Einstein's unification / Jeroen van Dongen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dongen, Jeroen van, 1974- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955.

Einstein, Albert.

General relativity (Physics)--History.

General relativity (Physics).

Quantum theory--Philosophy.

Quantum theory.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 213 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Why did Einstein tirelessly study unified field theory for more than 30 years? In this book, the author argues that Einstein believed he could find a unified theory of all of nature's forces by repeating the methods he thought he had used when he formulated general relativity. The book discusses Einstein's route to the general theory of relativity, focusing on the philosophical lessons that he learnt. It then addresses his quest for a unified theory for electromagnetism and gravity, discussing in detail his efforts with Kaluza-Klein and, surprisingly, the theory of spinors. From these perspectives, Einstein's critical stance towards the quantum theory comes to stand in a new light. This book will be of interest to physicists, historians and philosophers of science.

Contents:

1. Formulating the gravitational field equations

2. On the method of theoretical physics

3. Unification and field theory

4. Experiment and experience

5. The method as directive: semivectors

6. Unification in five dimensions

7. The method and the quantum

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references (p. 191-207) and index.

ISBN:

1-108-70303-8

1-139-88710-6

1-139-63541-7

1-139-63767-3

1-139-64169-7

1-139-64932-9

0-511-78137-7

1-139-63885-8

1-139-64836-5

OCLC:

857364955