The Synthesis of the Elements

Giora Shaviv

ISBN 10: 3662507935 / ISBN 13: 9783662507933

Published by Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Springer Berlin Heidelberg Aug 2016, 2016

About this Item

Neuware -This book describes the origins and evolution of the chemical elements we and the cosmos are made of. The story starts with the discovery of the common elements on Earth and their subsequent discovery in space. How do we learn the composition of the distant stars How did progress in quantum theory, nuclear physics, spectroscopy, stellar structure and evolution, together with observations of stars, converge to provide an incredibly detailed picture of the universe How does research in the micro-world explain the macro-world How does progress in one affect the other, or lack of knowledge in one inhibit progress in the other In short, Shaviv describes how we discovered the various pieces of the jigsaw that form our present picture of the universe; and how we sometimes put these in the wrong place before finding in the right one.En route we meet some fascinating personalities and learn about heated controversies. Shaviv shows how science lurched from one dogma to the next, time and again shattering much of what had been considered solid knowledge, until eventually a stable understanding arose.Beginning with generally accepted science, the book ends in today¿s terra incognita of nuclear physics, astrophysics and cosmology. A monumental work that will fascinate scientists, philosophers, historians and lay readers alike.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 708 pp. Englisch.

Seller Inventory # 9783662507933

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Synthesis of the Elements
• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Springer Berlin Heidelberg Aug 2016
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3662507935
• ISBN 13: 9783662507933
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 235W x 155H x 38D millimeters 235 millimeters width by 155 millimeters height by 38 millimeters depth
• Weight: 1054 grams

About this title

Synopsis

This book describes the origins and evolution of the chemical elements  we and the cosmos are made of. The story starts with the discovery of the common elements on Earth and their subsequent discovery in space. How do we learn the composition of the distant stars? How did progress in quantum theory, nuclear physics, spectroscopy, stellar structure and evolution, together with observations of stars, converge to provide an incredibly detailed picture of the universe? How does research in the micro-world explain the macro-world? How does progress in one affect the other, or lack of knowledge in one inhibit progress in the other? In short, Shaviv describes how we discovered the various pieces of the jigsaw that form our present picture of the universe; and how we sometimes put these in the wrong place before finding in the right one.

En route we meet some fascinating personalities and learn about heated controversies. Shaviv shows how science lurched from one dogma  to the next, time and again shattering much of what had been considered solid knowledge, until eventually a stable understanding arose.

Beginning with generally accepted science, the book ends in today’s terra incognita of nuclear physics, astrophysics and cosmology. A monumental work that will fascinate scientists, philosophers, historians and lay readers alike.

About the Author

After spending several years in the USA, at Caltech and Cornell, Giora Shaviv was instrumental in bringing astrophysical teaching and research to Israel ( with posts at Tel Aviv University and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology). He  also conceived, designed and organized the launch of the Technion student and faculty research satellite. A leading theoretical astrophysicist, Shaviv has published numerous articles on stellar physics, galaxies and astrophysical fluids in professional journals. Among his many contributions to stellar physics is a paper that Physical Review Letters selected as one of their best 20 of the past 50 years. He is also author of the highly acclaimed book "Life of Stars" (Springer, 2010). He founded the Asher Space Research Institute at the Technion with president Singer and also served as President of the Israeli Physical Society.