Elementary Particles and the Laws of Physics: The 1986 Dirac Memorial Lectures (Paperback)

Richard Phillips Feynman

ISBN 10: 0521658624 / ISBN 13: 9780521658621

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999

About this Item

Paperback. Perhaps the two most important conceptual breakthroughs in twentieth century physics are relativity and quantum mechanics. Developing a theory that combines the two seamlessly is a difficult and ongoing challenge. This accessible book contains intriguing explorations of this theme by the distinguished physicists Richard Feynman and Steven Weinberg. Richard Feynman's contribution examines the nature of antiparticles, and in particular the relationship between quantum spin and statistics. In his essay, Steven Weinberg speculates on how Einstein's theory of gravitation might be reconciled with quantum theory in the final laws of physics. Both these Nobel laureates have made huge contributions to fundamental research in physics, as well as to the popularization of science. Anyone interested in the development of modern physics will find this a fascinating book. Developing a theory that seamlessly combines relativity and quantum mechanics, the most important conceptual breakthroughs in twentieth century physics, has proved to be a difficult and ongoing challenge. This book details how two distinguished physicists and Nobel laureates have explored this theme in two lectures given in Cambridge, England, in 1986 to commemorate the famous British physicist Paul Dirac. Given for nonspecialists and undergraduates, the talks transcribed in Elementary Particles and the Laws of Physics focus on the fundamental problems of physics and the present state of our knowledge. Professor Feynman examines the nature of antiparticles, and in particular the relationship between quantum spin and statistics. Professor Weinberg speculates on how Einstein's theory of gravitation might be reconciled with quantum theory in the final law of physics. Highly accessible, deeply thought provoking, this book will appeal to all those interested in the development of modern physics. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780521658621

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Elementary Particles and the Laws of Physics: The 1986 Dirac Memorial Lectures (Paperback)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521658624
• ISBN 13: 9780521658621
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

A fascinating and accessible book by Nobel laureates Richard Feynman and Steven Weinberg.

About the Author

Richard Feynman was one of the finest theoretical physicists of this century and a tireless ambassador for science. He was the author of several books, including QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter and the classic Lectures on Physics. Feynman shared the 1965 Nobel Prize for physics with Shinchiro Tomonaga and Julian Schwinger for his work on quantum electrodynamics. Steven Weinberg is one of the foremost physicists of our time and a gifted writer on science for general readers. He is the best-selling author of The First Three Minutes and Dreams of a Final Theory, as well as the acclaimed textbooks Gravitation and Cosmology and the two-volume The Quantum Theory of Fields. Professor Weinberg shared the 1979 Nobel Prize for physics with Sheldon Glashow and Abdus Salam for his work on the unification of the electromagnetic and weak interactions.