Overview
- Follows young Enrico Fermi's research itineraries, starting from his first paper in 1921, where he deals with some problems in general relativity, until 1933, when he publishes his fundamental theory of the beta decay
- Analyzes Fermi's research from 1933 to 1954, underlining his involvement in developing the atomic bomb and his central role in the beginning of the big science
- Includes sections of unpublished notes and letters
- Provides a timeline of Fermi’s life achievements as well as a separate timeline for the physics field throughout the early 20th century
- Contains an extensive bibliography and index for easy reference
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Part of the book series: Springer Biographies (SPRINGERBIOGS)
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Table of contents (7 chapters)
Keywords
About this book
It would be impossible to capture the full essence of this revolutionary period without first understanding Fermi, without whom it would not have been possible.
Enrico Fermi: The Obedient Genius attempts to shed light on all aspects of Fermi’s life - his work, motivation, influences, achievements, and personal thoughts - beginning with the publication of his first paper in 1921 through his death in 1954. During this time, Fermi demonstrated that he was indeed following in the footsteps of Galileo, excelling in his work both theoretically and experimentally by deepening our understanding of the Pauli exclusion principle, winning the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the fundamental properties of slow neutrons, developing the theory of beta decay, building the first nuclear reactor, and playing a central role in the development of the atomic bomb. Interwoven with this fascinating story, the book details the major developments in physics and provides the necessary background material to fully appreciate the dramatic changes that were taking place.
Also included are appendices that provide a timeline of Fermi’s life, several primary source documents from the period, and an extensive bibliography. This book will enlighten anyone interested in Fermi’s work or the scientific events that led to the physics revolution of the first half of the twentieth century.
Reviews
“Enrico Fermi: The Obedient Genius is a successful attempt to present Enrico Fermi’s work and its context both to specialists and, more broadly, to an informed and engaged public. It opens with a biography of Fermi, from his Italian years to his life in the United States, and then focuses on physics: its developments and Fermi’s contributions.” (Sofia Talas, Isis, Vol. 108 (2), June, 2017)
“This book covers the life and work of the last great experimental and theoretical physicist, Enrico Fermi, whose name is forever associated with exploiting the nucleus of an atom’s power for both peaceful and destructive purposes. … it serves to illuminate Fermi's indelible contributions to the field of physics. … Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through professionals and practitioners.” (N. Sadanand, Choice, Vol. 54 (2), October, 2016)
Authors and Affiliations
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Enrico Fermi
Book Subtitle: The Obedient Genius
Authors: Giuseppe Bruzzaniti
Translated by: Ugo Bruzzo
Series Title: Springer Biographies
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3533-8
Publisher: Springer New York, NY
eBook Packages: Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Statistics (R0)
Copyright Information: Giulio Einaudi Editore S.p.A. 2016
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4939-3531-4Published: 22 March 2016
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4939-8069-7Published: 19 April 2018
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4939-3533-8Published: 21 March 2016
Series ISSN: 2365-0613
Series E-ISSN: 2365-0621
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XV, 348
Number of Illustrations: 51 b/w illustrations, 3 illustrations in colour
Topics: History of Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical Physics, History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics, Elementary Particles, Quantum Field Theory, Quantum Physics