No comments about Gravitational Solitons (Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics).

1 comments about Gravity's Arc: The Story of Gravity from Aristotle to Einstein and Beyond.

1. Needed a book on the history of gravity and this book did well.
   
   In the book Gravity's Arc, I found the way the relationship between the Catholic Church and the scientific community, during the middle ages, was conveyed as offensive and biased. "As Europe plunged into the Dark Ages, the only body of knowledge that was tolerated was the sterile, unchanging dogma approved by the Church. It's hard to imagine the utter rigidity of life and thought in those barren times..." (Darling 30). Because the Church had so much responsibility in every aspect of life at the time it had to be very careful about what it deemed right or not. "The Church, sensitive to Protestant charges that the Catholics did not pay proper regard to the Bible, hesitated to permit the suggestion that the literal meaning of scripture--which at times appeared to imply a motionless earth--should be set aside in order to accommodate an unproven scientific theory" (Woods 72). When Galileo began to spread the Copernican theory, this "singular and sterile body of knowledge" told Galileo "that he must cease to teach the Copernican theory as true, though he remained free to treat it as a hypothesis" (Woods 73). St. Albert the Great recognized the value in science, "The sublimest wisdom of which the world could boast flourished in Greece. Even as the Jews knew God by the scriptures, so the pagan philosophers knew Him by the natural wisdom of reason, and were debtors to Him for it by their homage. (Guillen 30).

1 comments about Loops, Knots, Gauge Theories and Quantum Gravity.

1. The search for a theory of quantum gravity has occupied the time of a large number of researchers for over half a century, but as yet there is hardly any agreement on the conceptual foundations of such a theory, and this situation is aggravated by the lack of any experimental results that would drive its construction. Such evidence is absolutely necessary, for the lack of it sometimes leads the researcher into making wild speculations, which even though they are interesting from a mathematical standpoint, cannot be distinguished from alternatives that also have no experimental foundation. This situation has not prevented researchers from trying to find a theory of quantum gravity, and some of them proceed by analogy to what is done in quantum field theories that are well understood, such as quantum electrodynamics. Other researchers, particularly those that have a sophisticated mathematical background, have chosen string theory as the best candidate for a quantum theory of gravity.
   
   As is readily apparent in the forward to this book, the authors favor the first approach, believing that quantum gauge theories, of which quantum electrodynamics is a primary example, offer the best hope for guidance in constructing a viable quantum gravity. They emphasize though a very particular aspect of these theories, namely that the requirement for gauge invariance forces one to view the "Wilson loops" as being the entities of primary importance. But more importantly, the authors assert that that Wilson loops allow one to gain information in the non-perturbative realm of quantum field theory. Calculations in non-perturbative quantum field theory are notoriously difficult, even though some progress has been made in the area of lattice gauge theories, so any insight the authors can offer in this regard is of utmost importance. Hence this book should be viewed as a study of quantum observables on the loop space. The authors hope that these observables, called `Schwinger functions' in the perturbative realm, will along with the differential equations and boundary conditions that determine them, will give a viable theory of quantum gravity.
   
   The differential geometry of gauge theories is usually done using the formalism of principal fiber bundles. Classical gauge fields are viewed as sections of these bundles, and the results of non-trivial field interactions are compared from point to point by the use of parallel transport along curves defined in the base spaces of these bundles. This comparison is done with a `connection' on the bundle, and for a closed curve the failure of an entity to return to its original value after traversing the curve is taken to be a sign of non-trivial interactions or "curvature". Principal fiber bundles of course have an associated Lie group and elements of this group act on objects to parallel transport them along the closed curves. These group elements are thus dependent on the curve, and are called `holonomies'.
   
   This is the classical picture, but what happens to this scenario in the quantum realm, and in this realm is it plausible to view it as a theory of quantum gravity? The authors spend the first six chapters discussing the loop group, and its use in the quantization of classical electrodynamics and classical Yang-Mills theory, as compared with what is done in the usual Hamiltonian formalism. The `quantum loop representation' plays a central role in their exposition, which is motivated by essentially two different approaches, one of which is essentially a Fourier transform of wavefunctions of the connection, while the other involves the quantization of a non-canonical algebra. In both cases the quantization procedure involves coming to grips with a constrained system, which as is well known is very challenging and the loop representation cannot be expected to be a panacea in this regard.
   
