Advertisement
| niels bohr books: Niels Bohr's Times Abraham Pais, 1991-10-17 The life of Niels Bohr spanned times of revolutionary change in science itself as well as its impact on society. Along with Albert Einstein, Bohr can be considered to be this century's major driving force behind the new philosophical and mathematical descriptions of the structure of the atom and the nucleus. Abraham Pais, the acclaimed biogrpaher of Albert Einstein, here traces Bohr's progress from his well-to-do origins in late nineteenth-century Denmark to his position at centre stage in the world political scene, particularly during the Second World War and the development of atomic weapons. Pais' description moves through the science as it was before Bohr, as it became because of Bohr, and thence to Bohr's scientific and philosophical legacy. That legacy is contained both in theory as it is now universally enshrined, as well as in its practice in such great Danish institutions as Riso. But more than that, Pais captures the essence of Bohr, the intensely private family figure who, despite appalling personal tragedy, became one of the most loved cultural figures of recent times. |
| niels bohr books: Atomic Physics and Human Knowledge Niels Bohr, 2017-01-12 This collection of articles, which were first published in 1958 and written on various occasions between 1932 and 1957, forms a sequel to Danish physician Niels Bohr’s earlier essays in Atomic Theory and the Description of Nature (1934). “The theme of the papers is the epistemological lesson which the modern development of atomic physics has given us and its relevance for analysis and synthesis in many fields of human knowledge. “The articles in the previous edition were written at a time when the establishment of the mathematical methods of quantum mechanics had created a firm foundation for the consistent treatment of atomic phenomena, and the conditions for an unambiguous account of experience within this framework were characterized by the notion of complementarity. In the papers collected here, this approach is further developed in logical formulation and given broader application.” |
| niels bohr books: Niels Bohr and the Quantum Atom Helge Kragh, 2012-05-03 Niels Bohr and the Quantum Atom is the first book that focuses in detail on the birth and development of Bohr's atomic theory and gives a comprehensive picture of it. At the same time it offers new insight into Bohr's peculiar way of thinking, what Einstein once called his 'unique instinct and tact'. Contrary to most other accounts of the Bohr atom, the book presents it in a broader perspective which includes the reception among other scientists and the criticism launched against it by scientists of a more conservative inclination. Moreover, it discusses the theory as Bohr originally conceived it, namely, as an ambitious theory covering the structure of atoms as well as molecules. By discussing the theory in its entirety it becomes possible to understand why it developed as it did and thereby to use it as an example of the dynamics of scientific theories. |
| niels bohr books: The Theory of Spectra and Atomic Constitution: Three Essays Niels Bohr, 2024-02-02 Embark on a journey through the foundational principles of atomic physics with The Theory of Spectra and Atomic Constitution: Three Essays by Niels Bohr. Explore the revolutionary insights and groundbreaking theories that laid the groundwork for modern quantum mechanics. As Bohr's seminal essays unfold, delve into the intricacies of atomic structure and spectral analysis. Follow along as Bohr challenges traditional models of atomic behavior and introduces a new framework that revolutionized our understanding of the microscopic world. But amidst the exploration of atomic constitution lies a fundamental question: How do we reconcile the complexities of atomic spectra with our classical understanding of physics? Bohr's pioneering work provides the answer, offering a glimpse into the quantum realm where particles defy conventional logic. Experience the thrill of scientific discovery as Bohr's essays shed light on the mysteries of the atom and its behavior. Let his insights inspire you to question the nature of reality and embrace the strange and wonderful world of quantum mechanics. Are you ready to journey into the heart of atomic physics with Niels Bohr? Join Bohr as he unveils the secrets of atomic spectra and atomic constitution, paving the way for a new era of scientific inquiry. Let his essays be your guide as you explore the frontiers of quantum mechanics and the mysteries of the subatomic world. Now is the time to delve into the foundational principles of atomic physics with Niels Bohr. Embrace the beauty of scientific exploration and expand your understanding of the universe with this groundbreaking collection of essays. Purchase your copy now and embark on a journey of intellectual discovery and scientific enlightenment. |
| niels bohr books: Niels Bohr and Complementarity Arkady Plotnitsky, 2012-09-05 This book offers a discussion of Niels Bohr’s conception of “complementarity,” arguably his greatest contribution to physics and philosophy. By tracing Bohr’s work from his 1913 atomic theory to the introduction and then refinement of the idea of complementarity, and by explicating different meanings of “complementarity” in Bohr and the relationships between it and Bohr’s other concepts, the book aims to offer a contained and accessible, and yet sufficiently comprehensive account of Bohr’s work on complementarity and its significance. |
