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Elementary Particles and the Laws of Physics: The 1986 Dirac Memorial Lectures
Developing a theory that seamlessly combines relativity and quantum mechanics, the most important conceptual breakthroughs in twentieth century physics, has proved to be a difficult and ongoing challenge. This book details how two distinguished physicists and Nobel laureates have explored this theme in two lectures given in Cambridge, England, in 1986 to commemorate the famous British physicist Paul Dirac. Given for nonspecialists and undergraduates, the talks transcribed in Elementary Particles and the Laws of Physics focus on the fundamental problems of physics and the present state of our knowledge. Professor Feynman examines the nature of antiparticles, and in particular the relationship between quantum spin and statistics. Professor Weinberg speculates on how Einstein's theory of gravitation might be reconciled with quantum theory in the final law of physics. Highly accessible, deeply thought provoking, this book will appeal to all those interested in the development of modern physics.
110 pages, Paperback
Published July 13, 2007
38 people are currently reading
879 people want to read
About the author
Richard P. Feynman
258 books6,633 followersRichard Phillips Feynman was an American physicist known for the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, the theory of quantum electrodynamics and the physics of the superfluidity of supercooled liquid helium, as well as work in particle physics (he proposed the parton model). For his contributions to the development of quantum electrodynamics, Feynman was a joint recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965, together with Julian Schwinger and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga. Feynman developed a widely used pictorial representation scheme for the mathematical expressions governing the behavior of subatomic particles, which later became known as Feynman diagrams. During his lifetime and after his death, Feynman became one of the most publicly known scientists in the world.
He assisted in the development of the atomic bomb and was a member of the panel that investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. In addition to his work in theoretical physics, Feynman has been credited with pioneering the field of quantum computing, and introducing the concept of nanotechnology (creation of devices at the molecular scale). He held the Richard Chace Tolman professorship in theoretical physics at Caltech.
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See Ричард Фейнман
He assisted in the development of the atomic bomb and was a member of the panel that investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. In addition to his work in theoretical physics, Feynman has been credited with pioneering the field of quantum computing, and introducing the concept of nanotechnology (creation of devices at the molecular scale). He held the Richard Chace Tolman professorship in theoretical physics at Caltech.
-wikipedia
See Ричард Фейнман
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October 13, 2022AMP Library QC793.28 F49 1987
March 24, 2009
While I am overtly fond of anything Feynman wrote, these two essays with Steven Weinberg, also a Nobel laureate, demonstrate Feynman’s ability to make very complicated issues, especially that concerning quantum mechanics, seem very clear. Indeed, these are so incredibly lucid that for the first time one does not have to be a theoretical physicist to appreciate the difficulty under which physicists have labored for an entire century.
With that said, anyone reading this should have a moderate background in Calculus and Physics. By this I mean the reader must realize that Schrodinger is not a character from a Peanuts comic strip. Feynman does bring out the math early. However, other than that, a layman can read both these lectures, although you will probably need to read it several times. Still, this essay seems to spark the imagination so that one wants to come back and read this, grasping at these very difficult concepts.
While no one can make statistics seem like fun, Feynman talks about first, antiparticles and second the statistics related to quantum spin. However he does this in a way in which you actually not only stay awake but you actually pay attention. For some reason, he is able to create an image in the mind by which we can grasp the most complicated of issues. Still one finishes with his or her head spinning (pun intended) while considering that causality may have a very different notion in quantum mechanics. I am convinced that after reading this lecture, one could, knowing very little else about quantum physics, be able to hold a reasonable conversation about the subject with moderate experts in the field.
As an aside, I still regard Feynman’s books on college physics to be the best explanations of basic physical principles... and these books were written for people who were just satisfying a college science requirement! Feynman actually insisted on teaching this course to non- science majors! Still I have had professional scientists tell me that these books explained principles that, after reading them, they understood for the first time.
Weinberg talks of the theory in order to merge the issue of quantum physics and Einsteinian concepts of gravity. I confess that while I found his essay interesting, I was much less enthralled by these possibilities than I was the Feynman essay. For the most part, Weinberg talks about a kind of unification which seems to have remarkable barriers to its completion and, because of this, it was difficult to understand how beneficial his theory really is. The math requirement is somewhat less stringent, but different: one should realize that Lagrange action principle plays a part, although I doubt one needs to take a course in differential equations to understand what Weinberg means. This lecture, which is deceptively elegant as a theory, is also a good introduction to the need for string theory.