   The trick involves the identification of the physical states taking into account diffeomorphism invariance and the Hamiltonian constraint. The authors do this for pure quantum gravity (no matter fields) using the Ashtekar formalism and `point-splitting' methods, reinforcing the idea of course that one is not going to escape the need for regularization, as is the case for all successful quantum field theories so far. The inclusion of matter fields is done for (uncharged) Weyl fermions, with the geometric interpretation that the Weyl part of the Hamiltonian is a translation operator in much the same way as the Hamiltonian in the case of pure gravity. The authors believe take this to mean that the loop representation for quantum gravity predicts the Dirac equation for fermions, but unfortunately they do not elaborate on this in much detail at all.
   
   If loop quantization is to bring about a "unified" field theory in some sense then it must be able to show how the loops from one theory can be combined with the loops from another. The authors do this for the case of general relativity and electrodynamics, wherein a loop representation is introduced that is based on a single loop that accounts for the information of these two interacting theories. As expected, this involves enlarging the symmetry group SU(2) to U(2). They show that the wavefunctions for the unified loop representation depend on two loops, but that there is no effective distinction between the two loops. Generalizations to the case of Yang-Mills + general relativity are alluded to in the text but not discussed in any depth.

1 comments about Remarkable Physicists: From Galileo to Yukawa.

1. Of course I understand that Ioan James's intention of writing this book is to give us a more " human " aspect about the physicists and not a work on the theory of physics. I fully agree. However he should at least state
   at least very briefly about the achievement of the great physicist!! Take for an example, in describing Ampere, he does not even mention about the Ampere's law!!! I think at least in describing various physicists, he should at least state briefly about what contribution of those hysicists. Just on sentence about the equation of the laws would make this book far more interesting! Otherwise, just mention the date of birth, when the phyicist went to univerisity, when he married, when he died etc. I would ask, then what make this physicists worthy of a brief biography and separae them from just an ordinary people?????????????????

No comments about Quantum Fluctuations of Spacetime (World Scientific Series in Contemporary Chemical Physics) (World Scientific Series in Contemporary Chemical Physics) Vol.25.

4 comments about Newton's Principia for the Common Reader (Physics) (Psychology).

1. I have not read this book, but would love too. But the price is just too high for a book that is intended for the common reader. It is unaffordable for the common reader.

   (NOTE: My stars rating is meaningless because I have not read the book.)




2. I expected this to be a walkthrough for people like myself who have a knowledge of physics but are far from being experts and are interested in reading the classics of science. This is a guide for the modern Professor of Physics, not a guide for the common reader as it says. If I had known that I wouldn't have bought it. I get the impression that there is certainly a demand for such a walkthrough. I thought this would be it.
   A BIG disapointment!



3. This book was written by the Indian-American Nobel Laureate who proved that the upper limit of white dwarf stars are incapable of being over 1.2 solar masses. Now Chandra(the author of this book), who was amongst the most meticulous of theorists and who worked with bigwigs like Dirac, Bethe, Fermi and Von Neumann amongst the most luminous, wrote this massive treatise on Newton's Principia. This is chandra's take on Newton's work. Don't think its a light read - It isn't. You cannot take it with you to starbucks sipping your cappucino and browse the work. You'll need to be at a table with a straightback chair and concentrate intensely. If you know Chandra's work, then you will know that chandra always said just about what was required and said it in very beautiful English. His English probably has the most beautifully constructed sentences ever among scientific works. So essentially this is about a 20th century giant interpreting the work of THE giant of all time. This is NOT a verbatim reproduction in English of the original latin publication. If you can get this book cheap on e-bay, buy it because it is worth it. It is expensive for a reason. Its beautifully written and bound very beautifully in a red jacket with Newton's bust and handwriting on the jacket. If you bought it, the red cover is attractive enough to make it stand out of your living room book shelf. Most importantly, Chandra tackles each aspect of Newton's principia in a most profoundly original manner. GET IT if you can afford it and if you can't, try a used book place. But get it anyway.



