Representing the Unobservable : The Formation of the Virtual Particle Concept in the Practice of Theory, 1923?1949
Language: English
Published by Birkhäuser, 2026
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: GreatBookPricesUK, Woodford Green, United KingdomGreatBookPricesUK
AbeBooks seller since January 28, 2020
Condition: Used - As new
£ 55.92
Quantity: Over 20 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Unread book in perfect condition.
Seller Inventory # 52598201
- Title
- Representing the Unobservable : The Formation of the Virtual Particle Concept in the Practice of Theory, 1923?1949
- Author
- Ehberger, Markus
- Publisher
- Birkhäuser
- Publication year
- 2026
- Condition
- As New
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 303209187X
- ISBN 13
- 9783032091871
This open access book examines the historical development of the concept of the virtual particle, from the first prominent appearance of virtual entities in quantum physics in the Bohr-Kramers-Slater (BKS) theory (1924) to the most common representation of virtual particles in Feynman diagrams (1949).
Through a pragmatically informed approach to concept formation, focusing on the different representations of virtual entities and their role in theoretical practice, this work unravels the (dis)connections between the concepts of “virtual oscillators” (early 1920s), “virtual transitions” (the late 1920s to mid-1940s), and, finally, “virtual particles” (mid-1930s to late 1940s). The shifts and continuities in the conceptual development must be understood within the broader transformation of the theoretical framework, from the so-called Old Quantum Theory to the emergence of quantum electrodynamics (QED) and quantum field theory of the 1930s, culminating in the reconfiguration of the practice of QED in the hands of Richard Feynman in the late 1940s. A key pragmatically informed feature uniting these concepts is their shared function: they extended the set of possible processes and rendered these possibilities effective.
This book will be of interest to historians and philosophers of physics and mathematics.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Markus Ehberger studied physics (B.Sc.) and history of science (M.Sc.) in Regensburg and Jena. He was a member of the DFG-funded research group The Epistemology of the LHC in the project A1: The Formation and Development of the Concept of the Virtual Particle. Within this project, he was a research associate at the TU Berlin and the RWTH Aachen and wrote his dissertation (TU Berlin) about the conceptual development of the virtual particle. As a research associate at FSU Jena and together with Christian Forstner, he developed and wrote a physics history city guide for the city of Jena. Since 2022, Markus Ehberger has worked at the Deutsches Museum (Munich), at first as the Managing Editor of the Open Access book series Deutsches Museum Studies, now as part of the internet editorial office and as a member of the team for the new physics exhibition.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
GreatBookPricesUK
Woodford Green, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since January 28, 2020
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 10 to 27 business days | 10 to 30 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 15.00 | £ 15.00 |
Payment methods
Store description
GreatBookPrices.com is your top source for finding new books at the absolute lowest prices, guaranteed ! We offer big discounts - everyday - on millions of titles in virtually any category, from Architecture to Zoology -- and everything in between. Discover great deals and super-savings, on professional books, text book titles, the newest computer guides, or your favorite fiction authors. You'll find it all - at HUGE SAVINGS - at GreatBookPrices. Browse through our complete online product catalog today. Serving customers around the world for years, we help thousands find just the books they're looking for -- at incredibly low, bargain prices.…
Specialty
TradeBooksSeller's business information
Far Corner Europe Limited
19-20 Bourne Court, 19-20 Bourne Court
Woodford Green, United Kingdom IG8 8HD
Terms of sale
Company Name: GreatBookPricesUK
Legal Entity: Far Corner Europe Limited
Address: 19-20 Bourne Court, Southend Road, Woodford Green Essex, UK IG8 8HD
Registration #: 10691061, VAT GB307932304
Authorized representative: Danielle Hainsey
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to GreatBookPricesUK, Castle Donington, Derby, United Kingdom, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Our warehouses across the globe are fully operational without substantial delays. We are working hard and continue to overcome the daily challenges presented by COVID-19. There have been reports that delivery carriers are experiencing large delays resulting in longer than normal deliveries to customers. We would like to apologize in advance if your item arrives later than the expected delivery due date.
Internal processing of your order will take about 1-2 business days. Please allow an additional 4-14 business days for Royal Mail delivery.