Einstein S Witches Sabbath And The Early Solvay Councils

Author : Frits Berends,Franklin Lambert
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2022-07-11
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 2759826694

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Einstein's Witches' Sabbath and the Early Solvay Councils by Frits Berends,Franklin Lambert Pdf

Before world war ii there were no regular international physics conferences, with the notable exception of seven SOLVAY COUNCILS . The first Council in 1911 was the result of a miraculous chain of events. Impressed by Einstein's specific heat paper, Nernst wanted its quantum basis to be discussed by international experts. By a series of coincidences the planned summit was convened by Solvay, the Belgian industrialist and Maecenas. Thanks to chairman Lorentz, the meeting was so successful that to this day similar Councils have been convened by the International Physics Institute, founded by Solvay and supported by his family. Lorentz chaired five Councils that testify to the transition from classical to modern physics. The first stimulated the physicists' interest in the quantum problem. The fifth, in 1927, solved the problem by marking, according to Heisenberg, the completion of Quantum Mechanics. The book focuses on the personal relations between the physicists who actively participated in the quantum revolution. These relations came under great strain during the Great War, but the Councils survived thanks to Lorentz's and Solvay's faith in the universality of science.

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 2024-06-23
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9789814477277

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The Quantum Structure of Space and Time by Anonim Pdf

Author : Richard Staley
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
Page : 505 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2008
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780226770574

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Einstein's Generation by Richard Staley Pdf

'Einstein's Generation' offers a new approach to the origins of modern physics by exploring both the material culture that stimulated relativity and the reaction of Einstein's colleagues to his pioneering work.

Author : Rebecka Lettevall,Geert Somsen,Sven Widmalm
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 368 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 2012-08-21
Category : History
ISBN : 9781136300554

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Neutrality in Twentieth-Century Europe by Rebecka Lettevall,Geert Somsen,Sven Widmalm Pdf

Whether in science or in international politics, neutrality has sometimes been promoted, not only as a viable political alternative but as a lofty ideal – in politics by nations proclaiming their peacefulness, in science as an underpinning of epistemology, in journalism and other intellectual pursuits as a foundation of a professional ethos. Time and again scientists and other intellectuals have claimed their endeavors to be neutral, elevated above the world of partisan conflict and power politics. This volume studies the resonances between neutrality in science and culture and neutrality in politics. By analyzing the activities of scientists, intellectuals, and politicians (sometimes overlapping categories) of mostly neutral nations in the First World War and after, it traces how an ideology of neutralism was developed that soon was embraced by international organizations. This book explores how the notion of neutrality has been used and how a neutralist discourse developed in history. None of the contributions take claims of neutrality at face value – some even show how they were made to advance partisan interests. The concept was typically clustered with notions, such as peace, internationalism, objectivity, rationality, and civilization. But its meaning was changeable – varying with professional, ideological, or national context. As such, Neutrality in Twentieth-Century Europe presents a different perspective on the century than the story of the great belligerent powers, and one in which science, culture, and politics are inextricably mixed.

Author : Pierre Marage,Grégoire Wallenborn
Publisher : Birkhäuser
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 43,8 Mb
Release : 2013-11-11
Category : Science
ISBN : 9783034877039

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The Solvay Councils and the Birth of Modern Physics by Pierre Marage,Grégoire Wallenborn Pdf

FOREWORD This book came about as a result of two events: an exhibition on the Solvay Physics Councils, held in Brussels in May 1995, and a conference on the same theme which took place at the Free University of Brussels (ULB) on May 1Oth 1995. A book was published in French in conjunction with the exhibition, and much of the present publication is taken from that book. In addition, we have included some of the papers presented at the conference, as we believe they add a further dimension to the history of the Councils. The French term, Conseil Solvay, is usually translated into English as Solvay Conference or Congress. We have elected to retain the particular connotations of the French word Conseil by translating it instead as Council. The Councils were, after all, no ordinary conferences. Only a limited number of participants was invited, hand picked by a scientific committee, who for five to six days took an active part in the sessions and the long discussions that followed. Each day, one or two physicists would present a paper on a subject that had been chosen by the committee to fit in with the overall theme of the Council. The word Conseil expressly implies the gathering of an elite to engage in debate.

Author : Olival Freire Jr,Guido Bacciagaluppi,Olivier Darrigol,Thiago Hartz,Christian Joas,Alexei Kojevnikov,Osvaldo Pessoa Jr
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 1104 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 2022-03-07
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780192582980

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The Oxford Handbook of the History of Quantum Interpretations by Olival Freire Jr,Guido Bacciagaluppi,Olivier Darrigol,Thiago Hartz,Christian Joas,Alexei Kojevnikov,Osvaldo Pessoa Jr Pdf

Crucial to most research in physics, as well as leading to the development of inventions such as the transistor and the laser, quantum mechanics approaches its centenary with an impressive record. However, the field has also long been the subject of ongoing debates about the foundations and interpretation of the theory, referred to as the quantum controversy. This Oxford Handbook offers a historical overview of the contrasts which have been at the heart of quantum physics for the last 100 years. Drawing on the wide-ranging expertise of several contributors working across physics, history, and philosophy, the handbook outlines the main theories and interpretations of quantum physics. It goes on to tackle the key controversies surrounding the field, touching on issues such as determinism, realism, locality, classicality, information, measurements, mathematical foundations, and the links between quantum theory and gravity. This engaging introduction is an essential guide for all those interested in the history of scientific controversies and history of quantum physics. It also provides a fascinating examination of the potential of quantum physics to influence new discoveries and advances in fields such quantum information and computing.

