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Classical mechanics
Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica
Description: The Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Latin: "mathematical principles of natural philosophy", often Principia or Principia Mathematica for short) is a three-volume work by Isaac Newton published on July 5, 1687. Probably the most influential scientific book ever published, it contains the statement of Newton's laws of motion forming the foundation of classical mechanics as well as his law of universal gravitation. He derives Kepler's laws for the motion of the planets (which were first obtained empirically).In formulating his physical theories, Newton had developed a field of mathematics known as calculus.
Importance: Topic creator, Breakthrough, Influence
Special theory of relativity
On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies
Description: Special relativity, developed in 1905, only considers observers in inertial reference frames which are in uniform motion with respect to each other. Einstein's paper that year was called "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies". While developing this theory, Einstein wrote to Mileva (his wife) about "our work on relative motion". This paper introduced the special theory of relativity, a theory of time, distance, mass and energy. The theory postulates that the speed of light in vacuum will be the same for these observers. Special relativity solved the puzzle that had been apparent since the Michelson-Morley experiment, which had failed to show that light waves were travelling through any medium (other known waves travelled through media - such as water or air). It had been suggested that light waves actually did not travel through any medium: the speed of light was thus fixed, and not relative to the movement of the observer. This was impossible under Newtonian classical mechanics however, and Einstein provided a new system which allowed for this.
Importance: Topic creator, Breakthrough, Influence
The Theory of Relativity
- Ludwik Silberstein
- Cambridge University Press, 1914
Description: This pioneering textbook drew together the now well-known developments of H.A.Lorentz, A. Einstein, and H. Minkowski. It uses concepts developed in the then- current textbooks (e.g. Gibbs: Vector Analysis and Bonola: Non-Euclidean Geometry) to provide entry into mathematical physics including a vector-based introduction to quaternions and a primer on matrix notation for linear transformations of 4-vectors. The ten chapters are composed of 4 on kinematics, 3 on quaternion methods, and 3 on electromagnetism. The second edition published in 1924 extended relativity into gravitation theory with tensor methods, but was superceded by Eddington's text. The book has a conversational style and embellished with appropriate footnotes. While the mathematics is generally well adapted to the text, there is an erroneous expression given for the quaternionic representation of Lorentz transformations. The expression should have the form of an inner automorphism but Silberstein inexplicably uses the expression Q Q , failing to supply one of the Q's with a − 1 exponent. The actual technique in geometric arithmetic comes about with inversive ring geometry applied to biquaternions. Importance: influence
General theory of relativity
The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity
Importance: Topic creator, Breakthrough, Influence
The Mathematical Theory of Relativity
- Arthur Stanley Eddington
- Cambridge University Press, 1923, 1924
Description: This textbook is a tour-de-force of tensor calculus, developed in Chapter II. By page 83 he has deduced the Schwarzschild metric for the domain of events around an isolated massive particle. By page 92 he has explained the advance of the perihelion of the planets, the deflection of light, and displacement of Fraunhofer lines. Electromagnetism is relegated to Chapter VI (pp. 170-195), and later (p. 223) The bifurcation of geometry and electrodynamics. This text, with its ambitious development of pseudo-Riemannian geometry for gravitational theory, set an austere standard with relativity enthusiasts. Gone is any mention of quaternions or hyperbolic geometry since tensor calculus subsumes them. Thus for learning the mechanics of modern relativity this text still serves, but for motivation and context of the special theory, Silberstein is better.
Importance: influence
Quantum theory
On the Law of Distribution of Energy in the Normal Spectrum
- Max Planck
- Annalen der Physik, vol. 4, p. 553 ff (1901).
- On the Law of Distribution of Energy in the Normal Spectrum
Description: In physics, the intensity spectrum of electromagnetic radiation from a black body at temperature T is given by the Planck's law of black body radiation:
where:
- ν is the frequency
- I(ν) is the amount of energy per unit time per unit surface per unit solid angle emitted in the frequency range between ν and ν+δν m-2 Hz-1 sr-1;
- h is Planck's constant,:
- c is the speed of light and
- k is Boltzmann's constant.
Max Planck originally produced this law in 1900 (published in 1901) in an attempt to interpolate between the Rayleigh-Jeans law (which worked at long wavelengths) and Wien's law (which worked at short wavelengths). He found that the above function fit the data for all wavelengths remarkably well.
This paper is considered to be the beginning of quantum theory.
Importance: Topic creator, Breakthrough, Influence
Thermodynamics
An Experimental Enquiry Concerning the Source of the Heat which is Excited by Friction
Description: Observations of the generation of heat during the boring of cannons led Rumford to reject the caloric theory and to contend that heat was a form of motion.
Importance: Influence
On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances
- Reprinted in
Description: Between 1876 and 1878 Gibbs wrote a series of papers collectively entitled "On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances", considered one of the greatest achievements in physical science in the 19th century and the foundation of the science of physical chemistry. In these papers Gibbs applied thermodynamics to the interpretation of physicochemical phenomena and showed the explanation and interrelationship of what had been known only as isolated, inexplicable facts. Gibbs' papers on heterogeneous equilibria included:
- Some chemical potential concepts
- Some free energy concepts
- A Gibbsian ensemble ideal (basis of the statistical mechanics field)
- A phase rule
Importance:
Statistical mechanics
- See also '''list of notable textbooks in statistical mechanics.
