Gino Segre

Faust in Copenhagen

In the 1920's and 1930's, Niels Bohr organised annual meetings at his Copenhagen Institute. These informal conferences gave physicists the chance to exchange ideas on the what was happening at the forefront of physics. It became the tradition for some of the younger attendees to put on a skit poking fun at more experienced physicists. In Faust in Copenhagen: A Struggle for the Soul of Physics, Gino Segrè links the 1932 skit with the progress of physics and the lives of physicists of this era.

1932 was the centenary of Goethe's death, and his Faust was an obvious basis for the skit. Thus characters from the story were linked to some of the well known physicists, most of whom were at the conference, each played by a young physicist. Thus the Lord (Niels Bohr) struggles with Mephisto (Wolfgang Pauli) over the soul of Faust (Ehrenfest). Segrè describes how these and many others played their part in advancing the understanding of the new physics of quantum theory, including Werner Heisenberg, Paul Dirac, Max Delbrück and Lise Meitner. Some of these were not much older than the students performing the skit, and it would have been assumed that these in their turn would take their place in the struggle to understand quantum theory. However, as it turned out, the coming years had something different for them - the development of nuclear fission and thus the atom bomb, showing an extra relevance of the Faustian link (although this aspect is covered less than you might expect from a first sight of the book) Its a skillfully written book, and gives the reader insight into the roles of the physicists of the 1920's and 30's. It helped me to understand why the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum theory, despite its flaws, gained such ground. I'd recommend it to all readers who want to understand the people who had such inflence on modern physics.

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Hardcover 384 pages
ISBN: 067003858X
Salesrank: 333578
Weight:1.1 lbs

Published: 2007 Viking Adult

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Hardcover 320 pages
ISBN: 0224072560
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Weight:1.41 lbs

Published: 2007 Jonathan Cape

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Hardcover 384 pages
ISBN: 067003858X
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Product Description
A fascinating look at the landmark 1932 gathering of the biggest names in physics Known by physicists as the “miracle year,” 1932 saw the discovery of the neutron and the first artificially induced nuclear transmutation. However, while physicists celebrated these momentous discoveries—which presaged the era of big science and nuclear bombs—Europe was moving inexorably toward totalitarianism and war. In April of that year, about forty of the world’s leading physicists—including Werner Heisenberg, Lise Meitner, and Paul Dirac—came to Niels Bohr’s Copenhagen Institute for their annual informal meeting about the frontiers of physics. Physicist Gino Segrè brings to life this historic gathering, which ended with a humorous skit based on Goethe’s Faust—a skit that eerily foreshadowed events that would soon unfold. Little did the scientists know the Faustian bargains they would face in the near future. Capturing the interplay between the great scientists as well as the discoveries they discussed and debated, Segrè evokes the moment when physics—and the world—was about to lose its innocence.

Product Description

A fascinating look at the landmark 1932 gathering of the biggest names in physics

Known by physicists as the “miracle year,” 1932 saw the discovery of the neutron and the first artificially induced nuclear transmutation. However, while physicists celebrated these momentous discoveries—which presaged the era of big science and nuclear bombs—Europe was moving inexorably toward totalitarianism and war. In April of that year, about forty of the world’s leading physicists—including Werner Heisenberg, Lise Meitner, and Paul Dirac—came to Niels Bohr’s Copenhagen Institute for their annual informal meeting about the frontiers of physics.

Physicist Gino Segrè brings to life this historic gathering, which ended with a humorous skit based on Goethe’s Faust—a skit that eerily foreshadowed events that would soon unfold. Little did the scientists know the Faustian bargains they would face in the near future. Capturing the interplay between the great scientists as well as the discoveries they discussed and debated, Segrè evokes the moment when physics—and the world—was about to lose its innocence.

The Great Heart of Bohr *****
In "Faust in Copenhagen", Gino Segre takes the reader through the history of the development of the theory of quantum mechanics by looking at the people and their work that made the revolution possible. The book wisely focuses more on the personalities and lives of the young and brilliant minds that reshaped humanity's understanding of the world of the very small than on the specifics of the highly technical and mathematic science done by those minds. The centerpiece of the narrative is the 1932 meeting at Neil Bohr's Copenhagen Institute in what is called by many the "Miracle Year" of science and the the touchstone of this narrative is the parody of Goethe's Faust written and performed by the junior attendees at the conference. It is through the lines of this parody that Segre introduces us to the principle players in the narrative and shows us the issues facing them as they passed from being the young, upstart visionaries they came into the story as to becoming the wisened old hands (so to speak). The central figure in the story is Neils Bohr and I can honesty say that I've never read an account that is as good at revealing the deep character of the man who shepherded physics through a tumultuous time by nurturing and encouraging the brightest young mind around the world in peering into unknown. Additionally, much time is spent discussing the other great figures, Heisenberg and Pauli. The final thing that sets the narrative apart is the deep sense of poignancy the story has as the events unfold in the shadow of Hilter and that Nazi party's growing power and rise within Germany. Segre's personal connections to the events and times are shared which adds a deep richness and familiarity to what is related so that I never felt like I was reading some dry, cleaned up version but instead a more personal "fireside" recollection. The only drawback of the book is that I would love to have seen a complete copy of the Copenhagen Faust as an appendix to the book. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend this book to any student of physics, history of science or the culture of Europe in the period between the two world wars.