Author : Thomas Shevory
Publisher : NYU Press
Page : 307 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 2023-12-05
Category : Nature
ISBN : 9781479815678

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Toxic Lake by Thomas Shevory Pdf

"Onondaga Lake is sacred territory for members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. But by the mid-twentieth century, it was dubbed "the most polluted lake in America." The most expensive cleanup effort in American history was initiated in the 1990s, which, in turn, generated a new set of controversies"--

Author : Jagdish Mehra
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 439 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2012-12-06
Category : Science
ISBN : 9789401018678

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The Solvay Conferences on Physics by Jagdish Mehra Pdf

Jagdish Mehra's historical account of the Solvay Conferences from 1911 to 1973 demonstrates not only the great influence which these conferences have had on the development of modern physics, but it also shows clearly how far-sighted and well planned were the intentions of Ernest Solvay when he took the initiative for organizing a new type of international conferences. In contrast to the conventional meetings in which reports are given on the successful solution of scientific problems, the Solvay Conferences were conceived to help directly in solving specific problems of unusual difficulty. The importance of the quantum structure of Nature had become well under stood already by 1911, but at that time there was no hope for an answer to the ex tremely difficult new questions posed by the atomic phenomena. The new conferences should therefore be devoted primarily to thorough discussions of such problems be tween a small number of the most competent physicists, and Ernest Solvay was guided by the hope that the discussions would eventually lead to a real and substantial progress. The earliest Solvay Conferences which I attended were those of 1927, 1930 and 1933, and they served this purpose extremely well. In 1926 the mathematical formalism of quantum-and wave-mechanics approached its final shape, but the interpretation was still controversial. Schrodinger hoped that his matter waves could be considered as waves in three-dimensional space and time, and that the discontinuous feature of quantum 'jumps' could be avoided thereby.

Author : Jeffrey Orens
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 336 pages
File Size : 50,7 Mb
Release : 2021-07-06
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9781643137155

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The Soul of Genius by Jeffrey Orens Pdf

A prismatic look at the meeting of Marie Curie and Albert Einstein and the impact these two pillars of science had on the world of physics, which was in turmoil. In 1911, some of the greatest minds in science convened at the First Solvay Conference in Physics, a meeting like no other. Almost half of the attendees had won or would go on to win the Nobel Prize. Over the course of those few days, these minds began to realize that classical physics was about to give way to quantum theory, a seismic shift in our history and how we understand not just our world, but the universe. At the center of this meeting were Marie Curie and a young Albert Einstein. In the years preceding, Curie had faced the death of her husband and soul mate, Pierre. She was on the cusp of being awarded her second Nobel Prize, but scandal erupted all around her when the French press revealed that she was having an affair with a fellow scientist, Paul Langevin. The subject of vicious misogynist and xenophobic attacks in the French press, Curie found herself in a storm that threatened her scientific legacy. Albert Einstein proved an supporter in her travails. They had an instant connection at Solvay. He was young and already showing flourishes of his enormous genius. Curie had been responsible for one of the greatest discoveries in modern science (radioactivity) but still faced resistance and scorn. Einstein recognized this grave injustice, and their mutual admiration and respect, borne out of this, their first meeting, would go on to serve them in their paths forward to making history. Curie and Einstein come alive as the complex people they were in the pages of The Soul of Genius. Utilizing never before seen correspondance and notes, Jeffrey Orens reveals the human side of these brilliant scientists, one who pushed boundaries and demanded equality in a man’s world, no matter the cost, and the other, who was destined to become synonymous with genius.

Author : Mara Beller,Robert S. Cohen,Jürgen Renn
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 380 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 1993-10-29
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 0521448344

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Einstein in Context by Mara Beller,Robert S. Cohen,Jürgen Renn Pdf

This special issue of Science and Context examines the entire area of scientific inquiry surrounding Einstein, presenting controversies and debates within their contexts.

