Einstein's Witches' Sabbath and the Early Solvay Councils : The Untold Story / Franklin Lambert and Frits Berends.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lambert, Franklin, author.

Berends, Frits, 1938- author.

Series:

Sciences and Histoire / Sciences and History Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955.

Einstein, Albert.

Solvay Conference on Physics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (316 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Les Ulis, France : EDP Sciences, [2021]

Summary:

BEFORE WORLD WAR II there were no regular international physics conferences, with the notable exception of seven « SOLVAY COUNCILS ». The first Council in 1911 was the result of a miraculous chain of events. Impressed by Einstein’s specific heat paper, Nernst wanted its quantum basis to be discussed by international experts. By a series of coincidences the planned « summit » was convened by Solvay, the Belgian industrialist and Maecenas. Thanks to chairman Lorentz, the meeting was so successful that to this day similar Councils have been convened by the International Physics Institute, founded by Solvay and supported by his family. Lorentz chaired five Councils that testify to the transition from classical to modern physics. The first stimulated the physicists’ interest in the quantum problem. The fifth, in 1927, solved the problem by marking, according to Heisenberg, the completion of Quantum Mechanics. The book focuses on the personal relations between the physicists who actively participated in the quantum revolution. These relations came under great strain during the Great War, but the Councils survived thanks to Lorentz’s and Solvay’s faith in the universality of science.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Table of Contents

Foreword

THE FIRST PHYSICS COUNCIL

Chapter 1 A very unlikely “Council”

Chapter 2 An unprecedented project

UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES OF THE COUNCIL

Chapter 3 A game of musical chairs

Chapter 4 Foundation of the International Solvay Institute for Physics

Chapter 5 The second Physics Council

Chapter 6 Foundation of the International Institute for Chemistry

Chapter 7 The Solvay subsidies

IMPACT OF THE GREAT WAR

Chapter 8 The Physics Institute survives the storm

Chapter 9 Epilogue: from “Solvay III” to “Solvay V”

ANNEXES

Annex 1 List of 52 Nobel laureates who took part in one (or in several) Solvay Councils between 1911 and 1933, or who benefitted from a Solvay research subsidy

Annex 2 Archival sources relating to the works of Ernest Solvay

Annex 3 Solvay’s “Gravito-Materialitic” program

Annex 4 The Black-Body Problem

Annex 5 Planck’s “missed” Nobel Prize

Annex 6 The second Moroccan crisis and the Caillaux affair

Annex 7 Royal patronage

Annex 8 Essential points in the Rutherford- Thomson confrontation

Bibliography

Acknowledgments

Notes

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9782759826704

OCLC:

1312726698