The natural laws of the universe : understanding fundamental constants

Author(s)

    • Uzan, Jean-Philippe
    • Leclercq, Bénédicte

Bibliographic Information

The natural laws of the universe : understanding fundamental constants

Jean-Philippe Uzan, Bénédicte Leclercq

(Springer-Praxis books in popular astronomy)

Springer , published in association with Praxis, c2008

Other Title

De l'importance d'être une constante

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Note

Includes bibliographical references ([p. 127]-128) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This book examines constants, the role they play in the laws of physics, and whether indeed constants can be verified. From the laboratory to the depths of space, it explores the paths of gravitation, general relativity and new theories such as that of superstrings. Coverage investigates the solidity of the foundations of physics and discusses the implications of the discovery of the non-constancy of a constant. The book even goes beyond the subject of constants to explain and discuss many ideas in physics, encountering along the way, for example, such exciting details as the discovery of a natural nuclear reactor at Oklo in Gabon.

Table of Contents

Foundations: universality in physics.- Fundamental constants: pillars of the edifice.- Planning the edifice: structure of theories.- Proportions: dimensionless parameters.- Atoms under close examination.- A constant in the clouds.- What if they did vary? Gravity waits in the wings.- Strings attached: towards multiple universes.

by "Nielsen BookData"

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