__NOTOC__
''Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate About the Nature of Reality'' is a science history book written by
Manjit Kumar
Manjit Kumar (born 1963) wrote the popular science book ''Quantum'' which was shortlisted for the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction, 2009. and was also co-author of the book ''Science and the Retreat from Reason''. He has degrees in physic ...
. It was released on October 16, 2008.
Overview
He describes
Einstein
Albert Einstein ( ; ; 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theory ...
,
Bohr
Niels Henrik David Bohr (; 7 October 1885 – 18 November 1962) was a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum theory, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. B ...
and the "
Great Debate about the Nature of Reality" that played out over a number of years, particularly at the
Fifth Solvay International Conference on
electrons
The electron ( or ) is a subatomic particle with a negative one elementary electric charge. Electrons belong to the first generation of the lepton particle family,
and are generally thought to be elementary particles because they have no ...
and
photons
A photon () is an elementary particle that is a quantum of the electromagnetic field, including electromagnetic radiation such as light and radio waves, and the force carrier for the electromagnetic force. Photons are massless, so they alway ...
in 1927, where the physicists met to discuss the then newly formulated
quantum theory
Quantum theory may refer to:
Science
*Quantum mechanics, a major field of physics
*Old quantum theory, predating modern quantum mechanics
* Quantum field theory, an area of quantum mechanics that includes:
** Quantum electrodynamics
** Quantum ch ...
. It narrates the life of some eminent physicists and their work and also gives a view of the environment of science at that time. It tells the life stories of
Bohr
Niels Henrik David Bohr (; 7 October 1885 – 18 November 1962) was a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum theory, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. B ...
,
Einstein
Albert Einstein ( ; ; 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theory ...
,
Planck,
Rutherford,
Schrödinger, and others.
Reception
Quantum was number 1 on the ''
Hindustan Times
''Hindustan Times'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper based in Delhi. It is the flagship publication of HT Media, an entity controlled by the KK Birla family, and is owned by Shobhana Bhartia.
It was founded by Sunder Singh Lyall ...
'' top 10 science books you should read in 2012.
Quantum had also been shortlisted for the
BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction
The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, formerly the Samuel Johnson Prize, is an annual British book prize for the best non-fiction writing in the English language. It was founded in 1999 following the demise of the NCR Book Award. With its m ...
, 2009.
See also
*
Bohr–Einstein debates
The Bohr–Einstein debates were a series of public disputes about quantum mechanics between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr. Their debates are remembered because of their importance to the philosophy of science, since the disagreements and the ou ...
*
EPR paradox
EPR may refer to:
Science and technology
* EPR (nuclear reactor), European Pressurised-Water Reactor
* EPR paradox (Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen paradox), in physics
* Earth potential rise, in electrical engineering
* East Pacific Rise, a mid-ocea ...
References
External links
Manjit Kumar's blog about his book ''Quantum''
Books about the history of physics
Popular physics books
{{physics-book-stub