| niels bohr books: Niels Bohr's Philosophy of Physics D. R. Murdoch, 1987 This book gives a clear and comprehensive exposition of Niels Bohr's philosophy of physics. Bohr's ideas are of major importance, for they are the source of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum physics; yet they are obscure, and call for the sort of close analysis that this book provides. The book describes the historical background of the physics from which Bohr's ideas grew. The core of the book is a detailed analysis of Bohr's arguments for complementarity and of the interpretation which he put upon it. Special emphasis is placed throughout on the contrasting views of Einstein, and the great debate between Bohr and Einstein is thoroughly examined. The book traces the philosophical influences on Bohr, and unravels the realist and anti-realist strands in his thinking. Bohr's philosophy is critically assessed in the light of recent developments in the foundations of quantum physics (the work of Bell and others) and in philosophy (the realism-anti-realism debate) and it is revealed as being much more subtle and sophisticated than it is generally taken to be. While the book will be of interest to specialists, it is written in a style that will make it accessible to those who have no specialist knowledge of the relevant physics and philosophy. |
| niels bohr books: Niels Bohr Helge Kragh, 2022-06-15 Niels Bohr’s atomic theory of 1913 is one of the absolute highlights in the history of modern science. It was only with this work that physicists realized that quantum theory is an essential ingredient in atomic physics, and it was also only with this work that Rutherford’s nuclear model dating from 1911 was transformed into a proper theory of atomic structure. In a longer perspective, Bohr’s quantum atom of 1913 gave rise to the later Heisenberg-Schrödinger quantum mechanics and all its marvellous consequences. This book is a detailed account of the origin of the Bohr atom centred around his original scientific articles of 1913 which are here reproduced and provided with the necessary historical background. In addition to the so-called trilogy – the three papers published in Philosophical Magazine – also two other and less well-known yet important papers are included. The present work starts with a condensed biographical account of Bohr’s life and scientific career, from his birth in Copenhagen in 1885 to his death in the same city 77 years later. It then proceeds with a chapter outlining earlier ideas of atomic structure and tracing Bohr’s route from his doctoral dissertation in 1911 over his stays in Cambridge and Manchester to the submission in April 1913 of the first part of the trilogy. The reproduction of Bohr’s five articles is followed by notes and comments directly related to the texts, with the aim of clarifying some of the textual passages and to explicate names and subjects that may not be clear or well known. The reception of Bohr’s radically new theory by contemporary physicists and chemists is discussed in a final chapter, which deals with the immediate reactions to Bohr's theory 1913-1915 mostly among British, German and American scientists. Historians of science have long been occupied with Bohr’s atomic theory, which was the subject of careful studies in connection with its centenary in 2013. The present work offers an extensive source-based account of the original theory aimed at a non-specialist audience with an interest in the history of physics and the origin of the quantum world. In 1922 Bohr was awarded the Nobel Prize for his theory. The coming centenary will undoubtedly cause an increased interest in how he arrived at his revolutionary picture of the constitution of atoms and molecules. |
| niels bohr books: On the Application of the Quantum Theory to Atomic Structure Niels Bohr, 1924 |
| niels bohr books: Harmony and Unity Niels Blædel, 1988-01-01 Niels Bohr, the founder of quantum mechanics, is generally considered to be one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century. His work revolutionized natural science, and his name is inscribed in history side by side with the names of Galileo, Newton, and Einstein. He won the Nobel Prize in physics for his model of the atom, which is still taught today in science classes everywhere. But the image of Bohr is complete only when the physicist is joined with the person Niels Bohr. This book, skillfully interweaving Bohr's scientific and personal life, is the first biography to be based on the extensive archives of the Bohr Institute of Physics in Copenhagen, and on excerpts from many of Bohr's letters to his family, his friends, and his colleagues. In addition, the book includes more than 150 photographs, as well as extracts from Bohr's personal correspondence to his wife, Margrethe, dating from the time of their engagement to just before his death 50 years later. This work of scientific biography is accessible to both the scientist and the general reader. Skillfully translated from the original Danish by Geoffrey French, the book has been carefully edited for an English-speaking readership. |
