Review
Review of the hardback: ‘This is an excellent book for its declared purpose of providing collateral reading at the Physics World level to those who already have a background in modern physics. There is more than enough here to allow the electron to consider its birthday suitably celebrated.’ P. W. Anderson, Times Higher Education Supplement
Review of the hardback: ‘… this is a fine birthday tribute to the electron, and a good starting point for physicists wishing to delve a little deeper into a field of study adjacent to their own.’ Jonathan Butterworth, New Scientist
Review of the hardback: ‘Each chapter is a fascinating story in its own right.’ E. E. Davis, The Observatory
Review of the hardback: ‘This is an impressive and attractive book and has been very well produced by Cambridge University Press.’ Contemporary Physics
Product Description
This book marks the centenary of the discovery of the electron by J. J. Thomson in 1897, an event which occurred at a great turning point in the history of scientific ideas, and the impact of which on the development of science in the twentieth century has been profound. The electron was the first elementary particle to be discovered. It sets the basic scales of energy and length in chemistry and materials science, and its ubiquitous presence to drive electrical and electronic devices in everyday life is familiar to everyone. In this book the discussion moves from the historical context of the discovery of the electron and its basic properties, to the Dirac equation, bonding in condensed matter, Fermi and non-Fermi liquids, quantum order, superconductivity, heavy, coherent and composite electrons, and the role of the electron in the cosmos, with each chapter written by a prominent figure in the field.
