Paul Dirac: The Man and his Work - Softcover

Pais, Abraham; Jacob, Maurice; Olive, David I.; Atiyah, Michael F.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521019532 ISBN 13: 9780521019538

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2005

Synopsis

Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac was one of the founders of quantum theory. He is numbered alongside Newton, Maxwell and Einstein as one of the greatest physicists of all time. Together the lectures in this volume, originally presented on the occasion of the dedication ceremony for a plaque honoring Dirac in Westminster Abbey, give a unique insight into the relationship between Dirac's character and his scientific achievements. The text begins with the dedication address given by Stephen Hawking at the ceremony. Then Abraham Pais describes Dirac as a person and his approach to his work. Maurice Jacob explains how Dirac was led to introduce the concept of antimatter, and its central role in modern particle physics and cosmology. This is followed by David Olive's account of the origin and enduring influence of Dirac's work on magnetic monopoles. Finally, Sir Michael Atiyah explains the deep and widespread significance of the Dirac equation in mathematics.

About this title

Book Description

This book will be of interest to physicists and historians of science. Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac was one of the founders of quantum theory. He is numbered alongside Newton, Maxwell and Einstein as one of the greatest physicists of all time. Together the lectures in this volume, presented on the occasion of the dedication ceremony for a plaque commemorating Dirac in Westminster Abbey, give a unique insight into the relationship between Dirac's character and his scientific achievements. Four lectures given by internationally respected physicists, Abraham Pais, Maurice Jacob, David Olive and Sir Michael Atiyah follow the text of the dedication address given by Stephen Hawking.

Review

"Readers will gain insight into Dirac's love of the beauty of nature, his interest in mountain climbing, his approach to mathematical physics, and his emphasis on beauty and simplicity." Optics & Photonoics News

"The overall thrust of the book is to increase the recognition of a brilliant theoretical physicist, whose solitary work habits and retiring manner have allowed him to be relatively neglected when compared with many of the other giants of 20th-century physics." Choice

"This small volume of four lectures delivered in Westminster Abbey during the dedication of a plaque in Dirac's honor captures the relation between his personality and his science via a mosaic of historical recollections and scientific reviews." American Scientist

"...this book is a...gem of an introduction...." Notices of the AMS

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0521019532
• ISBN 13: 9780521019538
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 144