| niels bohr books: From Data to Quanta Slobodan Perovic, 2021-10 Niels Bohr was a central figure in quantum physics, well-known for his work on atomic structure and his contributions to the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. In this book, philosopher Slobodan Perović explores the way Bohr practiced and understood physics, and the implications of this for our understanding of modern science, especially contemporary quantum experimental physics. Perović's method of studying Bohr is philosophical-historical, and his aim is to make sense of both Bohr's understanding of physics and his method of inquiry. He argues that in several important respects, Bohr's vision of physics was driven by his desire to develop a comprehensive perspective on key features of experimental observation as well as emerging experimental work. Perović uncovers how Bohr's distinctive breakthrough contributions are characterized by a multi-layered, phased approach of building on basic experimental insights inductively to develop intermediary and overarching hypotheses. The strengths and limitations of this approach, in contrast to the mathematically or metaphysically driven approaches of other physicists at the time, made him a thoroughly distinctive kind of theorist and scientific leader. Once we see that Bohr played the typical role of a laboratory mediator, and excelled in the inductive process this required, we can fully understand the way his work was generated, the role it played in developing novel quantum concepts, and its true limitations, as well as current adherence to and use of Bohr's complementarity approach among contemporary experimentalists-- |
| niels bohr books: On the Quantum Theory of Line-spectra Niels Bohr, 2005-01-01 This classic work by the Nobel Laureate elaborates on the correspondence principle, discussing the theory's applications from a uniform point of view and considering the underlying assumptions in their relations to ordinary mechanics and electrodynamics. Bohr closely traces the analogy between quantum theory and ordinary theory of radiation. 1918-1922 editions. |
| niels bohr books: Atomic Theory and the Description of Nature Niels Bohr, 1961 |
| niels bohr books: Niels Bohr J. L. Heilbron, 2020 Covers the life and work of the pioneer of the quantum theory of the atom who ranks with Einstein in importance for the development of modern physics |
| niels bohr books: Complementarity Beyond Physics (1928-1962) D. Favrholdt, 2013-10-22 This volume is divided into five parts. The title of the volume refers primarily to part I, which is by far the largest and comprises papers discussing the fundamental questions of biology and related psychological and philosophical problems. Following the reproduction of papers brought to publication by Bohr, there is a separate Appendix to Part I including some of Bohr's most interesting and substantive unpublished contributions in this area. The papers in Part I span the last thirty years of Bohr's life and display his great interest in biological problems and his unremitting efforts to show that biology cannot be reduced to physics and chemistry. Part II contains articles of a more general cultural interest. Some of these show that Bohr regarded the complementary perspective to be of value also outside the scientific sphere. Part III contains the articles Bohr wrote about the great Danish philosopher Harald Høffding. These short papers are presented in a section on their own because of the continuing discussion in the history of science about Høffding's possible influence on Bohr's work in physics and his whole scientific approach. Part IV comprises articles illuminating the history of 20th century physics. Bohr had great veneration for his predecessors and teachers, and he prepared these articles with great care. Part V contains correspondence relating to the material in Parts I through IV. As in previous volumes an inventory of relevant unpublished manuscripts held at the Niels Bohr Archive constitutes an appendix to the whole volume. |
| niels bohr books: Niels Bohr J. L. Heilbron, 2020-01-23 Niels Bohr, who pioneered the quantum theory of the atom, had a broad conception of his obligations as a physicist. They included not only a responsibility for the consequences of his work for the wider society, but also a compulsion to apply the philosophy he deduced from his physics to improving ordinary people's understanding of the moral universe they inhabit. In some of these concerns Bohr resembled Einstein, although Einstein could not accept what he called the tranquilizing philosophy with which Bohr tried to resolve such ancient conundrums as the nature (or possibility) of free will. In this Very Short Introduction John Heilbron draws on sources never before presented in English to cover the life and work of one of the most creative physicists of the 20th century. In addition to his role as a scientist, Heilbron considers Bohr as a statesman and Danish cultural icon, who built scientific institutions and pushed for the extension of international cooperation in science to all nation states. As a humanist he was concerned with the cultivation of all sides of the individual, and with the complementary contributions of all peoples to the sum of human culture. Throughout, Heilbron considers how all of these aspects of Bohr's personality influenced his work, as well as the science that made him, in the words of Sir Henry Dale, President of the Royal Society of London, probably the first among all the men of all countries who are now active in any department of science. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
