Love, literature, and the quantum atom : Niels Bohr's 1913 trilogy revisited

Niels Bohr ranks with Einstein among the physicists of the 20th century. He rose to this status through his invention of the quantum theory of the atom and his leadership in its defense and development. He also ranks with Einstein in his humanism and his sense of responsibility to his science and the society that enabled him to create it. Our book presents unpublished excerpts from extensive correspondence between Bohr and his immediate family, and uses it to describe and analyze the psychological and cultural background to his invention. The book also contains a reprinting of the three papers of 1913 - the __Trilogy__ - in which Bohr worked out the provisional basis of a quantum theory of the atom Cover 1 Contents 8 Note on the notes 10 Sources of figures 11 PART 1: NIELS BOHR’S PRIVATE SPHERE: Revealed through unpublished family correspondence 12 1.1 Introduction 14 1.2 Finding each other in Copenhagen 20 1.3 Niels in Cambridge 37 1.4 Niels in Manchester 80 1.5 Beginning married life in Copenhagen 105 1.6 Conclusion 111 PART 2: NASCENT SCIENCE: The scientific and psychological background to Bohr’s Trilogy 114 2.1 Necessary preliminaries 116 2.2 Some physics around 1900 123 2.3 “Stupid electrons” 137 2.4 Indictment of “classical physics” 153 2.5 Odin the law giver 165 2.6 The Trilogy 186 2.7 Bolts from the blue 195 Works cited 208 PART 3: THE TRILOGY: On the Constitution of Atoms and Molecules 212 3.1 Binding of Electrons by Positive Nuclei 216 3.2 Systems Containing only a Single Nucleus 239 3.3 Systems Containing Several Nuclei 266 Index 286 A 286 B 286 C 288 D 289 E 289 F 290 G 290 H 290 I 290 J 291 K 291 L 291 M 292 N 292 O 292 P 293 Q 293 R 293 S 294 T 294 U 295 V 295 W 295 X 295 Z 295 This Title Presents Unpublished Excerpts From Extensive Correspondence Between Niels Bohr And His Immediate Family, And Uses It To Describe And Analyze The Psychological And Cultural Background To His Invention Of The Quantum Theory Of The Atom. Introduction -- Finding Each Other In Copenhagen -- Niels In Cambridge -- Niels In Manchester -- Beginning Married Life In Copenhagen -- Necessary Preliminaries -- Some Physics Around 1900 -- Stupid Electrons -- Indictment Of Classical Physics -- Odin The Law Giver -- The Trilogy -- Bolts From The Blue -- Binding Of Electrons By Positive Nuclei -- Systems Containing Only A Single Nucleus -- Systems Containing Several Nuclei. Finn Aaserud And J. L. Heilbron. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This title presents unpublished excerpts from extensive correspondence between Niels Bohr and his immediate family, and uses it to describe and analyze the psychological and cultural background to his invention of the quantum theory of the atom -- Source other than Library of Congress This book presents unpublished excerpts from extensive correspondence between Niels Bohr and his immediate family, and uses it to describe and analyze the psychological and cultural background to his invention of the quantum theory of the atom.