Critical problems in physics : proceedings of a conference celebrating the 250th anniversary of Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, October 31, November 1, November 2, 1996

Author(s)

    • Fitch, Val L.
    • Marlow, Daniel R.
    • Dementi, Margit Ann Elisabeth

Bibliographic Information

Critical problems in physics : proceedings of a conference celebrating the 250th anniversary of Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, October 31, November 1, November 2, 1996

Val L. Fitch, Daniel R. Marlow, Margit A.E. Dementi, editors

(Princeton series in physics)

Princeton University Press, c1997

  • : pbk

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Note

Includes bibliographical references

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

: pbk ISBN 9780691057842

Description

The past century has seen fantastic advances in physics, from the discovery of the electron, x-rays, and radioactivity, to the era of incredible solid state devices, computers, quarks and leptons, and the standard model. But what of the next? Many scientists think we are on the threshold of an even more exciting new era in which breakthroughs in a startling variety of directions will produce significant changes in our understanding of the natural world. In this book, a group of eminent scientists define and elaborate on these new directions. Ed Witten and Frank Wilczek discuss string theory and the future of particle physics; Donald Perkins describes the search for neutrino oscillations; Alvin Tollestrup reveals dreams of a muon collider at Fermilab to probe the heart of "elementary" particles; and Robert Palmer anticipates a new generation of particle accelerators. Thibault Damour reviews classical gravitation and the relevant new high-precision experiments; Kip Thorne describes the exciting future for gravitational wave astronomy; and Paul Steinhardt examines the recent breakthroughs in observational cosmology and explains what future experiments might reveal. James Langer explores nonequilibrium statistics and relates it to the origins of complexity; Harry Swinney takes an experimentalist's view of the emergence of order in seemingly chaotic systems; and John Hopfield describes an extremely unusual dynamical system--the human brain. Bruce Hillman, M. D., discusses the recent developments in imaging techniques that have brought about outstanding advances in medical diagnostics. T.V. Ramakrishnan looks at high-temperature superconductors, which could eventually revolutionize the solid-state technology on which society is already highly dependent.

Table of Contents

Preface1The 1946 Conference: Then and Now12Nonequilibrium Physics113Dynamics, Computation, and Neurobiology294Emergence and Evolution of Patterns515High Temperature Superconductors756The Ongoing Revolution in Medical Imaging1137Cosmological Challenges for the 21st Century1238Gravitation and Experiment1479Gravitational Waves16710Neutrino Oscillations20111The Tevatron22112High Energy Colliders24713Vistas in Theoretical Physics27114The Future of Particle Physics as a Natural Science281
Volume

ISBN 9780691057859

Description

In this text, a group of scientists define and elaborate on possible new directions in physics that will take place in the next century, and may increase understanding of the natural world. Topics discussed include string physics, the future of particle physics; neutreno oscillations; a new generation of particle accelerators; classical gravitation and new high-precision experiment; gravitational wave astronomy; and breakthroughs in observational cosmology.

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