John M. Ziman Livres

Unlike most other similar books, this systematic, carefully reasoned, non-technical analysis of the nature and significance of scientific knowledge opens the way to reconciliation in the 'science wars'. By describing how academic scientists actually undertake research and communicate their findings, it shows that the philosophy, psychology and sociology of science are inextricably entwined, and that 'realism' and 'relativism' are just two sides of the same coin. The writing is well-informed, down-to-earth and lucid.

This study of the theory of electrical and thermal conduction in metals, semiconductors, and insulators is written at a level appropriate to graduate students and research workers and assumes some knowledge of wave mechanics in its reader. The basic ideas of crystal lattice dynamics, electron zone structure, and transport theory are developed from first principles, and formulae for the macroscopic coefficients are deduced by self-contained mathematical arguments. Interpretation in terms of electronic structure, chemical purity, crystal structure, and crystal perfection is emphasized as a tool for further investigation but detailed discussion of individual means or alloys is avoided.