| niels bohr books: The Soul of Genius Jeffrey Orens, 2021-07-06 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. |
| niels bohr books: Harmony and Unity: The Life of Niels Bohr Niels Blaedel, 2019-08-09 “Blaedel has addressed himself to the task of writing a full-length biography that covers all facets of his subject and that emphasizes that they form part of one harmonious unity. I think that on the whole he has succeeded remarkably well. He gives an accurate picture of the man theorists of my generation both admired and loved. And not only of the physicist: Bohr’s relations with his family and in particular with his wife, an admirable woman, are drawn with sympathy and understanding. Blaedel’s sketch of the atmosphere at Bohr’s institute in Copenhagen... is true to life; it will raise nostalgic memories among those who, like myself, experienced it... [Blaedel] has produced a fitting tribute to a great scientist and a noble man.” — H.B.G. Casimir, Nature “The book is intended primarily for nonphysicists; nevertheless it offers extensive (albeit nontechnical) accounts of all aspects of Bohr’s scientific work. The consistent emphasis, however, is on Bohr as a person—his character, interests andWeltanschauung. Niels Blaedel was able to draw on matchless resources, both human and material: Bohr’s family (especially his widow, Margrethe Bohr, who shared both her memories and her correspondence), Bohr’s former friends and colleagues, and a rich supply of documentary and photographic material from Danish collections, as well as from the AIP Niels Bohr Library in New York. The result is a lavishly illustrated and affectionate account of Bohr from his earliest years until his death... as a general picture of Bohr and his work this book can be warmly recommended.” — Anthony P. French, Physics Today “Niels Bohr is generally regarded as a giant of twentieth-century physics... Bohr was securely entrenched in a Danish culture that is difficult for many historians to penetrate. It is important, then, that at last a biography has been written by a Dane with wide knowledge of the society in which Bohr lived and moved... The author had unprecedented access to Bohr’s family correspondence, primarily with his wife Margrethe, who, before she died at ninety-four in 1984, read Blaedel many letters from her husband... Blaedel’s book, written on commission for the Bohr centennial and published in Danish in 1985, contains valuable insights on Bohr, particularly as they relate to his previously unavailable family correspondence and his place in Danish culture.” — Finn Aaserud, Isis: A Journal of the History of Science “Though Niels Bohr is best known as a distinguished citizen of the international community of science, he was also a leading citizen of Denmark. This is the first biography of Bohr to deal with both of these dimensions to his life, without which it is hard to fully understand either the man or his work.” — Robert March, University of Wisconsin-Madison, author of Physics for Poets “... the book can be read without any background knowledge in physics. But its overwhelming number of photographs and rich use of letters and recollections make Niels Blaedel’s book closely resemble the great standard biography — a literary monument to Niels Bohr.” — Flemming Christian Nielsen, Jyllands-Posten “Niels Blaedel has solved an almost insoluble problem... thereby clarifying the life of Niels Bohr... a well-constructed piece of documentation and a coherent piece of scientific history.” — Jens Kistrup, Berlingske Tidende |
| niels bohr books: Quantum Theory Max Planck, Niels Bohr, 2024-05-19 Unravel the fabric of reality as these visionary physicists revolutionize our understanding of the subatomic realm. Planck's groundbreaking concept of quantized energy and Bohr's daring atomic model challenge classical notions, unveiling a universe of uncertainty and limitless potential. This captivating journey delves into the paradoxes and probabilities that define our existence, shaping modern science and philosophy. Join the quantum pioneers on a thrilling intellectual adventure that probes the very essence of existence and invites you to question the nature of reality itself. Explore quantum pioneers Planck and Bohr's revolution in subatomic understanding. Unveil a universe of uncertainty and limitless potential in the subatomic realm. Delve into paradoxes and probabilities that shape modern science and philosophy. Join an intellectual adventure questioning the very essence of existence. A captivating journey into the fabric of reality and the nature of existence. |
| niels bohr books: Copenhagen Michael Frayn, 2010-08-04 TONY AWARD WINNER • An explosive re-imagining of the mysterious wartime meeting between two Nobel laureates to discuss the atomic bomb. “Endlessly fascinating…. The most invigorating and ingenious play of ideas in many a year…. An electrifying work of art.” —Ben Brantley, The New York Times In 1941 the German physicist Werner Heisenberg made a clandestine trip to Copenhagen to see his Danish counterpart and friend Niels Bohr. Their work together on quantum mechanics and the uncertainty principle had revolutionized atomic physics. But now the world had changed and the two men were on opposite sides in a world war. Why Heisenberg went to Copenhagen and what he wanted to say to Bohr are questions that have vexed historians ever since. In Michael Frayn’s ambitious, fiercely intelligent, and daring new play Heisenberg and Bohr meet once again to discuss the intricacies of physics and to ponder the metaphysical—the very essence of human motivation. |
