In Search of the Ultimate Building Blocks

by Gerard 't Hooft

From 1960 until 1990 theoretical physicists and experimentalists worked together to probe deeper and deeper into the basic structure of matter, moving closer to an understanding of the ultimate building blocks of the universe. Gerard 't Hooft was closely involved in many of the advances in modern theoretical physics that led to improved understanding of elementary particles, and this is a first-hand account of one of the most creative and exciting periods of discovery in the history of physics. Using language a layperson can understand, this narrative touches on many central topics and ideas, such as quarks and quantum physics; supergravity, superstrings and superconductivity; the Standard Model and grand unification; eleven-dimensional space time and black holes. This fascinating personal account of the past thirty years in one of the most dramatic areas in twentieth-century physics will be of interest to professional physicists and physics students, as well as the educated general reader with an interest in one of the most exciting scientific detective stories ever.

Genres: Science, Physics, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Gerard 't Hooft Professor at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. Shared 1999 Nobel Prize in Physics

Reviews

[Cherisa B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hard but interesting read surveying the variety and discovery of the tiniest particles. I feel i have an understanding now of the importance of The Standard Model for physicists, and something of its elegance, but it doesn't blow my mind the way the Periodic Table does.

3 and 1/2 stars.
Nobel laureate, Physics 1999.

[Bradač · Rating 4 out of 5]

super interesante !! ... por los físicos graduados ✊

[José Uría · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magnífico libro de divulgación para todos los públicos por parte de uno de los mayores expertos en el campo. Lo mejor, su tratamiento de la explicación del mecanismo de Higgs, así como las partes más próximas a las contribuciones del autor al desarrollo del modelo estándar de partículas. Lo peor, lo corto que es, porque se disfruta un montón con su lectura.

[Viencienta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy bueno para refrescar conceptos olvidados o perdidos. Muy ameno y entretenido.

[Jorge Galindo · Rating 4 out of 5]

El universo de lo infinitamente pequeño explicado de forma sencilla es fácil de asimilar y entender. No se necesita ser físico o matematico aunque hay formulas y ecuaciones, se pueden saltar sin afectar el contenido.

[Aeo]

Libro por y para expertos en física de partículas. Desarrolla de forma no demasiado amena los avances que se han ido produciendo en las teorías que rigen el mundo subatómico pero necesitas una base muy fuerte (cuando digo muy fuerte quiero decir muy fuerte...) de ciertos conocimientos. En mi caso fue pronto cuando perdí el hilo del asunto y puedo decir, con cierta frustración y resignación que habré entendido un 10-15% de lo que nos cuenta este autor.

Creo que para los entendidos en este campo puede ser un buen recorrido por las teorías que se fueron desarrollando y por los nombres célebres que han ido consiguiendo grandes logros en este ámbito hasta llegar al estado actual de la física de partículas.

No me atrevo ni a puntuarlo, no me siento cualificado...

[Joseph Schrock · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a non-physicist such as myself, this book proved to be a bit tough reading. I enjoy learning about the wondrous mysteries in the ultimate "building blocks" of the universe.

I regard 't Hooft's book as a fairly in-depth discussion and analysis of the currently known particles that comprise matter and energy, such as we understand them. I would recommend this book to a general reader who desires to learn about the highly technical properties of matter and energy. It is, though, NOT light reading.

[Jovany Agathe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy 76th birthday to Gerardus 't Hooft, awarded the 1999 Physics Prize for "for elucidating the quantum structure of electroweak interactions in physics."
Read his biography: https://bit.ly/2MNTI5B

[Xinliang Lyu · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is good for people who are familiar with modern physics, like a PhD student like me, to learn the history of modern particle physics. I feel the book would be difficult to understand for general audience. Personally, the book gives me a big picture for understanding particle physics.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, provides some good backstory to the physicists involved while remaining focused on the science.

[Şeyma Şen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parçacık fiziği ile ilgili şimdiye kadar okuduğum en iyi kitap. Cümlelerin birden fazla kez tekrarlanması ve notlar alınması gerekiyor ki bu da adettendir.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerard 't Hooft çok çok ünlü ve başarılı bir fizikçi. Bu kitabında kuantum fiziğini, evreni ve süpersicim kuramını "layman" terimleriyle anlatıyor. Bazen kendini tutamayıp çok fazla ayrıntıya girse de genel olarak evrenle ilgili güzel bir resim çıkarıyor. Belki bu kitabı okumadan önce BBC'nin ATOM belgeselini izlemekte fayda var, yoksa çok sakil kalabilir.

[Julian Mendivelso Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro cuenta de manera muy amena la historia de la física del siglo XX, la belleza de los descubrimientos es algo que el autor cuenta como parte de su vida. Una forma muy humana de explicar física de partículas.
Aún así, es un libro muy técnico, no apto para gente que no esté adentrada en el mundo de la física de lo pequeño.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Niet alles is als leek te volgen, maar geweldig om je te vergapen aan de wetenschappelijke prestaties en het opgedane inzicht!