Atoms, Mechanics, and Probability: Ludwig Boltzmann's Statistico-Mechanical Writings - An Exegesis

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Olivier Darrigol (Research Director, Research Director, Centre National de la Recherce Scientifique: SPHERE)

Atoms, Mechanics, and Probability

Ludwig Boltzmann's Statistico-Mechanical Writings - An Exegesis

Olivier Darrigol (Research Director, Research Director, Centre National de la Recherce Scientifique: SPHERE)

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English

Oxford University Press
08 March 2018

Philosophy of science; History of science; Atomic & molecular physics; Statistical physics

One of the pillars of modern science, statistical mechanics, owes much to one man, the Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann (1844-1906). As a result of his unusual working and writing styles, his enormous contribution remains little read and poorly understood. The purpose of this book is to make the Boltzmann corpus more accessible to physicists, philosophers, and historians, and so give it new life. The means are introductory biographical and historical materials, detailed and lucid summaries of every relevant publication, and a final chapter of critical synthesis.

Special attention is given to Boltzmann's theoretical tool-box and to his patient construction of lofty formal systems even before their full conceptual import could be known. This constructive tendency largely accounts for his lengthy style, for the abundance of new constructions, for the relative vagueness of their object--and for the puzzlement of commentators. This book will help the reader cross the stylistic barrier and see how ingeniously Boltzmann combined atoms, mechanics, and probability to invent new bridges between the micro- and macro-worlds.

By: Olivier Darrigol (Research Director Research Director Centre National de la Recherce Scientifique: SPHERE)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 248mm, Width: 177mm, Spine: 37mm
Weight: 1.328kg
ISBN: 9780198816171
ISBN 10: 0198816170
Pages: 640
Publication Date: 08 March 2018
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Olivier Darrigol studied physics at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, the history and philosophy of physics at the Sorbonne and at UC-Berkeley's Office for History of Science and Technology (OHST). He is the author of several books on the history of quantum physics, electrodynamics, hydrodynamics, and optics. He is currently a member of the SPHere research team at CNRS/Paris 7, and a Research Associate at UC-Berkeley's OHST.

Reviews for Atoms, Mechanics, and Probability: Ludwig Boltzmann's Statistico-Mechanical Writings - An Exegesis

The text is well written, clear and supported by black-and-white figures and historical footnotes. This book can be fully recommended to anyone with some background in mathematics and physics who is interested in the course of the discussion that led to modern statistical mechanics. It is also a good read for those interested in Boltzmann as a scientist and those who have a more general interest in the science of the period. * Manuel Vogel, Contemporary Physics *