| niels bohr books: What Is Real? Adam Becker, 2018-03-20 A thorough, illuminating exploration of the most consequential controversy raging in modern science. --New York Times Book Review An Editor's Choice, New York Times Book Review Longlisted for PEN/E.O. Wilson Prize for Literary Science Writing Longlisted for Goodreads Choice Award Every physicist agrees quantum mechanics is among humanity's finest scientific achievements. But ask what it means, and the result will be a brawl. For a century, most physicists have followed Niels Bohr's solipsistic and poorly reasoned Copenhagen interpretation. Indeed, questioning it has long meant professional ruin, yet some daring physicists, such as John Bell, David Bohm, and Hugh Everett, persisted in seeking the true meaning of quantum mechanics. What Is Real? is the gripping story of this battle of ideas and the courageous scientists who dared to stand up for truth. An excellent, accessible account. --Wall Street Journal Splendid. . . . Deeply detailed research, accompanied by charming anecdotes about the scientists. --Washington Post |
| niels bohr books: Reading Bohr: Physics and Philosophy Arkady Plotnitsky, 2006-11-15 Reading Bohr: Physics and Philosophy offers a new perspective on Niels Bohr's interpretation of quantum mechanics as complementarity, and on the relationships between physics and philosophy in Bohr's work, which has had momentous significance for our understanding of quantum theory and of the nature of knowledge in general. Philosophically, the book reassesses Bohr's place in the Western philosophical tradition, from Kant and Hegel on. Physically, it reconsiders the main issues at stake in the Bohr-Einstein confrontation and in the ongoing debates concerning quantum physics. It also devotes greater attention than in most commentaries on Bohr to the key developments and transformations of his thinking concerning complementarity. Most significant among them were those that occurred, first, under the impact of Bohr's exchanges with Einstein and, second, under the impact of developments in quantum theory itself, both quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. The importance of quantum field theory for Bohr's thinking has not been adequately addressed in the literature on Bohr, to the considerable detriment to our understanding of the history of quantum physics. Filling this lacuna is one of the main contributions of the book, which also enables us to show why quantum field theory compels us to move beyond Bohr without, however, simply leaving him behind. |
| niels bohr books: Niels Bohr Ray Spangenburg, Diane Kit Moser, 2008 Traces the life and career of the Danish physicist and describes his contributions to quantum theory. |
| niels bohr books: Niels Bohr, Revised Edition Ray Spangenburg, Diane Kit Moser, 2009-01-01 Niels Bohr, Revised Edition delves into the life and work of the founder of the modern atomic theory, highlighting his research on the atom and its structure, the subsequent development of the nuclear age, and his efforts to use his influence to promote peace. This revised edition offers new sidebars on subjects of interest, including the tools of physics, biographical profiles, and the recent play and film Copenhagen, which has raised ethical concerns surrounding the relationship between science and society during wartime. Additionally, a new final chapter looks at string theory, the hypothesis that attempts to solve the universal paradoxes that have puzzled so many since Bohr's time. |
| niels bohr books: The Copenhagen Network Alexei Kojevnikov, 2020-12-02 This book is a historical analysis of the quantum mechanical revolution and the emergence of a new discipline from the perspective, not of a professor, but of a recent or actual Ph.D. student just embarking on an uncertain academic career in economically hard times. Quantum mechanics exploded on to the intellectual scene between 1925 and 1927, with more than 200 publications across the world, the majority of them authored by young scientists under the age of 30, graduate students or postdoctoral fellows. The resulting theory was a collective product that no single authority could claim, but it had a major geographical nod – the Copenhagen Institute of Theoretical Physics – where most of the informal, pre-published exchange of ideas occurred and where every participant of the new community aspired to visit. A rare combination of circumstances and resources – political, diplomatic, financial, and intellectual – allowed Niels Bohr to establish this “Mecca” of quantum theory outside of traditional and more powerful centres of science. Transitory international postdoctoral fellows, rather than established professors, developed a culture of research that became the source of major innovations in the field. Temporary assistantships, postdoctoral positions, and their equivalents