Niels Bohr's Times: In Physics, Philosophy, and Polity

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Oxford University Press, 17. okt. 1991 - 596 síður
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.
 

Efni

1 A Dane for all seasons
1
2 In Denmark I was born
32
3 Boyhood
42
from ancient optics to relativity theory
52
the roots of quantum physics
74
6 Student days
92
7 In which Bohr goes to England for postdoctoral research
117
8 Bohr father of the atom
132
15 Looking into the atomic nucleus
324
16 Toward the edge of physics in the Bohr style and a bit beyond
346
17 How Bohr orchestrated experimental progress in the 1930s in physics and in biology
375
18 Of sad events and of major journeys
407
19 We are suspended in language
420
20 Fission
452
21 Bohr pioneer of glasnost
473
22 In which Bohr moves full steam into his later years
509

9 How Bohr secured his permanent base of operations
160
10 It was the spring of hope it was the winter of despair
176
11 Bohr and Einstein
224
12 A modern Viking who comes on a great errand
249
the discovery of quantum mechanics
267
14 The Spirit of Copenhagen
295
23 Epilog
534
A synopsis of this book in the form of a chronology
538
Index of Names
547
Index of Subjects
556
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