Die Physik der Atomkerne (Die Wissenschaft, 100)

by Werner Heisenberg

Im Fruhjahr des Jahres 1942 hatte ich auf Einladung des Verbandes Deutscher Elektrotechniker in der Technischen Hoch schule Charlottenburg acht Vortrage uber die Physik der Atom kerne zu halten. Zu einer nachtraglichen genaueren Ausarbei tung liessen mir andere dringende Aufgaben keine Zeit. Da erbot sich freundlicherweise der Herausgeber dieser Sammlung, Pro fessor Westphal, den Text der Vortrage nach dem aufgenom menen Stenogramm und auf Grund der Vorarbeiten von Frau Dr. Jorges auszuarbeiten und seine gross. e Erfahrung in der all gemeinverstandlichen Darstellung physikalischer Gedanken gange in den Dienst dieses Buches zu stellen. Das so entstandene Buchlein ist, ebenso wie die acht Vor trage, fur naturwissenschaftlich interessierte Leser bestimmt, die keine theoretisch-physikalische Fachausbildung hinter sich haben, die aber doch ein gewisses Verstandnis fur physikalische Begriffsbildungen mitbringen. Auf den Wunsch des Verbandes Deutscher Elektrotechniker ist eine kurze Geschichte der Atom physik und eine allgemeine Ubersicht uber die heutigen Kennt nisse vom Atombau der eigentlichen Kernphysik vorangestellt worden. Ein wirkliches Verstandnis der Atomphysik ist aUs einer derartigen Ubersicht naturlich nicht zu gewinnen, aber vielleicht genugt der Uberblick doch als Grundlage fur ein Ver standnis der folgenden Vortrage uber Kernphysik. Bei der Dar stellung der Kernphysik bin ich von anderen allgemeinverstand lichen Darstellungen dieses Gebietes insofern abgewichen, als ich mich bemuht habe, die Theorie der Vorgange im Atomkern in den Vordergrund zu stellen und die praktischen Anwendungen erst am Schluss zu besprechen."

Genres: Science, Physics, Nonfiction, History

186 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

Werner Heisenberg (AKA W. Heisenberg) was a German theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to quantum mechanics and is best known for asserting the uncertainty principle of quantum theory. In addition, he made important contributions to nuclear physics, quantum field theory, and particle physics.

He won the 1932 Nobel prize in physics "for the creation of quantum mechanics, the application of which has, inter alia, led to the discovery of the allotropic forms of hydrogen".

Reviews

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a walk down memory lane for me. The author, creator of the uncertainty principle, writing 65 years ago when I was in high school physics, gives an overview of that which was known about nuclear physics before the construction of the really giant accelerators of today.
The annoying thing today is our discovery that we are only even aware of just 5% of the matter and energy comprising our universe. The dark mater and dark energy are the big deal now.
I certainly despair that I will not live to learn anything about the 95%.

[Kyle Gumm · Rating 3 out of 5]

To begin with, this review does not reflect the work in this book. I read this book because I got it for free, and I can appreciate how well-written and informative it was. However, I know nothing about physics and am not that interested in it (I also don’t read much in this genre), so the book just wasn’t for me. I had no clue what the author was talking about more than half the time.

[Trent Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the science has developed significantly since when this book was published, it still provides a very accessible introduction to the early foundations of nuclear physics, and the history of its development.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read that gives a historical overview of nuclear physics from the perspective of the mid 20th century. If you would like a good, but dated overview this will work, and while you won't have the full story of the nucleus, the historical way of looking at things is interesting to see.

[Neermukta Rathore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book

[Jess SQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Perfect refresher for preparing to take Atomic Physics at my Institute this spring.

[Lee Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, it gave a very good introduction to nuclear physics and went into sufficient detail on the aspect of nuclear transmutations of elements. It is also interspersed with a nice run down of the history of nuclear physics and an appendix briefly outlining the German war effort to create a nuclear pile. Being dated in the 50's this book obviously pre-dates the discovery of quarks but does mention the nuclear forces and that there must be some reason for them.

[Arman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good introduction to nuclear physics as it contains a lot of clear explanations by Werner Heisenberg for the few main equations and ideas of the subject at its early years.I recommend it to everyone as a beginning step.