4. perhaps the title "...for the common reader" is the issue here. "the common reader familiar with calculus", perhaps...
   
   there's simply no way anyone without a very solid grounding in mathematics can read this book and understand it. we are talking about the laws of motion & gravity here, etc.
   
   i compared this (a bit dogeared) copy of a book sided by side with a modern copy of principa in a bookshop, and for anyone wishing to tackle this monumentally important work, i cannot think of a better pairing. a modern copy of newton's principia and chandrasekhar's great work for those who wish to see a thorough explanation and working of the equations.
   
   it's like a lot of things; be realistic with your expectations.
   someone who is not very competent in mathematics is not going to be able to ever fully comprehend the contents of this book, misleading title notwithstanding.
   
   perhaps the person that gave this book one star would like to let us know what scientific books he has awarded five stars to if he thinks so lowly of this one?
   
   i say all this, because i'm currently self-studying algebra to be able to self-study calculus next year, just so i can try and understand some of this all-important book.
   
   so don't knock the book, just keep putting the time in & struggling (and it's a struggle, alright) with the mathematics that unlock its secrets.

1 comments about Gravitational Waves: Volume 1: Theory and Experiments Volume 1: Theory and Experiments.

1. This text fills a void and will be a standard reference. I am quite happy to see so much great physics of graviational waves assembled coherently in one spot. Both geometrical and field theoretical approaches are given equally thoughful consideration in the theoretical layout (which I am slogging through currently). Recommended for GW researchers and those interesting in GWs.

5 comments about Einstein's Unfinished Symphony: Listening to the Sounds of Space-Time.

1. The struggle for the direct detection of gravity waves has continued for some years, and to date the search has been totally unsuccessful despite the tremendous investment of effort in this area. I found this book's documention of this quest somewhat interesting. However, I found the subject of this book somewhat unfulfilling because it has no punchline. I would have waited for the direct detection of gravity waves before writing a book like this.



2. Neither had I...

   Now, as the New York Times Book Review states, "When a gravity wave is first detected..." (I) "...will feel like a participant in the great event."

   Why should you care? When gravity waves become detectable, we humans will open a brand new chapter into the discovery of our universe, and subsequently ourselves. We may eventually find the universe is a great huge pond with spacetime ripples originating from infinite sources. We may finally see the big picture, a bit of celestial music, and direct evidence of the most incalculable event in our universe, the collision and coalescence of two black holes. The thought of this type of event being recorded for human ears is exciting and provocative... I hope I am a lucky participant.

   The supporting cast, are the scientists from many countries, who seek to be the first to find and record a gravity wave. This is an obvious Nobel Prize event, so the stakes are high... On the other hand, virtually all of them realize they are laying the groundwork for (perhaps) future generations. There is a very good chance that none of the current players will even be around when a gravity wave is captured on it's travel to infinity. On the other hand, future generations will be infinitely indebted to these pioneers, and us common astronomy buffs will be richer for their selflessness.

   Marcia Bartusiak wrote a fine book for the rest of us... I look forward to reading more from her, and recommend this to anyone with even a passing interest. Sure, there is no punch line yet, but when there is, I will 'get it'... Will you?

   Finally, what can be said about Albert Einstein... A towering genius that looked at our physical world, pulled back a great obscuration, and let us all see the light. I will always be in awe...




3. This is an amazing book for both its historical and scientific content. The prose is clear and engaging; the subject matter, i.e., the attempts at detecting of gravity waves, is fascinating. Although gravity waves have never been knowingly and officially detected as yet, projects to build expensive apparatus to detect them are actually getting funded. This is clearly tribute to the confidence that the scientific community has on Albert Einstein and the General Theory of Relativity. This is a great book that deserves to be read by all!



4. This book provides a rare opportunity for non-scientists to understand an important scientific advance before it happens.
   
   Bartusiak provides readers with a thorough history of the decades of theorizing, organizing, and development that have led to the current generation of gravitational-wave observatories eagerly awaiting the first detection of the space-distorting pulses predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity nearly a century ago.
   
