Einstein and Bohr's confrontation clarified
921365
One of the best historical and philosophical summaries of the confrontation which occurred between the Giants and prcursors of modern physics for its clarity and depth  . The understanding and in depth knowledge of the author is unique In this type of book.
1104065
This book provides a technical overview of the two approaches attempted by Albert Einstein to solve the problem of unification: on the one hand the generalization of the Kaluza-Klein Theory and on the other the Einstein-Schrdinger Unified Field Theory. Very well written, it has historical value for scholars. Not aimed at the layman.
1385604
The author creates a simple and apparently internally consistent approach to uniting quantum physics and relativity, using only descriptive terms. His argument is simple, thought-provoking and accessible. I think that anyone interested in physical science or cosmology should be aware of the model proposed in this book.
4395034
During his tenure at Princeton university, John Archibald Wheeler has served as the mentor to such outstanding physicists as Richard P. Feynman, Kip Thorne and Hugh Everett.  He was also great friends with such  individuals as Albert Einstein & Niels Bohr.  In short, his  contributions to physics have been indispensable.
  This present work  of his traces his life, a life that is (as the cover says) one of science.  However, one of the nice facets of this book is that it goes beyond just  the laboratory & reveals the personal life of this great man.  We learn  of the moving death of his brother in WWII, his worries and concerns over  nuclear war (as well as the grapples with his conscience that he endured  over the invention of the hydrogen bomb) and many other aspects of his  life.  He also tells stories of some of his most memorable students;  not  all of these were necessarily his most gifted pupils.  Above all, Wheeler  reveals a genuine human passion that has characterized his approach to  science over the greater part of this century.  One of the best biographies  of a scientist I have ever read.
310668
As a Clinical Psychologist interested in wave functions basic to neuropsychological processing, and quantum and parapsychological phenomena, I have become convinced of the ideas that waves are basic to particles and particle behavior, and that particles are an illusion created by the way the brain hologramically perceives.

Dr. Wolff's book reveals his logically concise understanding of the basic ontology of the material universe in its wave foundation.

A great contribution.
4631823
History is often clouded in uncertainty. Such is the case with Heisenberg's visit to Copenhagen while under the control of Nazi Germany. What were his reasons for the visit? Did he try to warn Niels Bohr of the german attempts to build their version of the atomic bomb? Did he try to find out how far the Manhatten Project had developped already? Did he propose sabotage to both of these projects, as a means to stop armageddon? What were his intentions?
The play offers us three versions of Heisenbergs visit as the "ghosts" of Heisenberg, Bohr and his wife remember it. It does not give a definite answer, but leaves all the relevant questions open.
There is a beautiful coupling between the physical work of these two scientists - especially the famous "uncertainty principle" of Heisenberg, which states that you can never know both velocity and position of a particle - and the theme of the play. What happened in Copenhagen is also uncertain. Frayn manages to create a wonderful resonance between the physical uncertainty principle and the undeterminable historic "truth".
The play poses some very important questions, such as whether a scientist should feel responsible for the consequences his scientific work has, whether actually building the atomic bomb for the Nazis can be morally justified, and, the obvious one, what Heisenberg's intentions were. It tries to give pointers to answers, but leaves itself open enough for broad discussion.
There have been critics that pointed out that Frayn "arranged" the historical facts so this moral dilemma could be created. There are people who say that Frayn got a few (important) details wrong; they claim that this renders the whole play irrelevant because it's "wrong". There are evenhistorians who claim to be able to prove they know what *really* happened in Copenhagen.
To these, I say they missed the point. Copenhagen isn't about knowing what really happened, or faithfully recreating the world as it was at the time of the meeting, and getting everything right. In the end, all we have is our own beliefs. The play managed to create a highly engaging discussion, having very interesting characters (Bohr and Heisenberg) argue about fundamental issues of ethics and the nature of intentions.
If the play also managed to do that in a fairly convincing recreation of a historical event, so much the better.
If you have the chance to see the play, do so. And if you know just a little about the physics involved, you will enjoy it even more.
1131673
The age old question of how and why particles of spin n+1/2 are the antisymmetric entities that we know as Fermions, while particles of integral spin are the symmetric entities that we know as Bosons, is addressed from a quasi-historical perspective.  Beginning with Pauli's 1925 Zeitschift fur Phyzik paper the concept of the spin 1/2 electron is introduced with the translation of Pauli's paper.  After some additional background provided by papers by Bose and Einstein on Bose-Einstein statistics, Dirac's 1928 paper is presented.  The discovery of the positron by Anderson in 1932 and Oppenheimer's 1930 paper interpreting Dirac's work as predicting an antiparticle of the electron with the same mass as the electron are also given.  From there the papers of Pauli and Fierz in the late 1930's and early 1940's are presented.  The contributions of Luders, Zumino, and Burgoyne; Hall and Wightman; Schwinger, and Feynman are given as well.

