The Solvay Councils and the Birth of Modern Physics
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Author(s): P. Marage and G. Wallenborn (Eds)
Publisher: Birkhäuser
ISBN: 9 783764 3570
Format: hardback
224pp
Price: sFr98
Review Date: 23 May 2000
Review: The first Solvay Council took place in 1911, and was described by Einstein as 'A Witches Sabbath'. These international conferences for physicists were organised to take place every three years during peace time. They provided a forum for an impressive group of prestigious scientists to meet. At the first Solvay Council, scientists discussed the need to incorporate quanta into their theories. The development of quantum physics can be followed through discussions at the Solvay Councils, between great scientists such as Rutherford, Lorenz, Langevin, Perrin, Madame Curie and Einstein, to name a small handful. Not only were the papers published after each Council meeting, but also the long discussions which followed them. This book provides an account of the birth of modern physics, including its advance during the changing political climate of the 20th century. It is a fascinating book which produces some of the original texts, and gives an insight into the experiences of the great men and women of physics who were part of the Solvay Council.