   From my point of view, the book presents a bit more of the history and politics of gravitational-wave research, and a bit less of the science, than I might like. Still, Bartusiak tells a very important story in great detail. She clearly did her homework; the book is full of the kind of details that come only from visiting sites and interviewing key players face-to-face.
   
   I thought that the most important point Bartusiak made did not come until at least two-thirds of the way through the book. She finally made it clear that the key problem in detecting gravitational waves rippling through spacetime is isolating the detector from every other influence, insulating and quieting it to the point that a change in length no larger than a fraction of the diameter of an atom can be detected. That's why, when gravitational waves are finally detected, it will be a great technical triumph as well as a vindication of Einstein's theory and a powerful new window on the universe.
   
   On the whole I'd describe Bartusiak's writing as clear and well organized, but not inspiring. However, she did come up with one delightful metaphor. In describing the impending collision of two black holes, one of the predicted sources of detectable ripples in spacetime, she wrote, "Picture two black holes slowly circling each other, like a pair of sumo wrestlers warily checking each other out in the ring." I would have liked the book even more if Bartusiak had provided more imaginative writing like that, and more science as well.
   
   Still, if you want to know what the first detection of gravitational waves will mean, and the enormous amount of effort that has gone into this impending discovery, _Einstein's Unfinished Symphony_ is well worth reading.
   
   Robert Adler, author of _Science Firsts: From the Creation of Science to the Science of Creation_ (Wiley & Sons, 2002); and _Medical Firsts: From Hippocrates to the Human Genome_ (Wiley & Sons, 2004).



5. The book takes you on a journey through the history of physics since Einstein published his theories of relativity. Sufficient background information is provided without the mathematical details that might handicap those of us in other fields. Ms. Bartusiak does a fine job of explaining the many intricacies of relativity and gravitational wave physics in a clear and concise manner (for the physics layperson).
   
   A detailed account of the testing of Einstein's theories during his lifetime and over the decades since he left us is provided. Einstein's insight was phenomenal (at least as far as I am concerned, being a non-physicist/engineer). I'm still amazed by the leap that he was able to take, thus changing physics forever. Not since Newton has anyone changed the face of our perception of the physical world around us (the universe's many objects and the evolution of the concept of space-time).
   
   The majority of the text is devoted to the decades of research and development over gravitational wave detection. The concerted effort in the field is actually quite phenomenal. Since gravitational waves have never officially been detected, one might surmise that the book can't be very exciting. On the contrary, the history of the development of the technology for modern day test detection systems is very fascinating. I learned a great deal about the basic premises of relativity physics without having to take three or four courses in calculus. I was actually quite thrilled to find a book so easy to follow.
   
   I will be rejoycing for Einstein (and all of humankind) when the headlines read, "for the first time, ripples through space-time have been recorded across the globe". What a glorious day for science. I can't wait!!!

No comments about Gravity, Particles, and Astrophysics: A Review of Modern Theories of Gravity and G-Variability, and Their Relation to Elementary Physics and Astrophysics (Astrophysics and Space Science Library).

5 comments about Schrödinger: Life and Thought.

1. This book, is amazing. I came across it because I was forced to do a project for chemistry on Erwin Schrödinger, and I'm glad I did. It's a 512 page biography of him, and I think that says it all. It covers and extensive amount of ground, and is very useful for anyone doing any researh on the man. It gives a lot of background information about what was going on in his life, and the events in the world around him. Whenever he went to a new college, there was always some information on the college itself. If Schrödinger did research on a topic, there would be a small history on the scientist that came before him and how they affected him. The book is virtually packed with quotes form other people, letters, and speeches. One of the other things I liked was that it contained details of Schrödinger's personal life, such as his extramarital affairs and details on his marriage, and his family history. Want to see some pictures? There's that too. Bet you didn't know that Schrödinger wrote poetry. Well he did, and all of it is here too, in both German and an English translation. Another thing that makes the book stand out it that it is bery readable. Walter Moore did an excellent job writing the book, and it shows. I can say that you only need to read one book about Schrödinger: this one.



2. This is a masterful biography, but one need to have a profound knowledge of higher mathematics and a basic one in physics to fully understand it.
   
   Walter Moore shows that Schrödinger's life and thought was at least controversial.
   
