Overview
- Connects the ideas that led to the quantum theory providing a unified story
- Does not skimp on the mathematics where necessary
- Provides a close look at the depth of the ideas that brought us the new physics
Part of the book series: History of Physics (HIPHY)
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Table of contents (11 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
- Atoms and the atomic theory
- De Broglie and the wave-particle duality
- Schrödinger and the wave function
- Einstein and the photon
- Planck and blackbody radiation
- Classical and quantum mechanics
- The flow of electrical current in liquids and gases
- Wave function and reality
- Bohr and the model of the atom
- Bohr and the photon picture of radiation
- Quantum theory history
About this book
This book offers a fresh perspective on some of the central experimental and theoretical works that laid the foundations for today's quantum mechanics: It traces the theoretical and mathematical development of the hypotheses that put forward to explain puzzling experimental results; it also examines their interconnections and how they together evolved into modern quantum theory. Particular attention is paid to J.J. Thomson's atomic modeling and experiments at the Cavendish Laboratory, Max Planck's struggle to explain the experimental results of Heinrich Rubens and Ferdinand Kurlbaum, as well as the path leading from Louis de Broglie’s ideas to the wave theory of Erwin Schrödinger.
Combining his experience in teaching quantum mechanics with his interest in the historical roots of the subject, the author has created a valuable resource for understanding quantum physics through its history, and a book that is appreciated both by working physicists and historians.Reviews
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Carl S. Helrich completed his B.S. (honor) at Engineering Science from Case Institute of Technology (now the engineering/science school of CWRU) in 1963 and Ph.D. from Northwestern University in plasma physics, 1969. Taught at University of Tennessee Space Institute, Bethel College (KS), Goshen College (IN). Research experience at ORNL, NASA MSFC, and KFA (now FZ) Jülich, Germany.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The Quantum Theory—Origins and Ideas
Book Subtitle: A Historical Primer for Physics Students
Authors: Carl S. Helrich
Series Title: History of Physics
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79268-8
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-79267-1Published: 03 August 2021
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-79270-1Published: 04 August 2022
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-79268-8Published: 02 August 2021
Series ISSN: 2730-7549
Series E-ISSN: 2730-7557
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: X, 241
Number of Illustrations: 32 b/w illustrations, 20 illustrations in colour
Topics: Quantum Physics, History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics, History of Science, Classical and Continuum Physics