Books offered by JF Ptak Science Books

JF Ptak Science Books

W.F.G Swann.  "Relativity and Electrodynamics", in Reviews of Modern Physics.  Volume 7/3, July 1930.  Occupies pp 243-304 in the issue of pp 243-380.  In the original printed wrappers.  Very good.  $75  Uncommon. 

Oppenheimer

“On continued gravitational contraction” by Robert Oppenheimer and Hartland Snyder, & “The mechanism of nuclear fission”, by Niels Bohr and J.A. Wheeler, both appearing in the Physical Review, September 1, 1939, Vol. 56, #5, pp. 426-50 and pp. 455-59, respectively. 

First editions of these two papers, presented in the original wrappered issue of the great Physical Review.

They appear together in a single issue of the journal, a remarkable set of achievements found in one small space--remarkable even more for the fact that 1939 (as with 1859, 1543, and 1948) is one of those remarkable single years in the history of science.

The Oppenheimer and Snyder (a graduate assistant) paper is one of the most prescient in the history of modern physics, correctly physically describing (where Chandrasekjar and Eddington in their discussions did not) what happens in a particular collapse of a neutron star, and still today reads as fresh and and brightly as it did in 1939.  Really, it is an extraordinary work, and a foundation paper in the history of gravitation, the application of RT, singularity, and astrophysics.  (The Southampton GR Explorer site nicely states it this way: "This paper has strong claims to being one of the most prophetic ever written in this field of research. Today, 60 years later, this paper needs little revision - even the terminology is undated!")

In an often-repeated quotation, they write, somewhat in irony and in a certain and understated manner on page 456: "The star thus tends to close itself off from any communication with a distant observer; only its gravitational field persists". And later: "When all thermonuclear sources of energy are exhausted, a sufficiently heavy star will collapse. Unless fission due to rotation, the radiation of mass, or the blowing off of mass by radiation, reduce the star's mass to the order of that of the sun, this contraction will continue indefinitely", they wrote.

 

Next comes Bohr and Wheeler, “The mechanism of nuclear fission” is the experimental foundation stone (on the basis of the liquid drop model of atomic nuclei) of nuclear fission and the great leap forward in the construction of the atomic bomb.

Condition: the paper of the spine of the publication is about one-third owrn away, otherwise this is a very nice copy. Price:  $2500, with the condition noted. 

For the whole article see here.

From the abstract: "On the basis of the liquid drop model of atomic nuclei, an account is given of the mechanism of nuclear fission. In particular, conclusions are drawn regarding the variation from nucleus to nucleus of the critical energy required for fission, and regarding the dependence of fission cross section for a given nucleus on energy of the exciting agency. A detailed discussion of the observations is presented on the basis of the theoretical considerations. Theory and experiment fit together in a reasonable way to give a satisfactory picture of nuclear fission".

________.  Another copy, this removed from a larger bound volume, without wrappers.  $1250

 

Oppenheimer,  J.R..  Note on Light Quanta and the Electromagentic Field.  American Physical Society,  1931.  The Physical Review, vol 38, number 4, Aug 15, 1931  Oppenheimer's contribution occupies pp 725-747--hardly a "note" as stated in the title, especially by the Phys Rev standards, making this I think something on the order of a top 55-in-length or so article. We offer the entire issue, complete in the scarce outer wrappers. The following abstract is taken entirely from the beautiful and highly useful APS PROLA site: "J. R. Oppenheimer University of California, Berkeley, California Received 26 June 1931 1. Introduction: light quantum theory and quantum electrodynamics. 2. Extreme light quantum theory; spin of quantum; wave equation for quanta; eigenwerte and solutions of the equation; electrostatic quanta; angular momentum and selection rules; Lorentz covariance; theory of the charge-free field; quanta and electrons. 3. Quantum electromagnetics; reformulation to treat progressive and spherical waves; integrals of momentum and angular momentum; new introduction of light quantum equation; distinction between field and corpuscular theories; zero point energy, negative energies, and electromagnetic mass. 4. Interaction of quanta and charges; critique of light quantum theory."   $400.00