   Life
   Schrödinger's personal itinerary is exemplary for the 20th century. He was born in a comfortable upper-middle class, but his parents lost their savings in the German inflation after WW I. The result was famine and diseases. It marked the rest of his life. As a young man he was confronted with unemployment and nearly left physics for financial reasons!
   He found a decent job only at the age of 34. Even after winning the Nobel Prize he was still confronted with 'pension' problems.
   
   Science
   Walter Moore gives us a magisterial and detailed analysis of the scientific discoveries of ES, from his humble beginnings to the elaboration of the quantum wave function and after.
   It shows that ES was above all a mathematical genius and a not so brilliant experimenter.
   ES remained all his life opposed to the complemantary (particle/wave) interpretation of quantum mechanics (the 'Kopenhagen oracle' for ES). For him, there were only waves!
   
   Sex
   Beside science, sex was the principal occupation of his life, with all combinations imaginable. He lived a ménage à trois and sometimes à quatre, but still fell in love with other women, also with very young ones for he had a Lolita complex. He could without doubt have been accused of paedophilia.
   But his intense love affairs stimulated highly his scientific creativity.
   One can only wonder if his 'wild' behaviour and negative view of bourgeois marriage were not fundamentally influenced by the fact that he couldn't marry his first true love, because her family found that he was too poor!
   
   Politics
   He had a deep contempt for the governing classes (politicians, clergy) who 'enslave men by violence and use the religious desire of many people to promote superstition to rule over the dispossessed'. He also distrusted democracy!
   
   Philosophical world view
   This is certainly one of the strangest aspects of his thoughts.
   He was convinced that physics provided absolutely no answers to philosophical questions (e. g. free will). All his life he remained, like Einstein, an adept of determinism.
   His philosophical views and ethical principles were completely dissociated from his real life!
   As an adept of the Vedanta, he believed the Buddhist wisdom that a thing could be both A and non-A (horribile dictu)!
   He was also heavily influenced by the philosophy of Schopenhauer.
   
   This work gives excellent explanations of the Vedanta, and the philosophy of Mach and Schopenhauer.
   It contains a very painful paragraph on Heidegger.
   
   I see only one minus point: the author doesn't give Bohr's pertinent response to the EPR-article against the Copenhagen interpretation of qm.
   
   This is a brilliant book and certainly the definitive biography of Schrödinger. It is by no means a hagiography and doesn't dodge some 'weird' aspects of Schrödinger's life.
   Not to be missed.



3. Walter Moore captures the life of Erwin Schrödinger, one of the most important theoretical physicists of the 20th century, covering his career, science, philosophy and personal life.
   
   In this ambitious book Moore tries to shed light on all aspects of Schrödinger's life, and tries to connect them, but no coherent picture evolves. I had the impression, however, that this is not Moore's fault, but that the pieces that made up Erwin Schrödinger did not fit into a coherent whole.
   
   A gifted student from an early age on, he took on physics. After initially dwelling in different sub-fields, he developed wave mechanics at the (for creative work in theoretical physics) late age of 38. His almost unparalelled mathematical skills made this advance possible. Schrödinger never saw mathematics only as a tool, but he greatly appreciated it's beauty. Moore does an excellent job in describing the intellectual journey towards this discovery, as well as the giants on who's shoulders Schrödinger was standing. For this work Schrödinger received the Nobel prize in 1933.
   
   In his later years, he dedicated a substantial part of his efforts to the search for a unified (quantum mechanics - relativity) theory of physics. Just like Einstein, with whom he had an extensive correspondence about the mater, he failed. Schrödinger's scientific work is explained in quite a bit of detail. Despite being quite familiar with differential equations, but without a background in theoretical physics, I must admit that I had a hard time following Schrödinger's insights as presented by Moore.
   
   From his student days on, Erwin Schrödinger was a believer in the Indian teachings of Vedanta, proclaiming a one-ness of all minds, which make up reality. It is hard to see how a rational 20th century scientist could adhere so uncritically to an ancient religion. However, these beliefs seemingly did not influence his science much and neither did they influence his personal life.
   
