Description
The Untold Story of Einstein's Greatest — and Most Overlooked — Contribution to Science.
Einstein and the Quantum: The Quest of the Valiant Swabian by A. Douglas Stone (Yale University) reveals for the first time the full significance of Albert Einstein's contributions to quantum theory — a story more surprising, more profound, and more consequential than even his celebrated work on relativity.
Einstein famously declared that "God does not play dice." Yet in reality, he thought more deeply about atoms, molecules, and the emission and absorption of light — the very core of quantum theory — than he ever did about relativity. This compelling blend of physics, biography, and the history of science shows how Einstein — not Max Planck or Niels Bohr — was the true driving force behind early quantum theory.
What You'll Discover:
- How Einstein's work on light, atoms, and energy laid the groundwork for modern quantum mechanics
- How his research directly inspired Erwin Schrödinger's breakthrough formulation of wave mechanics
- Why Einstein ultimately renounced his own quantum discoveries — and what that reveals about his philosophy of science
- The fascinating tension between Einstein's belief in an objective, eternal universe and the probabilistic nature of the quantum world
- A vivid portrait of Einstein grappling with the particle-wave duality at the heart of atomic physics
What the Experts Are Saying: "Stone argues convincingly that Einstein had a profound impact on the development of quantum theory... bound to be a definitive history of the subject." — Brian Greene, author of The Elegant Universe
"Stone shows how absolutely instrumental Einstein was in its development. It's a wonderful story that reveals the essence of Einstein's genius." — Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein: His Life and Universe
Accessible to both working physicists and curious non-scientists, Einstein and the Quantum is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand one of the most startling advances in twentieth-century science.
344 Pages | Paperback | Published October 2015