With that said, anyone reading this should have a moderate background in Calculus and Physics. By this I mean the reader must realize that Schrodinger is not a character from a Peanuts comic strip. Feynman does bring out the math early. However, other than that, a layman can read both these lectures, although you will probably need to read it several times. Still, this essay seems to spark the imagination so that one wants to come back and read this, grasping at these very difficult concepts.
While no one can make statistics seem like fun, Feynman talks about first, antiparticles and second the statistics related to quantum spin. However he does this in a way in which you actually not only stay awake but you actually pay attention. For some reason, he is able to create an image in the mind by which we can grasp the most complicated of issues. Still one finishes with his or her head spinning (pun intended) while considering that causality may have a very different notion in quantum mechanics. I am convinced that after reading this lecture, one could, knowing very little else about quantum physics, be able to hold a reasonable conversation about the subject with moderate experts in the field.
As an aside, I still regard Feynman’s books on college physics to be the best explanations of basic physical principles... and these books were written for people who were just satisfying a college science requirement! Feynman actually insisted on teaching this course to non- science majors! Still I have had professional scientists tell me that these books explained principles that, after reading them, they understood for the first time.
Weinberg talks of the theory in order to merge the issue of quantum physics and Einsteinian concepts of gravity. I confess that while I found his essay interesting, I was much less enthralled by these possibilities than I was the Feynman essay. For the most part, Weinberg talks about a kind of unification which seems to have remarkable barriers to its completion and, because of this, it was difficult to understand how beneficial his theory really is. The math requirement is somewhat less stringent, but different: one should realize that Lagrange action principle plays a part, although I doubt one needs to take a course in differential equations to understand what Weinberg means. This lecture, which is deceptively elegant as a theory, is also a good introduction to the need for string theory.
June 19, 2021
Not easy pieces. Note that the book mentions "lectures", so, the book contains both Feynman and Weinberg lectures.
Feynman talks about the reason for antiparticles and Bose and Fermi statistics, and this is math beyond common people understanding. So, there are equations in this book, a lot. Feynman is awesome, he talks a lot, explains a lot, and he's sarcastic... If he lived up to this day, in a world where saying certain words leads you to jail, he'd probably be in it, just for expressing himself.
Weinberg takes the other half of the book, and due to the fact that in this part there are less equations, its easier to digest. Weinberg's part is about the quest or dream for a final theory, and explaining the problems concerning the unification of relativity and quantum mechanics.
Everything is explained, using mathematical mechanisms developed by Paul Dirac himself. Simply beautiful.
Feynman talks about the reason for antiparticles and Bose and Fermi statistics, and this is math beyond common people understanding. So, there are equations in this book, a lot. Feynman is awesome, he talks a lot, explains a lot, and he's sarcastic... If he lived up to this day, in a world where saying certain words leads you to jail, he'd probably be in it, just for expressing himself.
Weinberg takes the other half of the book, and due to the fact that in this part there are less equations, its easier to digest. Weinberg's part is about the quest or dream for a final theory, and explaining the problems concerning the unification of relativity and quantum mechanics.
Everything is explained, using mathematical mechanisms developed by Paul Dirac himself. Simply beautiful.
December 25, 2010
After Paul Dirac died, Cambridge University endowed an annual lecture in his memory; Richard Feynman gave the first lecture, and Steven Weinberg the second. Weinberg doesn't tell anything that countless other popular books on elementary particles and quantum field theory don't tell, but Feynman actually derives many results connected to Dirac's life work: the CPT symmetry theorem, the reason there must be antiparticles, the spin-statistics theorem, magnetic monopoles causing the quantization of charge, and the statistics of magnetic monopole - electric charge objects. The proof that the presence of a single magnetic monopole causes electric charge to be quantized everywhere in the Universe is one of the weirdest things I've ever read.
December 23, 2011
Jealousy it the virus that I am never able to cure, only temper. Cooking under other insecurities, it tends to explode whenever it finds more greatness to leech from. When I read a book like this one, I am jealous of men who seem to have a direct line to God while I am simply too stupid to even get put on hold. The Way Things Work comes as naturally to them as breathing, so that when I read their words I get a glimpse of what it feels like to breathe as they do, only to have the sensation slip away afterwards, leaving just enough desperation as I pretend to myself that my lack of intelligence can be made up by just a couple of hours in the library.
It never works. =/
It never works. =/
December 18, 2018
Nice and concise book. You can learn something from it despite its brevity, though you probably need to know enough of some concepts such as propagator.
September 28, 2022
Excellent book, but mostly far beyond me, mathematically. This is aimed at grad students who study particle physics, so I could barely keep up. I did better with the second lecture as it wasn't math heavy, but most of Feynman's lecture went over my head. If I hadn't just read his much simplified version in QED, I would have been completely lost (instead of just MOSTLY lost).