were the chief mode of existence for young academics during the period of economic crisis and post-WWI international tensions. Insecure career trajectories and unpredictable moves through non-stable temporary positions contributed to their general outlook and interpretations of the emerging theory of quantum mechanics. This book is part of a four-volume collection addressing the beginnings of quantum physics research at the major European centres of Göttingen, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Munich; these works emerged from an expansive study on the quantum revolution as a major transformation of physical knowledge undertaken by the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science and the Fritz Haber Institute (2006–2012). For more on this project, see the dedicated Feature Story, The Networks of Early Quantum Theory, at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/feature-story/networks-early-quantum-theory |
| niels bohr books: Atoms, Metaphors and Paradoxes Sandro Petruccioli, 2006-11-23 This book reexamines the birth of quantum mechanics, in particular examining the development of crucial and original insights of Bohr. In particular, it gives a detailed study of the development and the interpretation given to Bohr's Principle of Correspondence. It also describes the role that this principle played in guiding Bohr's research over the critical period from 1920 to 1927. |
| niels bohr books: Beyond Weird Philip Ball, 2020-10-14 “Anyone who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it.” Since Niels Bohr said this many years ago, quantum mechanics has only been getting more shocking. We now realize that it’s not really telling us that “weird” things happen out of sight, on the tiniest level, in the atomic world: rather, everything is quantum. But if quantum mechanics is correct, what seems obvious and right in our everyday world is built on foundations that don’t seem obvious or right at all—or even possible. An exhilarating tour of the contemporary quantum landscape, Beyond Weird is a book about what quantum physics really means—and what it doesn’t. Science writer Philip Ball offers an up-to-date, accessible account of the quest to come to grips with the most fundamental theory of physical reality, and to explain how its counterintuitive principles underpin the world we experience. Over the past decade it has become clear that quantum physics is less a theory about particles and waves, uncertainty and fuzziness, than a theory about information and knowledge—about what can be known, and how we can know it. Discoveries and experiments over the past few decades have called into question the meanings and limits of space and time, cause and effect, and, ultimately, of knowledge itself. The quantum world Ball shows us isn’t a different world. It is our world, and if anything deserves to be called “weird,” it’s us. |
| niels bohr books: The Creation of Quantum Mechanics and the Bohr-Pauli Dialogue J. Hendry, 2012-12-06 Many books have been written on the history of quantum mechanics. So far as I am aware, however, this is the first to incorporate the results of the large amount of detailed scholarly research completed by professional historians of physics over the past fifteen years. It is also, I believe, the first since Max Jammer's pioneering study of fifteen years ago to attempt a genuine 'history' as opposed to a mere technical report or popular or semi-popular account. My aims in making this attempt have been to satisfy the needs of historians of science and, more especially, to promote a serious interest in the history of science among phYSicists and physics students. Since the creation of quantum mechanics was inevitably a technical process conducted through the medium of technical language it has been impossible to avoid the introduction of a large amount of such language. Some acquaintance with quantum mechanics, corresponding to that obtained through an undergraduate physics course, has accordingly been assumed. I have tried to ensure, however, that such an acquaintance should be sufficient as well as necessary, and even someone with only the most basic grounding in physics should be able with judicious skip ping, to get through the book. The technical details are essential to the dialogue, but the plot proceeds and can, I hope, be understood on a non technical level. |
| niels bohr books: One World Or None Dexter Editor Masters, 2021-09-09 This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. |
| niels bohr books: Copenhagen Michael Frayn, 2000 An explosive re-imagining of the mysterious wartime meeting between two Nobel laureates to discuss the atomic bomb. |
| niels bohr books: Einstein, Bohr and the Quantum Dilemma Andrew Whitaker, 1996 This book explores the debate between Einstein and Bohr in the 1920s and 1930s about their interpretations of the quantum theory. |
| niels bohr books: Reality and Its Order Werner Heisenberg, 2019-11-30 Available here for the first time in English, Reality and Its Order is a remarkable philosophical text by Werner Heisenberg, the father of quantum mechanics and one of the leading scientists of the 20th century. Written during the wartime years and initially distributed only to his family and trusted friends, the essay describes Heisenberg’s philosophical view of how we understand the natural world and our role within it. In this volume, the essay is introduced by the physicist Helmut Rechenberg and annotated by the science historian Ernst Peter Fischer. The content, particularly within its historical context, will be of great interest to many physicists, philosophers and historians of science. |
