Henri Poincaré: Electrons to Special Relativity : Translation of Selected Papers and Discussion

Produced by an award-winning translator of Henri Poincaré, this book contains translations of several seminal articles by Poincaré and discusses the experimental and theoretical investigations of electrons that form their context. In the 1950s, a dispute ignited about the origin of the theory of special relativity and thrust considerable notoriety on a paper written by Henri Poincaré in 1905. Accordingly, Part I presents the relevant translations of Poincaré’s work showing that radiation carries momentum and the covariance of the equations of electrodynamics, the continuity equation for charge, and the spacetime interval. Part II then discusses investigations by Thomson, Becquerel, and Kaufmann of electrons in diverse contexts; contributions of Abraham, Lorentz and Poincaré to a theory of electrons that includes Lorentz transformations and explains the dependence of mass on velocity; and finally, Poincaré’s exploration of the relativity principle, electron stability, and gravitation while rejecting absolute motion (ether) and an electromagnetic origin of mass. Part III contains the 1904 article by H. A. Lorentz presenting his transformations. This book will be a fascinating read to graduate-level students, physicists, and science historians who are interested in the development of electrodynamics and the classical, relativistic theory of electrons at the beginning of the 20th century. Preface 5 Experiments on Electrons 7 Theory of Electrons 8 And More 9 Advice for Readers 9 Other Translations 10 Acknowledgments 12 Contents 13 Part I: Translation of Selected Papers 17 Chapter 1: The Measurement of Time 18 Chapter 2: Lorentz ́s Theory and the Conservation of Momentum 27 Part 1 27 Part 2 35 Part 3 43 Chapter 3: Three Letters to H. A. Lorentz 51 First Letter 51 Second Letter 53 Third Letter 54 Chapter 4: Electricity - On the Dynamics of the Electron 55 Chapter 5: On the Dynamics of the Electron 59 Introduction 59 §1 - Lorentz Transformation 62 §2 - Principle of Least Action 68 §3 - Lorentz Transformation and the Principle of Least Action 75 §4 - The Lorentz Group 78 §5 - Langevin Waves 81 §6 - Contraction of Electrons 87 §7 - Quasi-Stationary Motion 96 §8 - Arbitrary Motion 102 §9 - Hypotheses on Gravitation 105 Chapter 6: Dynamics of the Electron 117 I. Introduction 117 II. Longitudinal and Transverse Mass 119 III. Channel Rays 121 IV. Lorentz ́s Theory 121 V. Mechanical Consequences 123 VI. Aberration 123 VII. The Principle of Relativity 126 VIII. The Conservation of Momentum 129 IX. Consequences the Principle of Relativity 131 X. Kaufmann ́s Experiment 132 XI. The Principle of Inertia 133 XII. Acceleration Wave 135 XIII. Gravitation 136 XIV.Comparison with Astronomical Observations 138 XV. The Theory of Lesage 140 XVI. Conclusions 143 Part II: Discussion 145 Chapter 7: Discovery of the Electron: Cathode Rays 146 J. J. Thomson 146 Jean Perrin 147 Cathode Rays 148 Ether 150 J. J. Thomson ́s Motivation 152 Naming the Electron 153 Meaning of Discovery 153 Priority 155 References 158 Chapter 8: Discovery of the Electron: Radioactivity 160 Wilhelm Röntgen and X-Rays 160 Henri Becquerel and Radiation from Uranium 161 Marie and Pierre Curie and Other Natural Sources of Radiation 162 Separating the Radiation by Stopping Power and Magnetic Deflection 164 Paul Villard and γ Rays 167 What Are β Rays? 168 Digressions 173 Zeeman Effect 173 Henri Becquerel, and Pierre and Marie Curie 174 Health Effects 176 References 176 Chapter 9: Contributions of Abraham, Lorentz and Poincaré to Classical Theory of Electrons 179 Introduction 179 Max Abraham 180 Hendrik Lorentz 185 Reanalyzing Kaufmann ́s Data 190 Henri Poincaré 196 Transformation of Charge Density-First Divergence 196 Unchanged under Lorentz Transformation (Covariant) 199 Transformations as Group with Invariants-Third Divergence 200 Electron Stability: Poincaré Stress-Second Divergence 201 Synopsis 204 References 205 Chapter 10: Poincaré as a Physicist 207 Introduction 207 A Koan 207 Advocating for Others 208 Underlying Principles 210 Methods 211 Predictions 213 Attitude 216 Conclusion 220 References 220 Chapter 11: Einstein, Poincaré and the Origins of Special Relativity 222 Introduction 222 Poincaré on What He Was Trying to Do 224 Einstein on What He Was Trying to Do 227 The Start of the Dispute: Edmund Whittaker 229 Contemporary Reactions from Physicists 232 Gerald Holton ́s Response to Edmund Whittaker 233 Conclusion 234 References 235 Chapter 12: Adoption of Vector Notation for Classical Electrodynamics 237 Considerations 237 Poincaré ́s Notation 238 Lorentz ́s Notation 241 Understanding J. C. Maxwell 243 J. W. Gibbs 244 O. Heaviside 244 A. Föppl 246 H. Hertz 247 J. Larmor 247 P. Langevin 247 H. Poincaré: Électricité et optique 247 First Edition 248 Second Edition 249 Poincaré ́s Notation, Again 250 References 251 Chapter 13: Translation, Language and Culture 252 My Practice of Translation 252 Availability of Sources 255 Language Biases 256 French Historical Present Tense 258 The Académie Française 260 La Belle Époque 263 References 264 Part III: Supplement, H. A. Lorentz 266 Chapter 14: Electromagnetic Phenomena in a System Moving with Any Velocity Smaller than That of Light 267 Index 289 Produced by an award-winning translator of Henri Poincaré, this book contains translations of several seminal articles by Poincaré and discusses the experimental and theoretical investigations of electrons that form their context. In the 1950s, a dispute ignited about the origin of the theory of special relativity and thrust considerable notoriety on a paper written by Henri Poincaré in 1905. Accordingly, Part I presents the relevant translations of Poincaré's work showing that radiation carries momentum and the covariance of the equations of electrodynamics, the continuity equation for charge, and the spacetime interval. Part II then discusses investigations by Thomson, Becquerel, and Kaufmann of electrons in diverse contexts; contributions of Abraham, Lorentz and Poincaré to a theory of electrons that includes Lorentz transformations and explains the dependence of mass on velocity; and finally, Poincaré's exploration of the relativity principle, electron stability, and gravitation while rejecting absolute motion (ether) and an electromagnetic origin of mass. Part III contains the 1904 article by H. A. Lorentz presenting his transformations.-- Publisher's description Produced by an award-winning translator of Henri Poincare, this book contains translations of several seminal articles by Poincare and discusses the experimental and theoretical investigations of electrons that form their context.