Author : Kenneth Bertrams,Nicolas Coupain,Ernst Homburg
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 649 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 2013-01-03
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781107311077

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Solvay by Kenneth Bertrams,Nicolas Coupain,Ernst Homburg Pdf

Ernest Solvay, philanthropist and organizer of the world-famous Solvay conferences on physics, discovered a profitable way of making soda ash in 1861. Together with a handful of associates, he laid the foundations of the Solvay company, which successfully branched out into other chemicals, plastics and pharmaceuticals. Since its emergence in 1863, Solvay has maintained world leadership in the production of soda ash. This is the first scholarly book on the history of the Solvay company, which was one of the earliest chemical multinationals and today is among the world's twenty largest chemical companies. It is also one of the largest companies in the field to preserve its family character. The authors analyze the company's 150-year history (1863–2013) from economic, political and social perspectives, showing the enormous impact geopolitical events had on the company and the recent consequences of global competition.

Author : Allen Esterson,David C. Cassidy
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 337 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 2020-02-25
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9780262538978

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Einstein's Wife by Allen Esterson,David C. Cassidy Pdf

The real-life story behind Marie Benedict’s The Other Einstein—a fascinating profile of mathematician Mileva Einstein-Marić and her contributions to her husband’s scientific discoveries. Albert Einstein’s first wife, Mileva Einstein-Marić, was forgotten for decades. When a trove of correspondence between them beginning in their student days was discovered in 1986, her story began to be told. Some of the tellers of the “Mileva Story” made startling claims: that she was a brilliant mathematician who surpassed her husband, and that she made uncredited contributions to his most celebrated papers in 1905, including his paper on special relativity. This book, based on extensive historical research, uncovers the real “Mileva Story.” Mileva was one of the few women of her era to pursue higher education in science; she and Einstein were students together at the Zurich Polytechnic. Mileva’s ambitions for a science career, however, suffered a series of setbacks—failed diploma examinations, a disagreement with her doctoral dissertation adviser, an out-of-wedlock pregnancy by Einstein. She and Einstein married in 1903 and had two sons, but the marriage failed. So was Mileva her husband’s uncredited coauthor, unpaid assistant, or his essential helpmeet? It’s tempting to believe that she was her husband’s secret collaborator, but the authors of Einstein's Wife look at the actual evidence, and a chapter by Ruth Lewin Sime offers important historical context. The story they tell is that of a brave and determined young woman who struggled against a variety of obstacles at a time when science was not very welcoming to women. Given the barriers women in science still face, [Mileva’s] story remains relevant.” —Washington Post

Author : David Gross,Marc Henneaux,Alexander Sevrin
Publisher : World Scientific
Page : 295 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2007
Category : Science
ISBN : 9789812706768

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The Quantum Structure of Space and Time by David Gross,Marc Henneaux,Alexander Sevrin Pdf

Ever since 1911, the Solvay Conferences have shaped modern physics. The 23rd edition, chaired by 2004 Nobel Laureate David Gross, did not break with that tradition. It gathered most of the leading figures working on the central problem of reconciling EinsteinOCOs theory of gravity with quantum mechanics. These proceedings give a broad overview with unique insight into the most fundamental issues raised by this challenge for 21st century physics, by distinguished renowned scientists. The contributions cover: the status of quantum mechanics, spacetime singularities and breakdown of classical space and time, mathematical structures underlying the most promising attempts under current development, spacetime as an emergent concept, as well as cosmology and the cosmological constant puzzle. A historical overview of the Solvay conferences by historian of sciences Peter Galison opens the volume. In the Solvay tradition, the volume also includes the discussions among the participants OCo many of which were quite lively and illustrate dramatically divergent points of view OCo carefully edited and reproduced in full."

Author : Konrad Kleinknecht
Publisher : Springer
Page : 185 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2019-02-13
Category : Science
ISBN : 9783030052645

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Einstein and Heisenberg by Konrad Kleinknecht Pdf

This is a fascinating account of two great scientists of the 20th century: Einstein and Heisenberg, discoverers, respectively, of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. It connects the history of modern physics to the life stories of these two extraordinary physicists.These discoveries laid the foundation of modern physics, without which our digitized world of computers, satellites, and innovative materials would not be possible. This book also describes in comprehensible terms the complicated science underlying the two discoveries.The twin biography highlights the parallels and differences of these two luminaries, showing how their work shaped the 20th century into the century of physics.

Author : Guido Bacciagaluppi,Antony Valentini
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 557 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2009-10-22
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781139643719

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Quantum Theory at the Crossroads by Guido Bacciagaluppi,Antony Valentini Pdf

The 1927 Solvay conference was perhaps the most important in the history of quantum theory. Contrary to popular belief, questions of interpretation were not settled at this conference. Instead, a range of sharply conflicting views were extensively discussed, including de Broglie's pilot-wave theory (which de Broglie presented for a many-body system), Born and Heisenberg's 'quantum mechanics' (which apparently lacked wave function collapse or fundamental time evolution), and Schrödinger's wave mechanics. Today, there is no longer a dominant interpretation of quantum theory, so it is important to re-evaluate the historical sources and keep the debate open. This book contains a complete translation of the original proceedings, with essays on the three main interpretations presented, and a detailed analysis of the lectures and discussions in the light of current research. This book will be of interest to graduate students and researchers in physics and in the history and philosophy of quantum theory.