| niels bohr books: Epistemology and Probability Arkady Plotnitsky, 2009-10-20 This book offers an exploration of the relationships between epistemology and probability in the work of Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, and Erwin Schro- ̈ dinger, and in quantum mechanics and in modern physics as a whole. It also considers the implications of these relationships and of quantum theory itself for our understanding of the nature of human thinking and knowledge in general, or the ‘‘epistemological lesson of quantum mechanics,’’ as Bohr liked 1 to say. These implications are radical and controversial. While they have been seen as scientifically productive and intellectually liberating to some, Bohr and Heisenberg among them, they have been troublesome to many others, such as Schro ̈ dinger and, most prominently, Albert Einstein. Einstein famously refused to believe that God would resort to playing dice or rather to playing with nature in the way quantum mechanics appeared to suggest, which is indeed quite different from playing dice. According to his later (sometime around 1953) remark, a lesser known or commented upon but arguably more important one: ‘‘That the Lord should play [dice], all right; but that He should gamble according to definite rules [i. e. , according to the rules of quantum mechanics, rather than 2 by merely throwing dice], that is beyond me. ’’ Although Einstein’s invocation of God is taken literally sometimes, he was not talking about God but about the way nature works. Bohr’s reply on an earlier occasion to Einstein’s question 1 Cf. |
| niels bohr books: Beyond the Atom Kalervo V. Laurikainen, 2012-12-06 The Austrian physicist Wolfgang Pauli (1900-1958) was often called the conscience of physics. He was famous for his sharp and critical mind which made him a central figure among the founders of quantum physics. He also was an outstanding philosopher, especially interested in finding a new conception of reality and of causality. A careful study of the original sources of the past culminated in his study of Kepler and of medieval symbolism, a concept that played a central role in his discussion with Carl Jung on what they called the psycho-physical problem. Pauli considered the sharp distinctions between knowledge and faith and between spirit and matter as dangerous. He thought they should complement each other in our comprehension of reality. Professor Laurikainen here for the first time describes Pauli's ideas in detail. His book is based on the large and as yet unpublished correspondence between Pauli and M. Fierz. Its careful analysis adds depth and clarity to the few publications by Pauli on philosophical problems and explains why Pauli grasped the meaning of atomic theory more deeply than even Niels Bohr himself. The book should interest both philosophers and physicists and should encourage further studies on Pauli the humanist and his contribution to our understanding of reality. |
| niels bohr books: Thirty Years that Shook Physics George Gamow, 2012-05-11 Lucid, accessible introduction to the influential theory of energy and matter features careful explanations of Dirac's anti-particles, Bohr's model of the atom, and much more. Numerous drawings. 1966 edition. |
| niels bohr books: The History of Science in Bite-sized Chunks Nicola Chalton, Meredith MacArdle, 2019-05-30 Discover the fascinating history of science in simple, bite-sized chunks: from key scientific discoveries to the remarkable minds in each scientific field. |
| niels bohr books: The Physical Principles of the Quantum Theory Werner Heisenberg, 2013-04-15 Nobel Laureate discusses quantum theory, uncertainty, wave mechanics, work of Dirac, Schroedinger, Compton, Einstein, others. An authoritative statement of Heisenberg's views on this aspect of the quantum theory. — Nature. |
| niels bohr books: Meeting the Universe Halfway Karen Barad, 2007-07-11 A theoretical physicist and feminist theorist, Karen Barad elaborates her theory of agential realism, a schema that is at once a new epistemology, ontology, and ethics. |
| niels bohr books: Physics and Beyond Werner Heisenberg, 1971 |
| niels bohr books: The Physics of Chance Charles Ruhla, 1992 This is an introduction to the ideas of indeterminacy that are central to much of modern physics and have overthrown the clockwork universe conceptions of earlier centuries. |
Niels Bohr | Biography, Education, Accomplishments, & Facts
May 31, 2025 · Niels Bohr, Danish physicist who is generally regarded as one of the foremost physicists of the 20th century. He was the first to apply the quantum concept to the problem of …
Niels Bohr - Wikipedia
Niels Henrik David Bohr (US: / b oʊ r /, UK: / b ɔː /; [2] Danish: [ˈne̝ls ˈpoɐ̯ˀ]; 7 October 1885 – 18 November 1962) was a Danish theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to …
Niels Bohr – Biographical - NobelPrize.org
Niels Bohr was President of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences, of the Danish Cancer Committee, and Chairman of the Danish Atomic Energy Commission.