Oppenheimer,  J.R..  On the Selection Rules in Beta-Decay.  American Physical Society,  1941.  The Physical Review, 59 (11) June 1, 1941  Original printed wrappers.  Very good condition.  Oppenheimer's contribution is a letter to the editor, appearing on page 908.   $200.00

Oppenheimer,  J.R..  On the Interaction of Mesotrons and Nuclei.  APS,  1941.  The Physical Review, 60, July 15, 1941  The Oppenheimer (with Julian Schwinger) paper occupies pp 150-153 in this issue of pp 67-167.    $200.00

Oppenheimer,  J.R..  On the Limitations of the Theory of the Positron.  American Physical Society,  1934.  1st edition.  The Physical Review, 45(12), June 15, 1934  8vo.  Original printed wrappers.  Fine condition.  Written with W.H. Furry.    $175.00

Oppenheimer,  J.R..  Note on Charge and Field Fluctuation AND Note on the Production of Pairs by Charged Particles.  Lancaster, PA:  American Physical Society,  1935.  The Physical Review  Original printed wrappers.  Two contributions here in the January 15 1935 issue of the PR: combiend they range from pp 144-148. Other contributors to the issue include Eugene Feenberg, WW Hansen, John Rose and others.   $250.00

Oppenheimer,  J.R..  On the Quantum Theory of the Capture of Electrons.  Minneapolis:  American Physical Society,  1928.  The Physical review, Vol 31 Num 3, MArch 1928.  Original printed wrappers.  Very good condition.  An early contribution by JRO to the field of quantum mechanics, published back when the PR was published only once a month. His paper occupies pp 349-357; the entire monthly issue is offered here containing pp 317-498.   $300.00

Oppenheimer,  J. Robert.  On the Quantum Theory of Electronic Impacts.  Lancaster:  The Physical Review,  1928.  1st edition.  The Physical Review, 32/3, September 1928  8vo.  Original printed wrappers.  Good or better condition.  The Oppenheimer article occupies pp 361-377 in this issue of pp 331-531. Other constributors include Slater, Mulliken, Lawrence and many others. In the original green wrappers, uncommon.   $200.00

Oppenheimer,  J.R..  Note on the Theory of the Interaction of Field and Matter.  Menasha, Wisconsin:  American Physical Society,  1930.  The Physical Review, Vol 35, Num 5, pp 461-478  Original printed wrappers.  One of the longest so-called "notes" in the PR JRO's contribution here in the early new quantum mechanics is noted in J. Mehra's "Historical Development of the Quantum Theory" volume 6.    $400.00

Oppenheimer,  J.R..  Note on Statistics of the Nuclei.  Minneapolis:  American Physical Society,  1931.  The Physical review, Vol 37, Num 4  Original printed wrappers.  Written with Paul Ehrenfest, the JRO paper appears on pp 333-339 of this issue (paginated pp 333-457).    $150.00

Oppenheimer,  J.R..  On the Spin of the Mesotron.  American Physical Society,  1941.  1st edition.  The Physical Review, 59 (5), March 1 1941  Original printed wrappers.  Fine condition.  Oppenheimer's contribution is a letter to the editor, pp 462-3. We offer the entire weekly issue in the original green wrappers.   $250.00

Oppenheimer,  J. Robert.  Einstein.  Lancaster Pa:  American Physical Society,  1956.  1st edition.  Reviews of Modern Physics 28/1 Janurary 1956  4to.  Original printed wrappers.  Good or better condition.  This is a short (2pp) recollection by Oppenheimer, comprising the opening section of this 75pp issue. Uncommon.  $125.00

"His presence among us stayed us from the worst folly, and touched those who knew him with the light of magnanimity".

