Lectures on Theoretical Physics: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:17, 2 December 2020

Revision as of 04:35, 2 December 2020

Line 22:

== Background ==

Sommerfeld was a well known German theoretical physicist who played a major role in developing [[old quantum theory]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sommerfeld|first=A.|last2=Bopp|first2=F.|date=1951-01-26|title=Fifty Years of Quantum Theory|url=https://science.sciencemag.org/content/113/2926/85|journal=Science|language=en|volume=113|issue=2926|pages=85–92|doi=10.1126/science.113.2926.85|issn=0036-8075|pmid=17808940}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Born|1952|pages=282–283}}</ref> He was renowned as a great teacher of theoretical physics in the early 20th century.<ref>{{harvnb|Eckert|2013|p=420, 433|ps="Planck was the authority, Einstein the genius, and Sommerfeld the teacher"}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Born|1952|pages=275, 286,287}}</ref><ref name=PeierlsMulti /><ref name=Hermann /> [[Wolfgang Pauli]] wrote in 1951 that Sommerfeld was "the epitome of the scholar and the teacher".<ref>{{harvnb|Eckert|2013|p=420}}</ref> Another physicist, summarizing "the roles of the most important exponents of theoretical physics in its 'golden age'",<ref>{{harvnb|Eckert|2013|p=433}}</ref> wrote that "Planck was the authority, Einstein the genius, and Sommerfeld the teacher" in a 1973 biography of [[Max Planck]].<ref name=Hermann>{{Cite book|last=Hermann|first=Armin|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/max-planck-mit-selbstzeugnissen-und-bilddokumenten/oclc/1073826264&referer=brief_results|title=Max Planck mit Selbstzeugnissen und Bilddokumenten|date=2017|page=56|isbn=978-3-499-50198-2|language=German|oclc=1073826264}}</ref> The textbooks, originally published in German, were based on series of his lectures, which were made to be self-consistent within each section, at the [[University of Munich]] that ran over a three-year cycle.<ref name=PeierlsMulti /> In addition to specialized classes, The set of lectures presented by the book represent Sommerfeld's standard introductory courses in physics that he gave in Munich, with each subject taught over one semester for a total of three years.<ref name=Born286>{{harvnb|Born|1952|pages=286}}</ref> In addition to his normal lectures, Sommerfeld also specialized courses as well, included courses in [[atomic physics]] that form the subject of another of his books: ''[[Atomic structureStructure and spectralSpectral linesLines]]'', which was published in 1919.<ref name=Born286 /> The world-famous textbook is known as the "Bible of atomic physics".<ref>{{harvnb|Eckert|2013|p=xi}}</ref> His other previous works included another lecture series titled ''Three lectures on atomic physics'', which was published in 1926 by [[Methuen Publishing]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=L.e.p.|date=1 June 1928|title=Three lectures on atomic physics: By Arnold Sommerfeld, F.R.S., Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Munich, translated by Dr. Henry L. Brose. 70 pages, 18 × 12 cm., cloth. New York, E. P. Dutton and Company. Price, $1|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016003228912831|journal=Journal of the Franklin Institute|language=en|volume=205|issue=6|pages=898–899|doi=10.1016/S0016-0032(28)91283-1|issn=0016-0032}}</ref> He had also edited the book series ''Die Theorie des Kreisels'', which was based on a set of lectures given by his mentor [[Felix Klein]].<ref>{{harvnb|Born|1952|pages=278}}</ref>

== Volumes ==