GENERAL PHYSICS I NEVER CALL IT BIG BANG
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George Gamow: The Extraordinary Story of a Genius of Physics
DISCOVERING THE NATURE OF LIGHT
by Alessandro Bottino (University of Turin, Italy) & Cristina Favero
The Science and the Story
BOOKS
by Norval Fortson (University of Washington, USA)
The figure of Gamow is interesting also from a cultural perspective. His life stretches across a critical period in our history and moves geographically from Russia to the USA, via Europe. His story provides insights into the complex dialogue between historical events and scientific developments during the twentieth century.
With Professor Fortson, distinguished experimental physicist, as your tour guide, follow the journey from the 17th century — when Descartes first calculated the size of the rainbow — to the 20th century, when the quantum theory of light was born. Learn how Huygens, Newton, Planck, Einstein and many other great scientists solved one mystery after another, from the reason underlying the law of refraction to the puzzle of the photoelectric effect. The journey ends with the solution to the most challenging mystery of all: that light is both a wave and a particle — a fascinating finale.
Our book builds on the extensive interview that science historian Charles Weiner did with Gamow shortly before his death. Here Gamow offers a complete survey of his scientific achievements. Tapping onto their dialogue, we have enriched the picture of Gamow’s figure with materials gathered also from other sources. First of all, we discuss his autobiography, in which Gamow mainly focuses on the education he received in Russia and on his experience as a young scientist in Europe.
Contents: Reflection and Refraction of Light; Huygens Found the Wave Theory of Light; Newton Turns His Genius to the Study of Color; The Speed of Light: Timing Jupiter’s Moons; The Speed of Light: The Advent of Precision Astronomy; 1800: Thomas Young Revives the Wave Theory; The Wave Theory Triumphs: Fresnel 1815 – 1825; A Momentous Discovery: Joseph Fraunhofer Observes Spectral Lines; Light is an Electromagnetic Wave; The Entrance of the Photon and the Birth of Quantum Theory.
Featured Contents: First Clues about George Gamow; Just Looking at the Sky; The Next Day the Paper was Ready; If I’d been Smarter; The Heaven’s Glorious Sun; Back to Cambridge and Copenhagen; Nothing Particularly Good; Destination: United States of America; I like to be a Pioneer; If I’d Got 500 Degrees Kelvin, It Would have been Unpleasant; It was very Amusing to Create Codes and Ties; About Mr Tompkins and Other Stories; A Morning Train to Princeton; Things Hang in the Air.
Readership: Students, physicists, and general readers interested in the story about light and its applications. 250pp 978-981-124-959-4 978-981-125-029-3(pbk)
Readership: General. 150pp 978-981-124-230-4
Mar 2022 US$58 £50 US$28 £25 12
Advance Book Information • January – February 2022
Feb 2022 US$34.95
£30