In addition to the original journal articles (sometimes in abbreviated form) the authors discuss some of the relevant issues.  All in all, I found this book quite interesting and helpful.  The only significant omission of which I am aware (while freely admitting that my knowledge and understanding of the Spin Statistics Theorem is still quite rudimentary) is that of the contribution of Steven Weinberg, as can be acquired from his papers published in the mid to late 1960's (beginning with his Phys. Rev. 113, B1318 (1964) paper) and from his comprehensive textbook&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Quantum-Theory-of-Fields-Volume-1/dp/0521550017/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Quantum Theory of Fields (Volume 1)</a>.
3547732
This thought-provoking book has a wider perspective than Greene's Elegant Universe, in which he expounded on String Theory. Fabric Of The Cosmos discusses the latest findings in theoretical physics in a style accessible to the ordinary reader.

The book contains a short summary of string theory. In brief, this theory proposes that particles like quarks, electrons et al. are not dots but minute filaments of vibrating energy that produce various particle properties. Superstring Theory reconciles general relativity with quantum mechanics in a single theory, making it a strong candidate for Einstein's elusive Unified Theory.

The author explores the two most prominent concerns of modern physics: The historical development from Galileo and Newton to Einstein and Hawking, and the very latest theories that arose from this development. Chapter 12 is basically a summary of The Elegant Universe, whilst the following two chapters explore the possibilities of experimentally testing the string theory.

A very important component of the book is the irreconcilable gap between the theory of general relativity and quantum mechanics. General relativity only holds valid for large objects, whilst quantum mechanics explains the subatomic composition of matter/energy. Since the two are incompatible, Greene maintains that a theory of quantum gravity must be developed, one that holds true for both small and large objects.

In the chapters Time And The Quantum and Entangling Space, the author looks at quantum mechanics and the strange phenomena of entanglement. He rejects Niels Bohr's dualistic interpretation of the world of facts and the world of probabilities, postulating a hidden reality composed of 9 spatial dimensions and 1 of time.

Fabric Of The Cosmos is a most engaging investigation of cutting edge ideas in physics and cosmology. It is highly stimulating and far more readable than Elegant Universe. I highly recommend this brilliant work.
3025103
Considering this was originally written just after World War I, and more concise and readable explanations of the Theory of Relativity are now available, this is still a fascinating work, at least from an historical view. It shows clearly how incredible Einstein's breakthrough insights were to his contemporaries.
1334994
Kumar's masterstroke is giving us just enough information to understand each significant discovery as it occurs. First we see quanta in energy, then the photoelectric effect, then the evolution of the concept of the atom. Kumar expertly balances descriptions of experiments and challenges to conventional thinking with the payoff of new ideas, generating suspense and wonder in equal measure.

This eminently readable book also reminds us that even geniuses can be trapped by their own ideas. In tracing the development of quantum theory, we see great physicists fail to accept the evidence for everything from atoms to electrons to the probability clouds of quantum theory. For instance, the great experimentalist Max Planck, who first quantized energy when studying blackbody radiation, was never able to fully accept the implications of his discovery - and this despite the equation flying in the face of all established  "truth" up to that point.