Edwin Bidwell Wilson. "Space, Time and Gravitation'. Article in: The Scientific Monthly, vol 10/3, March 1920, occupying pp 217-235 in the issue of pp 217-320.  Offered with the front outer wrapper, extracted from larger bound volume. Ownership stamp:  Brooklyn Public Library.  Nice copy.  Full text here. Einstein makes his first and very leisurely appearance at p. 231.  $35

Hermann Weyl.  "Zur Gravitationstheorie."  In:  Annalen der Physik, 4th series, volume 54, no. 18, 1917.  Pp 117-145 in the issue of pp 81-164.  Removed from the bound volume of the half-year's volume.  Decent copy.  Good condition.  $75

Robertson,  H.P..  Lectures on Relativity.  Princeton:  Princeton University,  1937 (?).  1st edition.  137  4to.  Printed wrappers.  Very good condition.  137 mimeographed leaves from typewritten notes. H.P. Robertson of the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological model was part of the glorious Princeton IAS decade of the 1930's, including von Neumann, Einstein, Godel, Wigner, etc. These are notes of Robertson's lectures on relativity taken by his doctoral student A.H. Taub. RARE  $350

_____.  Relativistic Cosmology.  American Physical Society,  1933.  1st edition.  Reviews of Modern Physics, 5/1, January 1933  4to.  Original printed wrappers.  Fine condition.  Robertson's effort occupies pp 62-90 ofg this issue (pp 1-90).   $125.

_____. The Uncertainty Principle.  Minneapolis:  American Physical Society,  1929.  1st edition.  Physical Review 34/1 July 1, 1929  Pp 162-3  8vo.  Original printed wrappers.  Very good condition.  Excellent, classic, early American effort on the uncertainty principle. This is the first of the bi-weekly issues for the PhysRev, in the original green wraps. Other contributors in this issue: Allison, Morse, Langer, Pauling, Uhlenbeck, Langmuir, and others. See Wheeler, p. 127. $225

Whittaker, E.T. The Beginning and End of the World. Oxford University Press, 1943.  64pp.  Very nice copy in stiff wrappers. Unopened.  $35 Interesting work by the mathematician Whittaker who is best remembered by me for lumping Einstein into the "other" category in the discussion of Poincare/Lorentz relativity theory in his second edition of this history of the aether book. 

Important Einstein Papers, 1907

Einstein, Albert.  3 appearances in the Annalen, including:

1907 ANNALEN DER PHYSIK 23(6):197-198   Ueber die Moeglichkeit einer neuen Pruefung des Relativitatsprinzips.  (Possibility of a new examination of the relativity principle.)

1907 ANNALEN DER PHYSIK 23(6):206-208   Bemerkungen zu der Notiz von Hrn. Paul Ehrenfest: "Die translation deformierbarer Elektronen und der Flaechensatz".  (Comments on the note by Mr Paul Ehrenfest's "Translation of deformed electrons and the surface theorem.)

1907 ANNALEN DER PHYSIK 23(7):371-384  Ueber die vom Relativitsprinzip geforderte Traegheit Energie. (On the inertia of energy required by the relativity principle.)  This is the first appearance of e=mc² in a general form. 

All in Annalen der Physik 23(6) VIII,1000 pp. and 4 plates. Einstein's papers pp. 197-98, 206-209 and 371-384.

Weil Nos 17,18 a. 19

Half-cloth and marbled boards. A few internal ex-library marks appear.  Nice copy.  [On hold]

Niels Bohr Commemorative, with 26 Leading Contributors

Bohr,  Niels.  Commemoration of Niels Bohr on his 60th Birthday.  Lancaster:  American Physical Society,  1945.  1st printing.  Entire issue of Review of Modern Physics, vol 17, combined numbers  2 and 3,   containing pages  97-350  .  Original orange wrappers.  Very nice copy.  Contributions by Einstein, Pauli, Meitner, Chandra, Hevesy, Gamow, Dirac, Heitler, Born, Franck, Feynman, Chandrasekhar, Wheeler, and others.  Sold.