Still, a great book, but probably greater if you could understand the math.
Still, a great book, but probably greater if you could understand the math.
March 26, 2016
Duzey biraz ileri... Oncesinde Feynman"in "Fizik Yasalari Uzerine", "Alti Kolay Parca" ve "Alti Zor Parca"sini okumakta fayda var...
October 29, 2021
Here we have two of the greatest modern physicists giving their take on special topics in physics. Richard Feynman lectures us on antimatter and Weinberg wants us to contemplate the possibility of a Theory of Everything. Feynman's lecture is very technical and if you want to follow it, you'll need advanced calculus and undergraduate quantum theory in your toolkit. Weinberg's lecture is less technical, but if you want to completely follow it, the same applies. Beware of the fact that he puts a lot of faith in the "promise" of String Theory, and we know how that has played out in the last 50 years. Face it children; you will never fully grasp 99% of physics if you can't do the math. You can admire it. You can be thrilled by it. However, without math, it's all look and no touch. Anyway, it's a real privilege to even read such historical literature whether or not you fully grasp it, because you get a glimpse of how the wheels turn in these great minds. Even if you can't do high school algebra, it's worth the read. Just don't go thinking that you're suddenly qualified to overturn Einstein because you did. I only say, because I actually know people who think that they will produce the next revolution in physics when they know only enough to make themselves believe that they can. It's called the Dunning-Kruger effect.
March 10, 2019
Perhaps the Russian translation of this book is not very good, but overall explanation is very messy. Exposition around Fig.9C which is supposed to be very intuitive, in a Russian translation is a complete mess, just making it way more confusing that it is.
Perhaps reading the original will help improving this score.
Perhaps reading the original will help improving this score.
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July 17, 2019Cannot rate this book because so much went over my head. I think it was an interesting way to force myself into a topic beyond myself. I tried to figure out whatever I could and enjoyed that experience.
May 3, 2020
These are Feynman and Weinburg’s lectures on theoretical physics - if you have a solid background in physics and calculus I’m sure this would be a great read but for someone who only knows surface level theoretical physics this was hard to follow. Not meant for the general public.
May 29, 2017
Way, way, way, WAY over my head. But the parts I could kinda (sorta) grasp were fascinating. Short and well worth reading.
March 8, 2020
A true joy to read Feynman.
August 15, 2023
4 Stars: It’s difficult to review a set of lectures, but these are good. Technical, but overarching in an exciting way.
February 1, 2024
Feynman's lecture - the first half of the book - is spectacular! A fantastic explanation of the spin-statistics theorem.
February 20, 2014
Summary of Paul Dirac Memorial Lectures
This book is a summary of 1986 Paul Dirac memorial lectures delivered by physicists, Richard Feynman and Steven Weinberg. This book requires the knowledge of undergraduate level physics and perturbation theory, and it is described in two chapters; the first is by Feynman under the title "The reason for antiparticle." This section describes the first attempt of Dirac in 1928 to "wed" newly discovered quantum mechanics and theory of relativity. When relativity was included into Schrodinger's pure wave equations, the relativistic equation (Dirac equations) would only be satisfied if there were two solutions corresponding to positive and negative energy states, and in the case of the electron, an electron with a positive charge was required for negative energy state. Thus the existence of antiparticles (positron) was predicted as a direct result of combining the relativity with quantum mechanics. Paul Dirac was also able to explain the origin of the electron magnetic moment and spin. Feynman postulated one of the revolutionary thought in quantum field theory, that antiparticles could be viewed as particles going back in time. This should not be taken as a physical reality in which cause - effect sequence could be revered. Because during the Lorentz transformation the time sequence of two events gets reversed, one of them could not have been the cause of the other because the two events are outside each other's sphere of influence. In frame A, if event 1 occurs first and event 2 occurs after event 1, but in frame B, event 2 occurs before event 1. This is possible in relativity because the time ordering of two events is not an absolute concept; one event can be in the past of another event in one frame, and in its future in a different frame. An observer in frame A will see an electron before event 1, an electron between events 1 and 2, and an electron after event 2, but in frame B, he will see one electron before event 2 and only one electron after event 1.
In the second part under the title, Toward the final laws of physics, Steven Weinberg discusses the developments in physics to explain physical reality with one set of physical laws. This has lead to several unsuccessful theories to unify relativity and quantum physics, finally leading to String theory.
