Eddington's Search for a Fundamental Theory: A Key to the Universe

ISBN-13: 9780521371650 / Angielski / Twarda / 1995 / 270 str.

C. W. Kilmister (King's College London)

Opis

Many people today are unaware that back in the 1930s, Sir Arthur Eddington, the celebrated astrophysicist, made great strides toward his own "theory of everything." In 1936 and 1946 Eddington's last two books were published. These works are strangely tentative and obscure, unlike his earlier lucid and authoritative works. This volume examines how Eddington came to write these uncharacteristic books--in terms of the physics and history of the day--and what value they have to modern physics. The result is an illuminating description of the development of theoretical physics in the first half of the twentieth century from a unique point of view. It will provide fascinating reading for scholars in the philosophy of science, theoretical physics, applied mathematics and the history of science.

Recenzje

' … a valuable addition to the literature.' The Times Higher Education Supplement

Spis treści

Preface; 1. The mystery; Part I. 1882–1928: 2. The astrophysicist; 3. General relativity; 4. Consequences of general relativity; 5. 'Something has slipped through the net'; 6. Quantum mechanics; Part II. 1928–33: 7. Algebra to the fore; 8. Electric charge; 9. The proton–electron mass-ratio; Part III. 1933–44: 10. The turning point; 11. Critical views of RTPE; 12. The last decade; References; Index.