Let there be light
Subtitle: the story of light from atoms to galaxies
By: Alex Montwill & Ann Breslin
Contributors: Breslin, Ann
Publisher: Imperial College Press; Distributed by World Scientific Pub. Co.
Published: 2008
Place of publication: London; Singapore; Hackensack, NJ
Language: eng
Number of pages: 595
ISBN-13: 9781860948503; 9781848163287
Description: "This book is the first of its kind to devote itself at this level to the key role played by light and electromagnetic radiation in the universe. Readers are introduced to philosophical hypotheses such as the economy, symmetry, and universality of natural laws, and are then guided to practical consequences such as the rules of geometrical optics and even Einstein's well-known but mysterious relationship, E = mc[superscript 2]. Most chapters feature a pen picture of the life and character of a relevant scientific figure. These "Historical Interludes" include, among others, Galileo's conflicts with the Inquisition, Fourier's taunting of the guillotine, Neils Bohr and World War II, and the unique character of Richard Feynman."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introducing light; title: Geometrical optics : reflection; title: Geometric optics : refraction; title: Light from afar : astronomy; title: Light from the past : astrophysics; title: Introducing waves; title: Sound waves; title: Light as a wave; title: Making images; title: There was electricity, there was magneticism, and then there was light; title: 'Atoms of light' : the birth of quantum theory; title: The development of quantum mechanics; title: Atoms of light acting as particles; title: Atoms of light behaving as waves; title: Relativity part 1 : how it began; title: Relativity part 2 : verifiable predictions; title: Epilogue.