The Quantum DiceCRC Press, 1993 M01 1 - 256 pages "Real black magic calculus" is how Albert Einstein described quantum mechanics in a letter in 1925. Quantum mechanics is now rather more widely understood by physicists, but still many "outsiders" are unaware of what quantum mechanics is, how it has changed the course of development of physics and how it affects their everyday lives. This book gives a fascinating account of the evolution of the ideas and concepts of quantum theory and modern physics, written by an "insider" but aimed specifically at the general science reader. Many anecdotes from famous past physicists give an insight into their work and personalities. The many illustrations are an important and attractive feature of the book. Leonid Ponomarev is a leading theoretical physicist. His deep understanding of the subject is allied with his wide knowledge of history, literature and philosophy to produce this history of the development of modern physics and its impact on our lives. |
Contents
Contents | 9 |
Chapter Two | 25 |
Chapter Three | 39 |
Chapter Four | 52 |
Chapter Five | 63 |
Table of Elements | 69 |
Chapter Six | 79 |
Quantumalia | 86 |
Chapter Eleven | 136 |
Chapter Twelve | 147 |
The Energy of Radium | 155 |
Uranium Family | 161 |
Quantumalia | 167 |
Artificial Radioactivity | 173 |
Chapter Fifteen | 180 |
Nuclear Fission | 188 |
OpticalMechanical Analogy | 92 |
Chapter Eight | 99 |
Quantum Truth | 105 |
Uncertainty Relation | 111 |
Quantumalia | 117 |
Probability Waves | 123 |
Probability and Atomic Spectra | 126 |
Chapter Sixteen | 192 |
The Atomic Bomb | 206 |
Crucibles of Elements | 220 |
Chapter Nineteen | 235 |
| 249 | |
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alpha particles atomic bomb atomic weight Becquerel billion Bohr's Broglie cent centimetre century charge chemical chemists concepts cross-section cubic centimetre decay diffraction discovered discovery Earth Einstein elec electric electron elements emitted energy equation existence experimental experiments explain fact famous Fermi fission formula gramme Hahn half-life Heisenberg helium hydrogen atom hypothesis idea isotopes J.J. Thomson knowledge known later laws light Marie Curie mass matrix mechanics matter measured Meitner ments molecules motion nature neutrons Niels Bohr Nobel Prize nuclear reaction nucleus observed orbit oxygen phenomena phenomenon physicists picture Planck plutonium predict properties protons quan quantum mechanics quantum number quantum object quantum physics Quantumalia question radiation radioactive radioactive decay radium rays reactor Röntgen Rutherford Schrödinger scientific scientists simple sodium solar spectral lines spectrum stars theory things tion tonnes trajectory tron ture turn understand uranium velocity wave wavelength words wrote