Michel Janssen Livres

This volume is the first systematic presentation of the work of Albert Einstein, comprised of fourteen essays by leading historians and philosophers of science that introduce readers to his work. Following an introduction that places Einstein's work in the context of his life and times, the book opens with essays on the papers of Einstein's “miracle year,” 1905, covering Brownian motion, light quanta, and special relativity, as well as his contributions to early quantum theory and the opposition to his light quantum hypothesis. Further essays relate Einstein's path to the general theory of relativity (1915) and the beginnings of two fields it spawned, relativistic cosmology and gravitational waves. Essays on Einstein's later years examine his unified field theory program and his critique of quantum mechanics. The closing essays explore the relation between Einstein's work and twentieth-century philosophy, as well as his political writings.

The book delves into the development of Einstein's field equations of gravitation, pivotal to his general theory of relativity. It features an introductory essay that contextualizes four influential papers presented to the Prussian Academy of Sciences in November 1915, which address Mercury's perihelion anomaly. Through critical excerpts from various sources, it traces Einstein's intellectual journey, highlighting significant collaborations, particularly with mathematician Marcel Grossmann and confidant Michele Besso. This volume offers an in-depth exploration of the interplay between physics and mathematics in Einstein's groundbreaking work.

Focusing on the transformative period between 1923 and 1927, this volume explores the evolution from classical to modern quantum mechanics. It delves into the pivotal developments and key figures that shaped the field during this crucial time in scientific history, offering insights into the groundbreaking ideas that emerged and their lasting impact on physics.