   His personal life was, nevertheless, unusual. He was a lover of interesting women, and he had many (I am all for that!), but many of his loves were still teenagers, while he was in his 30s and 40s (very weired!). For a man of such high intellectual capacity, this shows very poor moral judgment. He was not solely interested in sex, but sincerely in love with many of them and wrote them love poems.
   
   Schrödinger also showed somewhat poor moral judgment in terms of politics, although the turmoils of the 20th century greatly affected him (he was removed from his professorship in Graz by the Nazis). He was not an opportunist, like so many of his fellow Austrian and German physicists. Although he leaned to the left, he basically was not interested in politics at all. An irresponsible neglect during the rise of fascism in Europe!
   
   Moore brings together all these aspects of Erwin Schrödinger, and he does so with lots of knowledge of the local culture and history of the places Schrödinger visited and lived at (Vienna, Graz, Dublin, Cambridge). This is a well researched book in all aspects and one with lots of sympathy for "Erwin".



4. If there is some way I could rate this book as five star plus, then I would love to do that. This is a very well researched book by an author who makes a passionate presentation of the mind and work of one of the greatest physicists of 20th century. Erwin Schrodinger is an enigmatic figure, a brilliant scientist, philosopher, poet and a humanist who lead a complex personal life; several love affairs allowed and approved by; his wife Annemarie, and husbands of his girlfriends. The author has examined and reviewed many archived materials from Schrodinger's family, friends, and universities/academic institutions who knew Schrödinger. The reader becomes fascinated by sheer brilliance, wisdom, sadness, and struggle in personal and professional life of Schrödinger.
   
   Schrodinger was deeply philosophical in his thoughts than any other scientist of his time, but he apparently did not make far-reaching philosophical conclusions from his work in quantum physics. He was held back because he knew there was a lack of clarity. Schrödinger was deeply influenced by the thoughts of Schopenhauer, and developed strong interest in Buddhist philosophy and Vedanta (one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy.) Schrodinger intensively studied the works of Schopenhauer, Henry Warren, Max Welleser, Richard Garbe, Paul Deussen, Max Muller, and Rhys Davids to understand Hindu and Buddhist philosophies. Erwin's interest in Vedanta and Upanishads started at a young age when he was accustomed to cold hungry time in war-torn Vienna. His search for the truth never reached conclusion as his one time lover Hansi Bauer noted, but his belief in Vedanta remained the same since 1920 until his death. He was a life long believer of Vedanta. He lashed out Christian churches accusing them of gross superstition in their belief of individual souls.
   
   Quantum physics has tremendous philosophical implications, which revolutionized modern thought in science and philosophy because it did not agree with the philosophy of materialism expounded by Newton. Interpretation of quantum world suggested that strict determinism and predictability is not an accurate description of reality, and consciousness is an integral part of the laws of quantum physics. In other words, the human observer (biological system) and the observed (rest of the universe) is not merely a biological (cognition) phenomenon but more than that. One can not actually derive the Schrödinger wave equation from classical physics. It is a justification and hence the final equation is used to calculate the energy levels that fit the experimental results such as the observed UV spectra of a hydrogen atom. Schrodinger developed relativistic equation first and then the non-relativistic equation. The relativistically framed (without spin) equation did not agree with the experimental result because it did not include electron spin. It was not known at that time that electron has a spin. This equation was good for a particle with no spin and it was the same as fine structure formula of Sommerfeld.
   
   According to Vedanta; there exists only one universal being called the Brahman, which comprises all of reality in an undivided unity. This being absolutely homogeneous in nature: It is pure thought, which is not an attribute but the substance devoid of any qualities. The Brahman is associated with a power or a principle of illusion called Maya. As a magician creates illusion during his act, Brahman through Maya creates the appearances of the material world. Maya is the cause of the material world, and an indivisible Brahman is present in all forms of existence. The soul in reality is an infinite Brahman enmeshed in the unreal world of Maya. The unenlightened soul is incapable of looking beyond this illusion, but an enlightened soul knows the difference between its true self and the external illusory world thus paving the way for identifying itself with Brahman. This unity and continuity concept of All in One expounded in Vedanta is consistent with quantum physics where the universe is superimposed inseparable waves of probability amplitudes. The existence of Heisenberg uncertainty phenomenon and quantum Zeno effect is an allegory to the illusions of Maya or a prelude to the indivisible, All in One, Supreme Brahman. This intense philosophical debate was taking place in the mind of young Erwin in the midst of discovering wave mechanics! Nov 1925 to Dec 1926 is a critical period for the development wave mechanics. Erwin's thought process was so upbeat that his creative power peaked during this period and remains without parallel in the history of science!
   
