Bohdan Karczewski (1 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Poor. 1st Edition. Oversized cloth hardcover, no ISBN, 478 pages, weight over 1kg, NOT ex-library. Limited academic edition of 620 copies. 23 papers in German & 11 in English. Clean, untanned pages with unmarked text, free of stamps and inscriptions, firmly bound. Book is free of foxing and age-spotting. Wear to tips of corners of some pages; gentle wear only. Torn dust jacket with extensive edgewear and scratches. -- This volume gathers the most influential scientific writings of Wojciech (Adalbert) Rubinowicz (1889-1974), one of the foremost Polish theoretical physicists of the 20th century. Known especially for his work in quantum mechanics and diffraction theory, Rubinowicz contributed to the foundational mathematical frameworks of wave and radiation phenomena. This collection offers an essential reference point for historians of science and researchers in theoretical physics, spanning his contributions from early studies on radiation quantization to late refinements of the Sommerfeld radiation condition. Rubinowicz is perhaps best remembered for the Maggi-Rubinowicz representation of the Kirchhoff diffraction integral, which introduced a more physically transparent view of wave propagation by separating contributions from incident and diffracted waves. Several papers in this volume, including Zur Kirchhoffschen Beugungstheorie and Die Beugungswelle in der Kirchhoffschen, trace the development of this formulation and its conceptual implications. He also examined complex boundary-value problems related to wave and diffraction theory, providing novel methods of solution that influenced successive generations of mathematical physicists. The volume documents Rubinowicz's exploration of quantum theory's foundational principles, including his 1920s work on the Bohr frequency condition, angular momentum conservation, and Stark and Zeeman effects. A few papers show his engagement with the experimental phenomena that shaped early quantum mechanics. Later sections of the book reflect Rubinowicz's lasting interest in electromagnetic field theory, wave propagation, and signal discontinuities, especially in confined systems like waveguides. His work on Sommerfeld's polynomial method, Green's functions and vector potentials exemplifies a persistent commitment to analytic clarity and mathematical rigor. In addition to original research, the volume includes pedagogically oriented contributions that clarify complex concepts through simplification or reorganization. Rubinowicz's ability to distill general principles from specific cases is evident, for instance, in his Simple Derivation of the Miyamoto-Wolf Formula. Also included is a rare autobiographical memoir, offering insight into his intellectual trajectory, institutional affiliations, and personal experiences within European physics communities. The book concludes with a full bibliography, providing a valuable roadmap for those seeking to understand Rubinowicz's wide-ranging influence.