Longing for the Harmonies: Themes and Variations from Modern Physics

392 Pages·1988·6.115 MB·English

by  Frank Wilczek, Betsy Devine

VARIATIO
\
-

.
An uncommon and uncommonly good exposition of
contemporary quantum physics. —Kirkus Reviews
The enthusiasm of the authors for their subject
quickly infects the reader. A well written, exciting
book produced by one of the masters of modern
quantum physics. —Hleinz R. Pagels
autnor of The Cosmic Codes
“Whosoever. ..can no longer wonder, no longer mar-
vel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed.”
—Al]bert Einstein
Schrodinger’s cat sits poised, a playful symbol of the
riddles of quantum mechanics. . . the bizarre behavior
of the elusive subatomic particles known as “quarks”
becomes a set of mating rules...the search for the
identity of cosmic “dark matter” zeroes in upon sev-
eral likely suspects, including the first particle named
for a laundry detergent.
These tantalizing discoveries or inspired guesses of
today’s physics, along with scores of other startling
facts about the true nature of the universe we only
dimly see, are here brought into harmony with tradi-
tional physics by scientists Frank Wilczek and Betsy
Devine. Devoted to sharing their own delight and awe
before the fundamental mysteries of the cosmos, they
also have a serious purpose: to reveal to the lay reader
how a heightened perception can respond to timeless
themes of the physical universe. For example, they
show how even the most exotic theories always confirm
that physical laws are precisely the same throughout
the universe, even in galaxies so vastly far apart that
they cannot possibly have been influenced by the same
events. They explain how we have learned that the
most massive molten stars and the tiniest frozen parti-
cle are in physical harmony.
In fact, the authors frequently use lively anecdotes
to remind us that our expanded knowledge of the
universe is the direct result of the lonely, determined
(Continued on back flap)
Jacket painting: Metric System by Pierre Roy 1933. Courtesy of
Philadelphia Museum of Art: The Louise and Walter Arenberg
Collection.
JACKET DESIGN BY KARL STEINBRENNER

LONGING FOR THE
HARMONIES

LONGING FOR THE
HARMONIES

Themes and Vanations from Modern Physics
R

s
n
/ Z .
"oi S=>== —
\pii Ss
\ A IZS

N
e
\ e
r
Frank Wilczek and Betsy Devine

Te! 4

W- W- Norton & Company: New York: London
Copyright © 1988 by Frank Wilczek and Betsy Devine
All rights reserved.
Published simultaneously in Canada by Penguin Books Canada Ltd., 2801 John
Street, Markham, Ontario L3R 1B4.
Printed in the United States of America.
The text of this book is composed in Century Schoolbook, with display type set in
Century Old Style. Composition and manufacturing by The Haddon Craftsmen, Inc.
Book design by Bernard Klein.
The lines from T. 8S. Eliot’s poem “Little Gidding” are from Four Quartets, copyright
1936 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.; copyright © 1963, 1964 by T. S. Eliot.
Reprinted by permission of the publishers.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wilczek, Frank.
Longing for the harmonies.
Includes index.
1. Physics. 2. Physics—Philosophy. 3. Harmony
(Philosophy) I. Devine, Betsy. II. Title.
QC21.2.W52 1987 530 87-7653
ISBN 0-393-0248e-e
W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10110
W. W. Norton & Company Ltd., 37 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3NU
234567890
To AMITY AND MIRA:
In vain does the God of War growl, snarl, roar, and try to interrupt
with bombards, trumpets, and his whole tarantaran. ... Let us despise
the barbaric neighings which echo through these noble lands and
awaken our understanding and longing for the harmonies.
—Kepler