The Quantum Ten: A Story of Passion, Tragedy, Ambition, and Science

336 Pages·2008·2.11 MB·English

by  Sheilla Jones

Books of Merit
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The Quantum Ten
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Q U A N T U M
T E N
A STORY PASSION
TRAGEDY, AMBITION
AND SCIENCE
SHEILLA
JONES
thomas allen publishers
toronto
Copyright © 2008by Sheilla Jones
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information
storage and retrieval systems—without the prior written permission
of the publisher, or in the case of photocopying or other reprographic
copying, a licence from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Jones, Sheilla, 1954–
The quantum ten : a story of passion, tragedy, ambition and science / Sheilla Jones.
Includes bibliographical references.
isbn978-0-88762-331-8
1.Physicists—Biography.
2.Physics—History.
3.Quantum theory—History.
4.Solvay Conference on Physics (5th : 1927:Brussels).
I. Title.
qc15.j65 2008 530.092'2 c2008-900270-9
Editor: Janice Zawerbny
Jacket and text design: Gordon Robertson
Jacket image: Emilio Segre Archives
Author photograph: Fred Elcheshen
Published by Thomas Allen Publishers,
adivision of Thomas Allen & Son Limited,
145Front Street East, Suite 209,
Toronto, Ontario m5a 1e3Canada
www.thomas-allen.com
The publisher gratefully acknowledges the supportof
the Ontario Arts Council for its publishing program.
Weacknowledge the supportof the Canada Council for the Arts, which last
year invested $2o.1million in writing and publishing throughout Canada.
We acknowledge the Government of Ontario through the Ontario
Media Development Corporation’sOntario Book Initiative.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the
Book Publishing IndustryDevelopment Program (bpidp)for our publishing activities.
12 11 10 09 08 1 2 3 4 5
Printed and bound in Canada
To Dr. James Burns
This narrative is filled with fascinating characters whose per-
sonal stories have been brought to life by their biographers,
in particular: David C. Cassidy, Paul Carter, Charles P. Enz,
Philipp Frank, Roger Highfield, Banesh Hoffman, Martin J.
Klein, Helge Kragh, Thomas Levenson, David Lindley,Walter
Moore, Abraham Pais and Nancy Thorndike Greenspan. My
interpretation of the tumultuous development of quantum
physics is greatly enriched by their earlier efforts.
In particular, I’d like to thank Martin J. Klein for his invaluable
insights and critique of much of the manuscript during the writ-
ing of this book, as well as for sharing some of his unpublished
research on the distressing final hours before Paul Ehrenfest’s
suicide. Paul Halpernand Frans van Lunteren were also most
helpful in tracking down additional details on Ehrenfest’s last
years.
This book is verymuch a product of the enthusiasm of my agent
Rick Broadhead, editor Janice Zawerbny, and my biggest fan and
resident grammarian, Jim Burns. Thank you, all.
contents
The Quantum Ten x
1 The Regression of Science 1
2 The Quantum Showdown 17
3 The Birth of the Quantum 33
4 APlace to Belong 53
5 Building a Foundation 67
6 The Cost of Compromise 85
7 Taking a New Path 105
8 Only What the Eye Can See 119
9 The Emergence of the Boys’ Club 131
10 TheGöttingen Gospel 151
11 AMeeting of Minds 167
12 Shock Waves 183
13 Drawing the Battle Lines 201
14 Dark Night of the Scientific Soul 221
15 Solvay Prelude 235
16 Coming Undone 251
17 Picking Up the Pieces 269
18 Quantum Confusion 289
Epilogue 293
297
Notes
312
Bibliography
317
Index