Paul Dirac: The Man and his Work

by Abraham Pais , Maurice Jacob , David I. Olive , Michael F. Atiyah

• ISBN13: 9780521019538
• ISBN10: 0521019532
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-09-08
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac was one of the founders of quantum theory. He is numbered alongside Newton, Maxwell and Einstein as one of the greatest physicists of all time. Together the lectures in this volume, originally presented on the occasion of the dedication ceremony for a plaque honoring Dirac in Westminster Abbey, give a unique insight into the relationship between Dirac's character and his scientific achievements. The text begins with the dedication address given by Stephen Hawking at the ceremony. Then Abraham Pais describes Dirac as a person and his approach to his work. Maurice Jacob explains how Dirac was led to introduce the concept of antimatter, and its central role in modern particle physics and cosmology. This is followed by David Olive's account of the origin and enduring influence of Dirac's work on magnetic monopoles. Finally, Sir Michael Atiyah explains the deep and widespread significance of the Dirac equation in mathematics.

Table of Contents

Preface
PETER GODDARD	ix
Dirac Memorial Address
STEPHEN HAWKING	xiii
1 Paul Dirac: aspects of his life and work	1	(45)
ABRAHAM PAIS
2 Antimatter	46	(42)
MAURICE JACOB
3 The monopole	88	(20)
DAVID I. OLIVE
4 The Dirac equation and geometry	108
MICHAEL F. ATIYAH