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The theory of the electric and magnetic properties of molecules
BOOK REVIEWS
697
J. LEITE LOPES, Fondements de la physique atomique ( H e r m a n n , Paris 1967. 372., 66F) D. W. DAVIES, The theory of the electric and magnetic properties of molecules (John Wiley a n d Sons, L o n d o n , 1967. 279 p., 65/-) T w o new textbooks on atomic physics, the first covering an extended field at an elementary level, the second a m o r e restricted topic f r o m a m o r e a d v a n c e d s t a n d p o i n t ; both following well-trodden paths. L.R.
W. R. FRAZER, Elementary particles (Prentice-Hall, Inc., E n g l e w o o d Cliffs, 1967. 190 p., 56/-) E. H. S. BURHOP (ed.), High energy physics, Volume I (Academic Press, Inc., N e w York, 1967. 499 p., $22.00) F o r beginners or people with only a m a r g i n a l interest in high-energy physics, the first b o o k is quite suitable as a general introduction; it h a s the a d v a n t a g e o f being written by a single a u t h o r w h o h a s a t h o r o u g h grasp o f the subject a n d the ability to p u t the essential into a nutshell. T h o s e engaged in research in the field are being provided with a basic text o f rare excellence, due to the initiative o f Prof. B u r h o p : the latter h a s p l a n n e d a collection o f 16 or 17 m o n o g r a p h s (he says 17 a n d lists 16) which together will cover the whole field a n d will be distributed in three volumes; t h e present v o l u m e contains 5, all written by the m o s t e m i n e n t experts in the respective domains. In the interest o f p r o m p t publication, the editor h a s gathered in this v o l u m e those contributions that were first available; this m e a n s that the three v o l u m e s will n o t c o r r e s p o n d to a logical distribution o f t h e subject matter. In spite o f this, they p r o m i s e to become a s t a n d a r d work o f reference, which will have the possibility o f rejuvenation by the addition o f new v o l u m e s as the need arises; this will c o m pensate the d r a w b a c k o f spread a u t h o r s h i p a n d h a p h a z a r d sequence. L.R.
M. GOURDIN, Unitary symmetries and their application to high energy physics ( N o r t h - H o l l a n d Publ. Co., A m s t e r d a m , 1967. 303 p., 43 Guilders) High-level t e x t b o o k o f g r o u p theory a n d its application to the classification o f the metastable states o f the structures k n o w n as " e l e m e n t a r y particles". O n e m a y be indulgent to the a u t h o r for misspelling O ' R a i f e a r t a i g h ; b u t u n d e r which group is R o s e n b e r g equivalent to Rosenfeld? L.R.
A. ROSENFELD,Men of Physics: Irving Langmuir ( P e r g a m o n Press, Oxford, 1966, 369 p., 17/6) T h e b i o g r a p h y o f Irving L a n g m u i r which f o r m e d the 12th v o l u m e o f his Collected W o r k s published in 1961 has n o w been issued separately in a p a p e r b a c k o f the series "Selected R e a d i n g s in P h y s ics". T h e a u t h o r , w h o is the science editor o f " L i f e " m a g a z i n e , has certainly m a d e the m o s t , a n d p r o b a b l y the best, o f a s o m e w h a t barren subject. L a n g m u i r ' s scientific work is certainly o f s u p r e m e excellence, both for t h e experimental skill, the clear a n d straightforward theoretical t h i n k i n g a n d the a m a z i n g flair for the small effects whose s t u d y m i g h t be rewarding a n d the steadiness o f p u r p o s e in following up a line o f investigation. O n the other h a n d , his discoveries have n o t the g r a n d e u r o f Einstein's or Bohr's, which opened up entirely new prospects affecting h u m a n knowledge in its deeppest f o u n d a t i o n s . A n d it m u s t be said that L a n g m u i r ' s independence o f j u d g m e n t , which was his strength, was also his weakness: he also e m b a r k e d with the same steadiness on a n u m b e r o f lines o f investigation w h i c h experienced workers in the field readily recognized as being misguided. In this biography, the a c c o u n t o f L a n g m u i r ' s scientific activity is s e c o n d - h a n d a n d rather u n b a l a n c e d , inclining to hero-worship. A s to the description o f his private life, which is based on family d o c u m e n t s and records is detailed, it offers a picture o f A m e r i c a n plutocratic society in the first h a l f o f this century, w h i c h is - to E u r o p e a n tast at least - rather unengaging, a n d is n o t i m p r o v e d by the a u t h o r ' s servile a d m i r a t i o n . L.R.