Niels Bohr - Atomic Theory, Model & Quotes - Biography
Apr 2, 2014 · Niels Bohr was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and humanitarian whose revolutionary theories on atomic structures helped shape research worldwide.
Niels Bohr "Physicist" Biography, Atomic Theory and Nobel Prize
Feb 14, 2025 · Niels Bohr emerged as a key figure in theoretical physics with groundbreaking theories that redefined atomic structures and radiation.
Niels Bohr - Biography, Facts and Pictures - Famous Scientists
Lived 1885 - 1962. Niels Bohr completely transformed our view of the atom and of the world. Realizing that classical physics fails catastrophically when things are atom-sized or smaller, he …
Niels Bohr – Niels Bohr Institute - University of Copenhagen - ku
In 1913, Niels Bohr created the groundbreaking atomic model that formed the basis of our understanding of how the world is built, and later of quantum mechanics, which has …
A Science Odyssey: People and Discoveries: Niels Bohr - PBS
Niels Bohr 1885 - 1962. Niels Bohr was born and educated in Copenhagen, Denmark. He lived, worked, and died there, too. But his mark on science and history was worldwide.
Niels Bohr: Biography and contributions to atomic energy
May 2, 2010 · In short, Niels Bohr was a giant of physics whose contributions to atomic models and nuclear energy have left an indelible mark on the history of science. His tireless pursuit of …
Biography - Niels Bohr
Niels Bohr's life and work have left an indelible mark on the field of physics and the broader scientific community. His pioneering research on atomic structure, quantum mechanics, and …
Niels Bohr | Biography, Education, Accomplishments, & Facts
May 31, 2025 · Niels Bohr, Danish physicist who is generally regarded as one of the foremost physicists of the 20th century. He was the first to apply the quantum concept to the problem of …
Niels Bohr - Wikipedia
Niels Henrik David Bohr (US: / b oʊ r /, UK: / b ɔː /; [2] Danish: [ˈne̝ls ˈpoɐ̯ˀ]; 7 October 1885 – 18 November 1962) was a Danish theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to …
Niels Bohr – Biographical - NobelPrize.org
Niels Bohr was President of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences, of the Danish Cancer Committee, and Chairman of the Danish Atomic Energy Commission.
Niels Bohr - Atomic Theory, Model & Quotes - Biography
Apr 2, 2014 · Niels Bohr was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and humanitarian whose revolutionary theories on atomic structures helped shape research worldwide.
Niels Bohr "Physicist" Biography, Atomic Theory and Nobel Prize
Feb 14, 2025 · Niels Bohr emerged as a key figure in theoretical physics with groundbreaking theories that redefined atomic structures and radiation.
Niels Bohr - Biography, Facts and Pictures - Famous Scientists
Lived 1885 - 1962. Niels Bohr completely transformed our view of the atom and of the world. Realizing that classical physics fails catastrophically when things are atom-sized or smaller, he …
Niels Bohr – Niels Bohr Institute - University of Copenhagen - ku
In 1913, Niels Bohr created the groundbreaking atomic model that formed the basis of our understanding of how the world is built, and later of quantum mechanics, which has …
A Science Odyssey: People and Discoveries: Niels Bohr - PBS
Niels Bohr 1885 - 1962. Niels Bohr was born and educated in Copenhagen, Denmark. He lived, worked, and died there, too. But his mark on science and history was worldwide.
Niels Bohr: Biography and contributions to atomic energy
May 2, 2010 · In short, Niels Bohr was a giant of physics whose contributions to atomic models and nuclear energy have left an indelible mark on the history of science. His tireless pursuit of …
Biography - Niels Bohr
Niels Bohr's life and work have left an indelible mark on the field of physics and the broader scientific community. His pioneering research on atomic structure, quantum mechanics, and …