This entire issue is devoted to the Bohr commemorative with tremendous content by a near-alphabet of the early- and mid-century physicists.  (Alphabetically) included in the publication are:

Beck, Guido;  Field Concepts in Quantum Theory. Pp. 187-194; Bhabha, H. J. , Relativistic Wave Equations for the Elementary Particles. Pp. 200-216; Bloch, F. and I. I. Rabi,  Atoms in Variable Magnetic Fields. Pp. 237-244; Born, Max, On the Quantum Theory of Pyroelectricity. Pp. 245-251; Chandrasekhar, S. , The Formation of Absorption Lines in a Moving Atmosphere. Pp. 138-156.;  Casimir, H. B. G. On Onsager's Principle of Microscopic Reversibility. Pp. 343-350;  Dirac, P. A. M.,  On the Analogy Between Classical and Quantum Mechanics. Pp. 195-199; Einstein, Albert and Ernst G. Straus, The Influence of the Expansion of Space on the Gravitation Fields Surrounding the Individual Stars, pp. 120-124; .Franck, James, Photosynthetic Activity of Isolated Chloroplasts. Pp. 112-11; Gamow, G. and G. Keller. A Shell Source Model for Red Giant Stars. Pp. 125-137;  Goudsmit, S. Random Distribution of Lines in a Plane. Pp. 321-322;  Graham, Gordon A. R. and Hans Halban, Jr. On the Angular Distribution of Neutrons in the Photo-Disintegration of the Deuteron. Pp. 297-304.  Heitler, W. and P. Walsh, Theory of Cosmic-Ray Mesons. Pp. 252-262; Hevesy, George,  On the Effect of Roentgen Rays on Cellular Division. Pp. 102-111; Hulthén, Lamek, Comments on the Difficulties of the Meson Theory. Pp. 263-266;   Klein, O. and J. Lindhard. Some Remarks on the Quantum Theory of the Superconductive State. Pp. 305-309; London, F.,  Planck's Constant and Low Temperature Transfer. Pp. 310-322; Meitner, Lise, An Attempt to Single Out Some Fission Processes of Uranium by Using the Differences in Their Energy Release. Pp. 287-291; Pauli. Wolfgang,  Niels Bohr on His 60th Birthday. Pp. 97-101; Pauli, W. and N. Hu, On the Strong Coupling Case for Spin-Dependent Interactions in Scalar- and Vector-Pair Theories. Pp. 267-286; Thomas, L. H.,  Relativistic Invariance. Pp. 182-186;  Turner, Louis, . The Missing Heavy Nuclei. Pp. 292-296; Vleck, J. H. Van and V. F. Weisskopf,  On the Shape of Collision-Broadened Lines. Pp. 227-236; Wheeler, John Archibald and Richard Phillips Feynman, Interaction with the Absorber as the Mechanism of Radiation. Pp. 157-181;  Wang, Ming Chen and G. E. Uhlenbeck,  On the Theory of the Brownian Motion II. Pp. 323-342; Williams, E. J., Application of Ordinary Space-Time Concepts in Collision Problems and Relation of Classical Theory to Born's Approximation. Pp. 217-226.

Rosen on Relativity

Rosen,  N.  General Relativity and Flat Space I and  Flat Space II and Note on Ether Drift Experiments.  Lancster:  American Physical Society,  1940.  1st edition. 

Three articles in Physical Review 57/2, January 15, 1940  Original printed wrappers.  Very good condition.  This seems to be the second-most cited article by Rosen following his fabulous 1935 paper with Einstein and Podolsky.

The following is taken from the APS PROLA site: "ABSTRACT Within the framework of the general theory of relativity , it is proposed to introduce at each point of space-time a Euclidean metric tensor γμν in addition to the usual Riemannian metric tensor gμν. In this way one imparts tensor character to quantities which in the usual form of the theory do not have it. For example, one can obtain a gravitational energy-momentum density tensor in place of the usual pseudo-tensor. Furthermore one can impose four additional covariant conditions on the gravitational field and thus restrict the form of the solution for the field corresponding to a given physical situation."  $300.00