697
J. LEITE LOPES, Fondements de la physique atomique ( H e r m a n n , Paris 1967. 372., 66F) D. W. DAVIES, The theory of the electric and magnetic properties of molecules (John Wiley a n d Sons, L o n d o n , 1967. 279 p., 65/-) T w o new textbooks on atomic physics, the first covering an extended field at an elementary level, the second a m o r e restricted topic f r o m a m o r e a d v a n c e d s t a n d p o i n t ; both following well-trodden paths. L.R.
W. R. FRAZER, Elementary particles (Prentice-Hall, Inc., E n g l e w o o d Cliffs, 1967. 190 p., 56/-) E. H. S. BURHOP (ed.), High energy physics, Volume I (Academic Press, Inc., N e w York, 1967. 499 p., $22.00) F o r beginners or people with only a m a r g i n a l interest in high-energy physics, the first b o o k is quite suitable as a general introduction; it h a s the a d v a n t a g e o f being written by a single a u t h o r w h o h a s a t h o r o u g h grasp o f the subject a n d the ability to p u t the essential into a nutshell. T h o s e engaged in research in the field are being provided with a basic text o f rare excellence, due to the initiative o f Prof. B u r h o p : the latter h a s p l a n n e d a collection o f 16 or 17 m o n o g r a p h s (he says 17 a n d lists 16) which together will cover the whole field a n d will be distributed in three volumes; t h e present v o l u m e contains 5, all written by the m o s t e m i n e n t experts in the respective domains. In the interest o f p r o m p t publication, the editor h a s gathered in this v o l u m e those contributions that were first available; this m e a n s that the three v o l u m e s will n o t c o r r e s p o n d to a logical distribution o f t h e subject matter. In spite o f this, they p r o m i s e to become a s t a n d a r d work o f reference, which will have the possibility o f rejuvenation by the addition o f new v o l u m e s as the need arises; this will c o m pensate the d r a w b a c k o f spread a u t h o r s h i p a n d h a p h a z a r d sequence. L.R.
M. GOURDIN, Unitary symmetries and their application to high energy physics ( N o r t h - H o l l a n d Publ. Co., A m s t e r d a m , 1967. 303 p., 43 Guilders) High-level t e x t b o o k o f g r o u p theory a n d its application to the classification o f the metastable states o f the structures k n o w n as " e l e m e n t a r y particles". O n e m a y be indulgent to the a u t h o r for misspelling O ' R a i f e a r t a i g h ; b u t u n d e r which group is R o s e n b e r g equivalent to Rosenfeld? L.R.
A. ROSENFELD,Men of Physics: Irving Langmuir ( P e r g a m o n Press, Oxford, 1966, 369 p., 17/6) T h e b i o g r a p h y o f Irving L a n g m u i r which f o r m e d the 12th v o l u m e o f his Collected W o r k s published in 1961 has n o w been issued separately in a p a p e r b a c k o f the series "Selected R e a d i n g s in P h y s ics". T h e a u t h o r , w h o is the science editor o f " L i f e " m a g a z i n e , has certainly m a d e the m o s t , a n d p r o b a b l y the best, o f a s o m e w h a t barren subject. L a n g m u i r ' s scientific work is certainly o f s u p r e m e excellence, both for t h e experimental skill, the clear a n d straightforward theoretical t h i n k i n g a n d the a m a z i n g flair for the small effects whose s t u d y m i g h t be rewarding a n d the steadiness o f p u r p o s e in following up a line o f investigation. O n the other h a n d , his discoveries have n o t the g r a n d e u r o f Einstein's or Bohr's, which opened up entirely new prospects affecting h u m a n knowledge in its deeppest f o u n d a t i o n s . A n d it m u s t be said that L a n g m u i r ' s independence o f j u d g m e n t , which was his strength, was also his weakness: he also e m b a r k e d with the same steadiness on a n u m b e r o f lines o f investigation w h i c h experienced workers in the field readily recognized as being misguided. In this biography, the a c c o u n t o f L a n g m u i r ' s scientific activity is s e c o n d - h a n d a n d rather u n b a l a n c e d , inclining to hero-worship. A s to the description o f his private life, which is based on family d o c u m e n t s and records is detailed, it offers a picture o f A m e r i c a n plutocratic society in the first h a l f o f this century, w h i c h is - to E u r o p e a n tast at least - rather unengaging, a n d is n o t i m p r o v e d by the a u t h o r ' s servile a d m i r a t i o n . L.R.