So we can forgive Einstein for never being able to accept quantum theory (despite his contributions via the photoelectric effect). Maybe it was because he was a theorist rather than an experimentalist, and quantum theory at the time did not easily lend itself to top-down theorizing. Maybe it was because he was old. He certainly didn't like the look of all those probability clouds. In any event, Kumar's description of his thought experiment that (temporally) rocked Bohr and the experiment's surprise resolution is pure gold - and one of the book's great payoffs. Highly recommended.
568875
Albert Einstein may best known to the general public for his equation relating mass and energy: E=mc2. This is part of the fabric of his special theory of relativity. However, it was the verification of his general theory of relativity that initially made Einstein world renown. For those of us not familiar with the differences between the two relativity theories, special relativity deals with changes in time and space as a function of speed, while general relativity deals with changes in time and space as a function of gravity. Special relativity helps us understand how stars shine and build nuclear reactors (and weapons), whereas general relativity provides us insight into the origin of the Universe and the formation of black holes. Egdall starts by introducing the reader to Einsteins life as a child and young adult. He then goes through the usual discussion on the development of special relativity, culminating with the Lorentzian contraction equations and their application to time and space dilation. There are plenty of thought experiment demonstration examples of the effects resulting from measurement in different constant motion points-of-view (or inertial frames of reference versus perception of simultaneity) and travel at very high (i.e., relativistic) speeds. So far, all is good. But in my opinion now comes the real jewel of the text  Edgalls discussion of general relativity. None of the other mass publication books I have read on this topic have provided as good a historical background on, or the insight into Einsteins thoughts, regarding the development of general relativity. The level of mathematics required to do a full-blown treatment on this topic are outside the scope of a popular text, but the generalization and amount of detail provided do justice to the subject for the mathematically-curious reader. As with special relativity, the author provides numerous examples of application and consequence for general relativity, also detailing many of the cosmological insights that have been learned from studying Einsteins equations. As with any other book of this sort, it is heavily footnoted; I advise the reader to check the footnotes as they are encountered  they provide source references and further discussion on the topic and other asides as well. To round out and complete the readers journey into relativity the author provides five short appendices covering Lorentz transforms, space-time intervals, momenergy, geodesics and the general relativity equation. I found these appendices to be a nice touch for the reader who wants a little more information, yet they can be easily skipped by the reader who doesnt want to delve into this material. All in all, this is an excellent popular reading book for the introduction to Einsteins relativity theories. With the other popular books cited in the reference notes, anyone wanting more information on the topic will be well armed. Read, enjoy, and learn about the insights that can be garnered from the mathematical modeling of real-world phenomena.
2523818
The difficulty of making comparisons between modern physics and Eastern mysticism involves the need to separate distinctly science from religion. The methods employed are not the same, and it is worth emphasizing the differences so as to keep them separate. If there is a flaw in the book, it is the misapprehension that the reader may take away - that, for example, the koan-meditating Zen practitioners are doing essentially the same thing as the physicists who are studying the puzzling phenomenon of quantum mechanics. In the conjectures that the author makes toward the end of the book concerning the S-matrix and the bootstrap theory, there seems to be (in the relating of physics with consciousness in the final chapter) something of a blurring of science and religion. But on the whole the author is careful to point out the differences in method and approach, and important comparisons are made. Those comparisons involve cosmology - the nature of the physical universe, and in my opinion are worth considering.

One such comparison seems particularly illuminating to me. Our senses tell us that the world contains solid material, and science as a result of carefully planned and executed experiments verifies what Democritus posited long ago: that solid material is composed of atoms. Science through its efforts also gives us a sense of dimension: if one atom occupied St Peter's Cathedral in Rome, its nucleus would be the size of a grain of salt and its electrons would be the size of dust particles. That enormous relative amount of empty space indicates to me that our sense of solidity is not on account of there being composite material but on the energy of the electrons that whirl about in an orderly fashion in space. Furthermore, in the subatomic realm, as the author explains through many diagrams and some repetition, the units described behave more like processes or "dynamic energy patterns" than particles. Protons and neutrons do not break down into constituent parts; they tend to break down according to the energy applied. All of this suggests to me that material substance is a fleeting quality and that energy is fundamental to the universe; and this idea correlates with the Buddhist denial of material substance, that nothing is static, everything is constantly changing and evolving in energetic patterns, as metaphorically depicted in the dance of Shiva.
2365006
Like quantum theory everyone agrees on the mathematical equations of relativity, however there is wide disagreement on what it means physically especially among philosophers of science. Therefore, it is important to read Einstein's actual words on his own theory. The discovery of dark matter has raised some questions on whether Einstein's original theory is complete. Does it need some new like torsion field for example in addition to the curvature field. Then, there is the issue of quantum corrections. However, Reading Einstein himself is the best way to understand the physical meeting of the theories especially if you are an engineer or an experimental physicist.
4105613
This is a very well written history of the gradual exploration of the strangeness of quantum mechanics at the begining of last century.

