Overview

Sonar to Quartz Clock examines how the unapplied phenomenon of piezoelectricity became applied for technologies such as sonar, crystal frequency control, the quartz clock, and how its research has consequently changed during WWI and the interwar period. It aims at reconstructing, for the first time, the fascinating history of the inventions and the development of these highly important technologies, which are still in extensive use, and which were crucial for the electronic revolution, arguably the most important technological developments of the twentieth century. On this basis, this book suggests a better and more nuanced understanding of the relationships between modern science and technology and the process of development and innovation of science-based technologies. It examines in particular the mutual transfer and transformation of knowledge between them including the way physics becomes practically applicable, the way applications and societal interests shape technology and science, and the differences and similarities between scientific and technological research. The book presents an in-depth analysis of the scientific and technological research and development in the field, and of the evolution of their experimental, theoretical, and technical aspects within their social military and commercial contexts. It offers an integrative history of science and technology, needed to better comprehend their interactions and evolution but rare in current historiography. This book will appeal to historians of science and technology, sociologists of science and generally scientists and engineers studying or working with piezoelectricity, ultrasound devices, and crystal frequency control.

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9780198878735

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Reviews

Covers an extremely rich case of interplay between science and technology, and greatly contributes to correcting the common prejudice that relativity and quantum physics were the sole important innovations of the early twentieth century. * Olivier Darrigol, University Paris-Diderot * Examines in fascinating detail how the phenomenon of piezoelectricity was transformed from so-called pure physics to technically useful devices. Clearly written and well structured, and of high scholarly quality. * Helge Kragh, Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen * A fresh and insightful approach to the ways in which physics, technology, and innovation are entangled. * Gisela Mateos, UNAM, Mexico City * Provides a substantial case study that casts new light on the scholarship of the science-technology relationship and uses some of its major findings to further the understanding of the process of technological innovations. * Chen-Pang Yeang, University of Toronto *

Author Information

Professor Shaul Katzir is the director of the Cohn Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas at Tel Aviv University, Israel. His scholarly interests range from ancient Greek science to twentieth century physics and technology. He has published extensively on the history of the physical sciences, connected technologies and their interactions in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in leading venues. Katzir earned an MA (1996) and a PhD (2003) at Tel Aviv University. Before returning to his alma matter he was fellow of (among others) the Hebrew University, the Humboldt Foundation, the European Research Council, and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, where he is a regular visitor.

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