   In personal life; Erwin had contempt for Nazis but never openly criticized the regime. Schrodinger left Berlin 1933 to protest Nazi regime, in the same year he was awarded Nobel Prize with Paul Dirac. At one time he considered a faculty position at Tata Institute (Indian Institute of Science) in Bangalore, India at the invitation of Nobel laureate C.V. Raman. Erwin's love interests include a long list of women; Felice Krauss, Lotte Rella, Ithi Junger, Hansi Bauer-Bohm, Hilde March, Sheila May Green, Kate Nolan, Betty Dolan, Lucie Rie, and maids of Vienna during war years. He had two daughters Ruth and Linda from his lovers. Hilde March, wife of physicist Arthur March, with whom he had a daughter was his pseudo-wife living side by side with wife Annemarie under the same roof. It is ironic that the personal stress associated with his daring extra martial affairs unperturbed by the pressures of the society, and sadness created by financial problems and deaths of his parents and the terrible guilt that ensured due to his inability to do more to care them may have helped rather than hindered his creativity. In a letter of 1930, he recalls how his father's death on the Christmas Eve of 1919 left little cheer in his soul for the festive season throughout his life. This demonstrates the emotional and human side of Erwin; the deaths of his parents shook his consciousness and left him with tremendous pain and loss. Schrödinger's life is filled with drama and sadness caused by several failed romances; three illegitimate children, infidelity, two wives, nervous breakdown of his wife Annemarie, and some of his lovers, and his own illness due to various health problems, and constant displacement due to war and the Nazi regime. Yet his contributions to mankind are immortal. At the end of the book you feel like crying at the triumph and tragedies of this great human being.
   
   1. What Is Life?: with "Mind and Matter" and "Autobiographical Sketches"
   2. Schrodinger's Kittens and the Search for Reality: Solving the Quantum Mysteries Tag: Author of In Search of Schrod. Cat
   3. 'Nature and the Greeks' and 'Science and Humanism' (Canto original series)
   4. Space-Time Structure (Cambridge Science Classics)
   5. Letters on Wave Mechanics: Schrodinger-Planck-Einstein-Lorentz
   6. The Historical Development of Quantum Theory: Erwin Schrodinger and the Rise of Wave Mechanics, Part 1 : Schrodinger in Vienna and Zurich 1187-1925 (Historical Development of Quantum Theory)



5. If you look on page 238 on Walter Moore's book and view the Solvay Conference of Physics in 1927, you should think carefully of the world that Erwin Schrodinger was part of. All of those great minds were around him, Curie, Pauli, Einstein, etc, plus he lived through two world wars, and he had to deal with the Nazis and so on. Has anyone every lived at a better (or worse) time? The Schrodinger equation was probably the greatest discovery of the 20th century, but because of the wave mechanics involved, most people credit Einstein with being the smartest guy around because they would rather talk about relativity than a complicated equation. Our QM world is based on his equation for the most part and he did this in 1925! There is no denying this is a most complete book, having virtually every detail of ES life mentioned (some where) in it. My problem with this is it really necessary? Physicists will probably like this book because they can relate to it much better, but I guess you could skip the math and just read on. You can see how the scientists of the time pretend not to compete with one another, yet it is evident Schrodinger is the man for most of this period in time. This story is that of a great physicist that many times is overlooked because of the company he kept. He was horrified by the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima, as were most of his friends and considered it mass murder, but later managed to solve the Peierls equation which allows one to calculate the critical mass of a nuclear explosive. I would recommend this book for reading, but must warn you that every sexual encounter is included and you will not complete it in a day. It was quite interesting to read of the closeness between ES and Einstein. However, this exposure of how great ES was should impress upon you how often a man of such importance is virtually unheard of in many parts of the modern world--even today. guyairey