This book combines the suspense of (i) a detective story with everyday's complex behaviors by humans (be they scientists) and of (ii) simple explanations of the physics and maths quandries which these scientists confronted and solved - with and without errors along the way.

An absolute must-read for those interested in the history of human thought and for those curious to understand how towering intellects came to decipher the strange nature of quantum phenomena and laws.  And how Albert Einstein grasped, affirmed before all others, and almost accepted the inherent strangeness of nature's laws.

One of the best history of science books I have ever read.  I am surprised that the author - a scientist - writes so well.

Pierre Larroque

.
4129353
PROFESSOR EINSTEIN PRESENTS HIS THEORY IN A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD DISCUSSION, USING SIMPLE GEOMETRIC ANALOGIES, QUITE CONDUCIVE TO UNDERSTANDING THE BASIC CONCEPTS. HE LEAVES NO "GAPS" IN HIS STEP-BY-STEP EXPLANATION OF THIS OTHERWISE-INTIMIDATING THEORY. I BELIEVE A CHILD CAN  NATURALLY UNDERSTAND SOME OF IT BECAUSE OF HIS PATIENT AND CLEAR PRESENTATION. THIS KIND GENIUS SENT ME HIS BOOK IN 1951, AUTOGRAPHED AND WITH A LETTER TO ME AT AGE 17. HE DID, HOWEVER, SAY THAT THE BOOK IS NOT SIMPLE. TOO OFTEN WE ARE AFRAID TO OPEN OR BUY A BOOK BECAUSE THE SUBJECT SOUNDS SCARY. A FINE BOOK FOR YOUNG OR OLD AND A REAL CONFIDENCE-BUILDER. YOU MAY BE SURPRISED AT WHAT YOU LEARN AND UNDERSTAND!
2758143
Quantum Theory by David Bohm, Prentice-Hall, 1951; Dover, 1989; 672 ff.

This is a comprehensive `introductory' textbook of quantum mechanics. I put the word `introductory' in quotes because this is not a textbook for the faint-hearted who feel intimidated by mathematics, or for the beginner who is new to the fundamental ideas of the subject. Indeed, to get to the heart of this book the reader needs to be a graduate in mathematics and physics. True, there are great swathes of text explaining in as simple terms as possible the basic concepts of quantum physics, presented in Bohm's usual very readable style. As these are eloquently written by one of the pioneers of the subject, they are well worth reading, even if one ignores the mathematics.

However, as early as page 7 we meet some integral calculus, Maxwell's electromagnetic equations that describe the relationship between electric and magnetic fields, the nabla or del notation that represents a three-dimensional partial derivative operator, and then the notion of divergence describing the variations of a vector field at a given point. These concepts will be meaningless to anyone other than an able graduate in physics and mathematics. They would certainly be incomprehensible even to my A-level maths and physics students.

So, if we exclude the maths, that leaves about one-third of the book as accessible descriptive text which is indeed very well worth reading and informative in its own right. What this book does, it does brilliantly - but for a very limited and rather specialized readership. For those wanting a historical approach to quantum mechanics there is an excellent book by Manjit Kumar. The basic ideas are explained well by Jim al-Khalili or by Brian Greene, and the practical applications by Alastair Rae. Then there's the Very Short Introduction to Particle Physics by Frank Close. All these books give modern presentations of various aspects of subatomic particle physics and quantum theory that are more accessible for the general non-specialist reader.

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Quantum-Einstein-Bohr-and-the-Great-Debate-about-the-Nature-of-Reality/dp/0393339882/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality</a>
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Particle-Physics-A-Very-Short-Introduction/dp/0192804340/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Particle Physics: A Very Short Introduction</a>
1793738
This is the most sane explanation of quantum physics that I have ever seen. The Schrodinger's Cat problem is dismissed. Not easily mind you. You ARE going to have to go to school. But although this book is a bit long in the tooth for a physics book, it will rival Einstein's explanation of relativity. Hell, Einstein could have taken lessons from this book. It is a very clear explanation of how you get reality out of this damn difficult description of the world.