Our current concept of matter, one of scientific research’s greatest successes, represents a long journey, from questions posed during the birth of philosophy in Ancient Greece to recent advances in physics and chemistry, including Quantum Physics. This book outlines that journey. The book has three parts, each detailing a phase of the journey. The first saw the development of a conception based on "classical" physics; the second saw the construction of the "old" quantum theory attempting to explain the mysterious properties of matter, resulting in formulation of the "new" quantum theory; the third saw the formation of the modern conception of matter, based on quantum mechanics. Along the way, various topics are discussed, including: rediscovery and appropriation of antiquity by Western culture in the modern era; the subsequent revision process in the 16th and 17th centuries and the new experiments and theories of the 18th; attempts to understand the mysterious properties of matter that could not be explained by classical physics; the first quantization hypotheses; discovery of new purely "quantum-mechanical" properties of matter; and the ultimate clarification of atomic structure. This book is aimed at anyone who wants a clear picture of how we arrived at the modern conception of matter.
Author(s): Florestano Evangelisti
Series: History of Physics
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 206
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
1 Introduction
Part I Matter and Classical Science
2 The Legacy of Antiquity
2.1 Knowledge from Crafts and Techniques
2.2 Matter in Ancient Philosophy
2.2.1 The Pre-socratics’ Concept of Matter
2.2.2 Atomism
2.2.3 Nature in the Aristotelian System
2.3 Alchemy
References
3 Matter at the Beginning of the Scientific Revolution
3.1 Empirical Knowledge of Matter
3.2 Matter and Substances in Arab, Medieval and Renaissance Alchemy
3.3 Matter and Substances in the Philosophical and Scholarly Tradition
References
4 Matter in the Seventeenth Century
4.1 Alchemical and Chemical Quests in the First Half of Century
4.2 Matter and Physical Properties: Air and Vacuum
4.2.1 Experiments with Vacuum
4.2.2 Combustion, Respiration and Calcination. The Complex Nature of Air
4.3 Mechanical Philosophy and Atomism in the Seventeenth Century
4.3.1 Atomism of Gassendi, Boyle and Newton
4.4 Boyle’s Criticism of Aristotelian and Alchemical Concepts
References
5 Matter in the Eighteenth Century
5.1 Phlogiston Theory
5.2 Matter in the Gaseous State
5.2.1 Black and Fixed Air (Carbon Dioxide)
5.2.2 Cavendish and Inflammable Air (Hydrogen)
5.2.3 Oxygen, Nitrogen and Air
5.3 Combustion and Calcination
5.4 Composition of Water and Confutation of the Phlogiston Theory
5.5 Chemistry and Matter at the End of Eighteenth Century
5.5.1 Conservation of Matter and Chemical Elements
5.5.2 Compounds and Affinity
5.5.3 Combination and Equivalents
References
6 Matter and Electricity
6.1 The Voltaic Pile
6.2 Electrolysis
References
7 Chemistry and Matter in the Nineteenth Century
7.1 Revival of Atomism
7.1.1 Avogadro’s Law
7.1.2 The Dualistic Theory of Affinity
7.1.3 Faraday and the Electrolysis
7.2 Chemical Bonds and Valency
7.3 Elements and Periodic Law
References
8 Physics and Matter in the Nineteenth Century
8.1 Kinetic Theory of Gases
8.1.1 Nature of Heat
8.1.2 Specific Heats
8.1.3 Loschmidt’s Experiment
8.2 Nature of Electric Charges
8.2.1 Cathode Rays and the Discovery of Electrons
8.2.2 Canal Rays
References
Part II Matter and Old Quantum Theory
9 The Appearance of Quanta
9.1 Black Body Radiation
9.2 Photoelectric Effect
9.3 Quantum Specific Heat
References
10 Bohr’s Atom
10.1 Early Atomic Models
10.2 Light and Atoms: Spectroscopy
10.3 Bohr’s Theory
10.4 Moseley’s Experiments
10.5 Experiment of Franck and Hertz
10.6 Elliptical Orbits and Space Quantization
References
11 Electrons and Atoms
11.1 Electronic Structure and Periodicity of the Elements
11.1.1 Bohr’s Aufbauprinzip
11.2 Fine Structure and Magnetic Field Effects
11.3 Sommerfeld’s Relativistic Corrections
11.4 A New Quantum Number: Electron Spin
11.5 Wavelike Nature of Matter
References
Part III Quantum Mechanical Representation of Matter
12 Quantum Atoms and Molecules
12.1 Quantum Mechanics
12.2 Hydrogen
12.3 Helium and Quantum Properties of Multielectron Atoms
12.4 Molecules: Covalent Bond
References
13 Solid Matter
13.1 Atomic Ordering
13.2 Electrons in Solid Matter
13.2.1 The Free Electron Gas
13.2.2 Bloch Waves and Band Theory
13.2.3 Metals and Insulators
References
14 Semiconductors
14.1 Silicon
14.2 Doping and Microelectronic Devices
References
Appendix A On Gases and Water
Lavoisier’s Experiments
Composition of Water
Appendix B On Nineteenth Century Physics
Krönig-Clausius Equation
Kinetic Energy and Temperature
Harmonic Oscillator
Measurement of e/m (Charge/Mass)
Appendix C On Old Quantum Theory
More on Photoelectric Effect
More on Bohr’s Theory
X-rays and Mosely’s Experiments
Optical Spectra of Alkali Metals
Appendix D On Matter and Quantum Mechanics
Indistinguishability and Exchange Interaction
Ionized Hydrogen Molecule
Classical Free Electrons Gas
Sommerfeld’s Free Electrons Gas
Bloch’s Electrons
Index