On the Motion—Required by the Molecular Kinetic Theory of Heat—of Small Particles Suspended in a Stationary Liquid
Description: In this publication Einstein covered his study of Brownian motion, and provided empirical evidence for the existence of atoms.
Importance:
Scaling laws for Ising models near Tc
- Leo P. Kadanoff
- Physica 2, p. 263 (1966).
Description: Introduces the real space view on the renormalization group, and explains using this concept some relations between the scaling exponents of the Ising model.
Importance: Topic creator, breakthrough, influence
The renormalization group: critical phenomena and the Kondo problem
- Kenneth Wilson
- Rev. Mod. Phys. 47, 4, p. 773-840 (1974)
Importance: Breakthrough, influence
Electromagnetism
A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field
- James Clerk Maxwell
- Maxwell, James Clerk, "A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field". 1865.
Description: "A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field" was the third of James Clerk Maxwell's papers concerned with electromagnetism. The concept of displacement current was introduced, so that it became possible to derive equations of electromagnetic wave. It was the first paper in which Maxwell's equations appeared.
Importance: Topic creator, breakthrough, influence
Fluid dynamics
An experimental investigation of the circumstances which determine whether the motion of water shall be direct or sinuous, and of the law of resistance in parallel channels
- Osbourne Reynolds
- Philosophical Transactions, vol. 174, (1883).
Description: Introduces the dimensionless Reynolds number, investigating the critical Reynolds number for transition from laminar to turbulent flow. ''
The local structure of turbulence in incompressible viscous fluid for very large Reynolds numbers
- A.N. Kolmogorov
- Dokl. Akad. Nauk. SSSR 30, p. 4 (1941). Reprinted in Proc. Roy. Soc. A 434, p. 9 (1991).
Description: Introduces the only quantitative theory on turbulence which has survived the test of time.
Importance: Breakthrough, Influence
Statistical fluid mechanics
- A.S. Monin, A.M. Yaglom
- The MIT press (1971). First edition in Russian by Nauka (1965).
Description: The most important review text on turbulence.
Importance: Relevant textbook.
Nonlinear dynamics and chaos
Deterministic nonperiodic flow
- Edward Lorenz
- Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, vol. 20, p. 130-148 (1963).
Description: A finite system of deterministic nonlinear ordinary differential equations is introduced to represent forced dissipative hydrodynamic flow, simulating simple phenomena in the real atmosphere. All of the solutions are found to be unstable, and most of them nonperiodic, thus forcing to reevaluate the feasibility of long-term weather prediction. In this paper the Lorenz attractor is presented for the first time, and gave the first hint of what is now known as butterfly effect.
Importance: Topic creator, Breakthrough
Quantum field theory
Space-Time approach to Quantum Electrodynamics
- Richard P. Feynman
- Physical Review, vol. 76, 6, p. 769 (1949).
Description: Introduction of the Feynman diagrams approach to quantum electrodynamics.
Importance: Topic creator, Breakthrough, Influence
Cosmology
The Early Universe
- E.W. Kolb, M.S. Turner
- Addison-Wesley, 1990.
Description: The most important reference textbook on cosmology, discussing both observational and theoretical issues.
Importance: Relevant textbook.
Condensed matter physics
Theory of superconductivity
- J. Bardeen, L. N. Cooper, and J. R. Schrieffer
- Phys. Rev. 108 (5), 1175 (1957).
Description: The BCS theory of usual (not high T_c) superconductivity, relating the interaction of electrons and the phonons of a lattice. The authors were awarded with the Nobel prize.
Importance: Breakthrough, Influence
Standard Model
Computational physics
Accelerator physics
Acoustics
Astrophysics
Cryogenics
Polymer physics
Optics
- Published by Optical Society of America:
See Also:List of scientific journals - Optics
Materials physics
Nuclear physics
Plasma physics
The Collected Works of Irving Langmuir (1961)
- Irving Langmuir
- Vol.3: Thermonic Phenomenon: papers from 1916-1937
- Vol.4: Electrical Discharges: papers from 1923-1931
Importance: Influence
Cosmical Electrodynamics, 2nd ed. (1963)
Hannes Alfvén won the Nobel Prize for his development of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) the science that models plasma as fluids. This book lays down the ground work, but also shows that MHD may be inadequate for low-density plasmas such as space plasmas. Nearly twenty years later, Alfvén's book Cosmic Plasma (1981) builds on his two decades of research, and explains how space plasmas may create more complex phenomenon such as Birkeland currents (electric currents) and double layers, and how circuit theory and a knowledge of electric currents should be used to model them.Importance: Topic creator, Breakthrough, Influence
Particle physics
Vehicle dynamics
Astronomy
Biophysics
Cycles
Geophysics
Mathematical physics
- Ising's thesis proving the non-existence of phase transitions in the 1-dimensional Ising model.
- 1946 - Peierls' contour argument proving the existence of phase transitions in higher dimensional Ising models.
- 1976 - Fröhlich, Spencer, and Simon's paper proving the existence of phase transitions of continuous symmetry models in at least 3 dimensions.http://www.springerlink.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&eissn=1432-0916&volume=50&issue=1&spage=79
Medical physics
Chemical physics
Physics of computation
Lloyd, S., 2000, Ultimate physical limits of computation, Nature, 406:1047-1054.
See also
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