Overview

Aus Paulis letztem Lebensjahrzehnt sind uber 2000 Briefe erhalten und in diesem grundlegenden Werk zur Physikgeschichte der Nachkriegszeit zusammengefabt. Neben der Physik wird hier auch der allgemeinere geistesgeschichtliche Hintergrund unserer Naturwissenschaft beleuchtet. Dieser Teilband enthalt wissenschaftliche Korrespondez uber grundlegende und andere allgemeine Fragen der Physik der 50er Jahre: Elementarteilchen, Erkenntnistheorie und Quantenfeldtheorie. Im besonderen wird hier die Geschichte der fruhen Quantenfeldtheorie beleuchtet. Die reich annotierten und kommentierten Briefe sind chronologisch angeordnet und durch Verzeichnisse und Register erschlossen. From the last decade of Paulis life, more than 2000 of his letters have survived. Together they represent a remarkable contribution to the history of post-war physics. In addition to discussing questions of physics they provide illuminating insights into debates on the philosophical and human components of the history of science. This part of Volume IV contains scientific correspondence on foundational and other general problems of physics in the 1950s: elementary particles, epistemology, and quantum field theory. In particular, one can clearly trace the development of the early quantum field theory. Generous annotations and commentary accompany the letters, which are ordered chronologically and listed in registers and an index for easy access.

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<p> The volume is exemplary documented and annotated. It makes up an essential source not only for the history of theoretical physics but also for the history of twentieth-century culture in general. (H. Kragh, Centaurus, 2000)<p> The correspondence offers comprehensive insight into the state of the theoretical concepts of quantum field theory before the introduction of the theory of electro-weak interaction and immediately before the proof of parity non-conservation during radioactive decay. In retrospect, the discussions between Pauli and Heisenberg, which initially appeared to lead to a joint unification formula, are an important chapter in the history of physics. (Mathematical Reviews 2001h)

The volume is exemplary documented and annotated. It makes up an essential source not only for the history of theoretical physics but also for the history of twentieth-century culture in general. (H. Kragh, Centaurus, 2000) <p> The correspondence offers comprehensive insight into the state of the theoretical concepts of quantum field theory before the introduction of the theory of electro-weak interaction and immediately before the proof of parity non-conservation during radioactive decay. In retrospect, the discussions between Pauli and Heisenberg, which initially appeared to lead to a joint unification formula, are an important chapter in the history of physics. (Mathematical Reviews 2001h)

The volume is exemplary documented and annotated. It makes up an essential source not only for the history of theoretical physics but also for the history of twentieth-century culture in general. (H. Kragh, Centaurus, 2000) The correspondence offers comprehensive insight into the state of the theoretical concepts of quantum field theory before the introduction of the theory of electro-weak interaction and immediately before the proof of parity non-conservation during radioactive decay. In retrospect, the discussions between Pauli and Heisenberg, which initially appeared to lead to a joint unification formula, are an important chapter in the history of physics. (Mathematical Reviews 2001h)

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