Paul Dirac believed that physical laws should have mathematical beauty. Both Feynman and Weinberg have made beautiful theories. Weinberg played a key role in the unification of electricity and magnetism with the weak forces of radioactivity, and Feynamn expanded the understanding of quantum electrodynamics; they were best suited to deliver the Paul Dirac memorial lectures.
This book is a summary of 1986 Paul Dirac memorial lectures delivered by physicists, Richard Feynman and Steven Weinberg. This book requires the knowledge of undergraduate level physics and perturbation theory, and it is described in two chapters; the first is by Feynman under the title "The reason for antiparticle." This section describes the first attempt of Dirac in 1928 to "wed" newly discovered quantum mechanics and theory of relativity. When relativity was included into Schrodinger's pure wave equations, the relativistic equation (Dirac equations) would only be satisfied if there were two solutions corresponding to positive and negative energy states, and in the case of the electron, an electron with a positive charge was required for negative energy state. Thus the existence of antiparticles (positron) was predicted as a direct result of combining the relativity with quantum mechanics. Paul Dirac was also able to explain the origin of the electron magnetic moment and spin. Feynman postulated one of the revolutionary thought in quantum field theory, that antiparticles could be viewed as particles going back in time. This should not be taken as a physical reality in which cause - effect sequence could be revered. Because during the Lorentz transformation the time sequence of two events gets reversed, one of them could not have been the cause of the other because the two events are outside each other's sphere of influence. In frame A, if event 1 occurs first and event 2 occurs after event 1, but in frame B, event 2 occurs before event 1. This is possible in relativity because the time ordering of two events is not an absolute concept; one event can be in the past of another event in one frame, and in its future in a different frame. An observer in frame A will see an electron before event 1, an electron between events 1 and 2, and an electron after event 2, but in frame B, he will see one electron before event 2 and only one electron after event 1.
In the second part under the title, Toward the final laws of physics, Steven Weinberg discusses the developments in physics to explain physical reality with one set of physical laws. This has lead to several unsuccessful theories to unify relativity and quantum physics, finally leading to String theory.
Paul Dirac believed that physical laws should have mathematical beauty. Both Feynman and Weinberg have made beautiful theories. Weinberg played a key role in the unification of electricity and magnetism with the weak forces of radioactivity, and Feynamn expanded the understanding of quantum electrodynamics; they were best suited to deliver the Paul Dirac memorial lectures.
October 29, 2016
I strongly recommend all mathematicians to read this tiny book —even if they are not very fond of physics— and see great mathematics in action at the hands of two such great physicists. The first lecture (by Feynman) stresses the reason for antiparticles stemming from the will to put quantum mechanics with relativity as in, let us say, Dirac’s equation.
The second lecture is by Steven Weinberg and addresses the sense of inevitability and beauty of the so-called «final laws of physics». Towards the end of his talk the emphasis is shifted from quantum mechanics to quantum field theories to (most predictably) string theory.
One big bonus of this volume is the contrast between the lecturing styles of these two giants. Highly recommendable.
The second lecture is by Steven Weinberg and addresses the sense of inevitability and beauty of the so-called «final laws of physics». Towards the end of his talk the emphasis is shifted from quantum mechanics to quantum field theories to (most predictably) string theory.
One big bonus of this volume is the contrast between the lecturing styles of these two giants. Highly recommendable.
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January 19, 2022Dirac üzerine iki konferans metninden oluşan kitabın; popüler bilim kitabı olmadığını, alanında uzmanlaşanlara hitap ettiğini söyleyebilirim. Bu nedenle kitaptan ne yazık ki ihtisas alanım olmadığından bir şey anlayamadım. Yalnızca Feynman'ın çok ağır olan metnine kıyasla Weinberg'in kuantum fiziğine dair örneklerinin ve anlatımının bizler gibi alanda uzmanlığı olmayan yalnızca güncel bilimi takip etmeye çalışan genel okura daha uygun olduğunu söyleyebilsem de onun da konuşma metninin fazla teknik olduğunu ifade edebilirim.
Bu nedenle bu kitap yalnızca alanında uzmanlaşanlara yönelik olup, genel okura hitap etmemektedir.
Bu nedenle bu kitap yalnızca alanında uzmanlaşanlara yönelik olup, genel okura hitap etmemektedir.
April 5, 2015
Great the essay by Feynman on antiparticles: it requires a lot of effort to follow, but it's how theoretical physics should be done, in my opinion.
July 11, 2018
A pleasing pamphlet by two giants of Physics. Worth reading even if some paragraphs are rather technical.
July 5, 2014
splendid
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews