Thirty Years that Shook Physics
The Story of Quantum Theory
Published on 28. March 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-0-486-24895-0 (ISBN)
Description
Entertaining, rigorous introduction to the development of quantum theory traces the subject's history, from Max Planck's revolutionary discovery of quanta and Niels Bohr's model of the atom to anti-particles, mesons, and Enrico Fermi's nuclear research. Numerous line drawings. 1966 edition.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
308 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-486-24895-0 (9780486248950)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Modern Science Made Easy
By one of the leading physicists of the twentieth century, George Gamow's One, Two, Three?Infinity is one of the most memorable popular books on physics, mathematics, and science generally ever written, famous for having, directly or indirectly, launched the academic and/or scientific careers of many young people whose first real encounter with the wonders and mysteries of mathematics and science was through reading this book as a teenager. Untypically for popular science books, this one is enhanced by the author's own delightful sketches. Reviewers were enthusiastic when One, Two, Three?Infinity was published in 1947.
In the Author's Own Words:
"If and when all the laws governing physical phenomena are finally discovered, and all the empirical constants occurring in these laws are finally expressed through the four independent basic constants, we will be able to say that physical science has reached its end, that no excitement is left in further explorations, and that all that remains to a physicist is either tedious work on minor details or the self-educational study and adoration of the magnificence of the completed system. At that stage physical science will enter from the epoch of Columbus and Magellan into the epoch of the National Geographic Magazine!" ? George Gamow
Critical Acclaim for One, Two, Three?Infinity:
"This skillful presentation is for the non-professional and professional scientist. It will broaden the knowledge of each and give the imagination wide play." ? Chemistry and Engineering News
"A stimulating and provocative book for the science-minded layman." ? Kirkus Reviews
"This is a layman's book as readable as a historical novel, but every chapter bears the solid imprint of authoritative research." ? San Francisco Chronice
"George Gamow succeeds where others fail because of his remarkable ability to combine technical accuracy, choice of material, dignity of expression, and readability." ? Saturday Review of Literature
By one of the leading physicists of the twentieth century, George Gamow's One, Two, Three?Infinity is one of the most memorable popular books on physics, mathematics, and science generally ever written, famous for having, directly or indirectly, launched the academic and/or scientific careers of many young people whose first real encounter with the wonders and mysteries of mathematics and science was through reading this book as a teenager. Untypically for popular science books, this one is enhanced by the author's own delightful sketches. Reviewers were enthusiastic when One, Two, Three?Infinity was published in 1947.
In the Author's Own Words:
"If and when all the laws governing physical phenomena are finally discovered, and all the empirical constants occurring in these laws are finally expressed through the four independent basic constants, we will be able to say that physical science has reached its end, that no excitement is left in further explorations, and that all that remains to a physicist is either tedious work on minor details or the self-educational study and adoration of the magnificence of the completed system. At that stage physical science will enter from the epoch of Columbus and Magellan into the epoch of the National Geographic Magazine!" ? George Gamow
Critical Acclaim for One, Two, Three?Infinity:
"This skillful presentation is for the non-professional and professional scientist. It will broaden the knowledge of each and give the imagination wide play." ? Chemistry and Engineering News
"A stimulating and provocative book for the science-minded layman." ? Kirkus Reviews
"This is a layman's book as readable as a historical novel, but every chapter bears the solid imprint of authoritative research." ? San Francisco Chronice
"George Gamow succeeds where others fail because of his remarkable ability to combine technical accuracy, choice of material, dignity of expression, and readability." ? Saturday Review of Literature
Content
BIOGRAPHICAL PREFACE
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
I M. PLANCK AND LIGHT QUANTA
Statistical Mechanics and Thermal Radiation
Max Planck and the Quantum of Energy
Light Quanta and the Photoelectric Effect
The Compton Effect
II N. BOHR AND QUANTUM ORBITS
Rutherford's Theory of the Nuclear Atom
Quantizing a Mechanical System
Sommerfeld's Elliptical Orbits
Bohr's Institute
III W. PAULI AND THE EXCLUSION PRINCIPLE
Quotas for Electron Levels
The Spinning Electron
Pauli and Nuclear Physics
The Neutrino
IV L. DE BROGLIE AND PILOT WAVES
Schroedinger's Wave Equation
Applying Wave Mechanics
V W. HEISENBERG AND THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE
Discarding Classical Linear Trajectories
VI P. A. M. DIRAC AND ANTI-PARTICLES
Unifying Relativity and Quantum Theory
Anti-Particle Physics
VII E. FERMI AND PARTICLE TRANSFORMATIONS
The Forces Behind ss-Transformation
Using Fermi Interaction Laws
Fermi's Research in Nuclear Reactions
VIII H. YUKAWA AND MESONS
IX MEN AT WORK
APPENDIX BLEGDAMSVEJ FAUST
INDEX
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
I M. PLANCK AND LIGHT QUANTA
Statistical Mechanics and Thermal Radiation
Max Planck and the Quantum of Energy
Light Quanta and the Photoelectric Effect
The Compton Effect
II N. BOHR AND QUANTUM ORBITS
Rutherford's Theory of the Nuclear Atom
Quantizing a Mechanical System
Sommerfeld's Elliptical Orbits
Bohr's Institute
III W. PAULI AND THE EXCLUSION PRINCIPLE
Quotas for Electron Levels
The Spinning Electron
Pauli and Nuclear Physics
The Neutrino
IV L. DE BROGLIE AND PILOT WAVES
Schroedinger's Wave Equation
Applying Wave Mechanics
V W. HEISENBERG AND THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE
Discarding Classical Linear Trajectories
VI P. A. M. DIRAC AND ANTI-PARTICLES
Unifying Relativity and Quantum Theory
Anti-Particle Physics
VII E. FERMI AND PARTICLE TRANSFORMATIONS
The Forces Behind ss-Transformation
Using Fermi Interaction Laws
Fermi's Research in Nuclear Reactions
VIII H. YUKAWA AND MESONS
IX MEN AT WORK
APPENDIX BLEGDAMSVEJ FAUST
INDEX