Constructing Quantum Mechanics is the first of two volumes on the genesis of quantum mechanics. This volume traces the early contributions by Planck, Einstein, and Bohr, all showing the need for drastic changes to the physics of their day. It examines the efforts by Sommerfeld and others to develop a new theory, now known as the old quantum theory. After some striking successes, this theory ran into serious difficulties and ended up serving as the scaffold
on which the arch of modern quantum mechanics was built. This volume breaks new ground, both in its treatment of the work of Sommerfeld and his associates, and by offering new
perspectives on classic papers by Planck, Einstein, Bohr, and others. Paying close attention to both primary and secondary sources, Constructing Quantum Mechanics provides an in-depth analysis of the heroic struggle to come to terms with the wealth of mostly spectroscopic data that eventually gave us modern quantum mechanics.
Constructing Quantum Mechanics is the first of two volumes on the genesis of quantum mechanics. This volume traces the early contributions by Planck, Einstein, and Bohr, all showing the need for drastic changes to the physics of their day. It examines the efforts by Sommerfeld and others to develop a new theory, now known as the old quantum theory. After some striking successes, this theory ran into serious difficulties and ended up serving as the scaffold
on which the arch of modern quantum mechanics was built. This volume breaks new ground, both in its treatment of the work of Sommerfeld and his associates, and by offering new
perspectives on classic papers by Planck, Einstein, Bohr, and others. Paying close attention to both primary and secondary sources, Constructing Quantum Mechanics provides an in-depth analysis of the heroic struggle to come to terms with the wealth of mostly spectroscopic data that eventually gave us modern quantum mechanics.
1: Introduction to Volume One
Part I: Early Developments
2: Planck, the Second Law, and Black-Body Radiation
3: Einstein, Equipartition, Fluctuations, and Quanta
4: The Birth of the Bohr Model
Part II: The Old Quantum Theory
5: Guiding Principles
6: Successes
7: Failures
Appendices
A: Classical Mechanics
B: Spectroscopy
Michel Janssen is a historian of modern physics at the University
of Minnesota. He has a Master's in physics from the University of
Amsterdam and a PhD in history and philosophy of science from the
University of Pittsburgh. Before his current position in Minnesota,
he was an editor at the Einstein Papers Project. He co-authored The
Genesis of General Relativity (Springer, 2007) and co-edited The
Cambridge Companion to Einstein (Cambridge, 2014).
More recently he has published a series of papers co-authored with
Anthony Duncan on the genesis of quantum mechanics. Anthony Duncan
received his PhD in theoretical elementary particle physics in 1975
from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, under the supervision of
Steven Weinberg. Following postdoctoral and junior faculty
positions at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and
Columbia University in New York, he joined the faculty of the
Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh
in 1981 as Associate Professor of Physics. He has taught a wide
range of courses, both at the undergraduate and graduate level,
including courses on the history of modern physics. He
is now (since 2015) professor emeritus of Physics at the University
of Pittsburgh.
An excellent work which innovatively combines conceptual clarity
with penetrating analysis of relevant theory.
*Helge Kragh, Annals of Science*
Engineers and scientists from across the board will get a kick out
of being able to read about the origins of their everyday toolkits
- this is lucid historical reasoning about one of the great
accomplishments of modern science. After seeing the author's track
the launch of the old quantum theory, I'm looking forward to their
account of full-blown quantum mechanics to come in volume 2!
*Peter Galison, Harvard University*
Clearly written, by highly competent authors, giving full reasoning
and calculations for all important developments.
*Olivier Darrigol, CNRS, France*
This will be a widely read book and used in many physics and
history of physics courses at the undergraduate college-university
level. It will be greeted most enthusiastically by scholars and
teachers alike.
*Roger H. Stuewer, University of Minnesota*
Indeed a very important and valuable contribution to the history of
quantum mechanics.
*Michael Eckert, Deutsches Museum, Muenchen*
What seemed a good piece of work at the start is magisterial. This
is the book I have been waiting to see for a long time.
*Steven N. Shore, University of Pisa*
This book will very likely become a new point of reference for
everyone working on the history of quantum physics.
*Christian Joas, Niels Bohr Archive*
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