of emission and absorption of radiation; 18. The quantum theory of dispersion; 19. Uber die Quantenmechanik der Stossvorgaenge; 20. The quantum theory of the electron, I; 21. The quantum theory of the electron, II; 22. Discussion in electrons and photons; 23. Uber die Quantentheorie des Elektrons; 24. Zur Quantentheorie des Elektrons; 25. The basis of statistical quantum mechanics; 26. Quantum mechanics of many electron systems; 27. A theory of electrons and protons; 28. On the annihilation of electrons and protons; 29. Note on exchange phenomena in the Thomas atom; 30. The proton; 31. The principles of quantum mechanics (title pages and prefaces from the first, second, third, and fourth editions); 32. Approximate methods; 33. Preface to first Russian edition of The Principles of Quantum Mechanics; 34. Preface to second Russian edition of The Principles of Quantum Mechanics; 35. Note on the interpretation of the density matrix in the many electron problem; 36. Quantized singularities in the electromagnetic field; 37. Quelques problemes de mecanique quantique; 38. Photo-electric absorption in hydrogen-like atoms; 39. Relativistic quantum mechanics; 40. On quantum electrodynamics; 41. The Lagrangian in quantum mechanics; 42. The reflection of electrons from standing light waves; 43. Homogeneous variables in classical mechanics; 44. Statement of a problem in quantum mechanics; 45. Theorie du positron; 46. Teoriya pozitrona; 47. Theory of electrons and positrons; 48. Discussion of the infinite distribution of electrons in the theory of the positron; 49. The electron wave equation in De-Sitter space; 50. Does conservation of energy hold in atomic processes?; 51. Relativistic wave equations; 52. Wave equations in conformal space; 53. The cosmological constants; 54. Physical science and philosophy (a reply to Dr H. Dingle); 55. Complex variables in quantum mechanics; 56. A new basis for cosmology; 57. Classical theory of radiating electrons; 58. The relation between mathematics and physics; 59. A new notation for quantum mechanics; 60. La theorie de l'electron et du champ electromagnetique; 61. Dr. M. Mathisson (Obituary); 62. The theory of the separation of the isotopes by statistical methods, n.d. or p.; 63. The physical interpretation of quantum mechanics; 64. On Lorentz invariance in the quantum theory; 65. The motion in a self-fractionating centrifuge; 66. Quantum electrodynamics; 67. Approximate rate of neutron multiplication for a solid of arbitrary shape and uniform density; 68. Application to the oblate spheroid hemisphere and oblate hemispheroid; 69. Unitary representations of the Lorentz group; 70. On the analogy between classical and quantum mechanics; 71. Applications of quaternions to Lorentz transformations; 72. Quelques developments sur la theorie atomique; 73. Developments in quantum electrodynamics; 74. On the theory of point e