The Great Heart of Bohr *****

In "Faust in Copenhagen", Gino Segre takes the reader through the history of the development of the theory of quantum mechanics by looking at the people and their work that made the revolution possible. The book wisely focuses more on the personalities and lives of the young and brilliant minds that reshaped humanity's understanding of the world of the very small than on the specifics of the highly technical and mathematic science done by those minds.

The centerpiece of the narrative is the 1932 meeting at Neil Bohr's Copenhagen Institute in what is called by many the "Miracle Year" of science and the the touchstone of this narrative is the parody of Goethe's Faust written and performed by the junior attendees at the conference. It is through the lines of this parody that Segre introduces us to the principle players in the narrative and shows us the issues facing them as they passed from being the young, upstart visionaries they came into the story as to becoming the wisened old hands (so to speak).

The central figure in the story is Neils Bohr and I can honesty say that I've never read an account that is as good at revealing the deep character of the man who shepherded physics through a tumultuous time by nurturing and encouraging the brightest young mind around the world in peering into unknown. Additionally, much time is spent discussing the other great figures, Heisenberg and Pauli.

The final thing that sets the narrative apart is the deep sense of poignancy the story has as the events unfold in the shadow of Hilter and that Nazi party's growing power and rise within Germany. Segre's personal connections to the events and times are shared which adds a deep richness and familiarity to what is related so that I never felt like I was reading some dry, cleaned up version but instead a more personal "fireside" recollection.

The only drawback of the book is that I would love to have seen a complete copy of the Copenhagen Faust as an appendix to the book. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend this book to any student of physics, history of science or the culture of Europe in the period between the two world wars.

History of quantum theory with personal touch ****
Well written book consists of a lot of interesting historical information. Seven "main characters" are shown in a process of creating quantum theory. All other figures are randomly chosen, many names are missing, others are mentioned briefly.

History of quantum theory with personal touch ****

Well written book consists of a lot of interesting historical information. Seven "main characters" are shown in a process of creating quantum theory. All other figures are randomly chosen, many names are missing, others are mentioned briefly.

Clear insights into a complex world ****
Excellent book with fascinating characters - Bohr, Einstein, Heisenberg, Fermi, et al leap out of the page with a clarity that makes one appreciative of what each contributed to our understanding of the physical universe. It helps to have at least some basic grounding in physics but you don't have to be an expert by any means. Segre mixes anecdotes with concepts quite well and using the eponymous skit as a framework, paints vivid pictures of each of the principals involved. You get to know them about as well as one could from a book. One minor quibble - Segre makes great mention of models and formulas which would have been aided by an appendix with some sort of illustration. Understanding that such complexities are simply not easily explained to a layman, even a crude depiction might have been helpful in grasping the concepts at play.

Clear insights into a complex world ****

Excellent book with fascinating characters - Bohr, Einstein, Heisenberg, Fermi, et al leap out of the page with a clarity that makes one appreciative of what each contributed to our understanding of the physical universe.

It helps to have at least some basic grounding in physics but you don't have to be an expert by any means. Segre mixes anecdotes with concepts quite well and using the eponymous skit as a framework, paints vivid pictures of each of the principals involved. You get to know them about as well as one could from a book.

One minor quibble - Segre makes great mention of models and formulas which would have been aided by an appendix with some sort of illustration. Understanding that such complexities are simply not easily explained to a layman, even a crude depiction might have been helpful in grasping the concepts at play.

The Fascinating History of Quantum Physics *****
Gino Segre is a physicist at the University of Pennsylvania and who's uncle Emilio Segre studied under Enrico Fermi. In his new book "Faust in Copenhagen: A Struggle for the soul of Physics" he effectively uses a skit parody of Goethe's "Faust" to introduce the reader to the founders of Quantum Theory and especially to the "Copenhagen interpretation" of Quantum Mechanics. The skit was conceived by George Gamow (who later published it in one of his own books) and mostly written by Max Delbruck. It was to be performed by the younger scientists at Niels Bohr's annual gathering at his Copenhagen Institute in 1932. The attenders were many of the then and future big names of theoretical physics, plus Lise Meitner, the lone woman and an experimental physicist. These included Bohr, Paul Dirac, Werner Heisenberg, Meitner and Delbruck. Wolfgang Pauli did not make it, but was portrayed as "Mephisto" in the skit. Einstein never attended these meetings because he was not happy with the whole turn of Quantum Mechanics, which seemed to make the universe a victim of chance. This is a brilliant retelling of a fascinating story of scientific discovery. Segre also weaves some of his own family history into the tale, which gives the reader a taste of the personal and political, as well as the scientific, turmoil of the times. The year also saw Adolph Hitler's rise to power in Germany, an event that would soon affect them all. Such connections help us understand the monumental difficulties and the strengths and weaknesses of the people involved in this remarkable period. In fact 1932 was called "The Miracle Year" by many physicists, although Einstein, for one, was not satisfied. He eventually retired to his study at Princeton to work, rather fruitlessly, on the Unified Field Theory, still fighting with Bohr and others over the "incomplete" Quantum Theory. Eventually the "Copenhagen Interpretation" became a fixture in Quantum Mechanics, still standing to this day, despite constant and ongoing attacks. This is certainly how the best science is done, with the participants usually still speaking to each other, despite deep philosophical differences. Segre has made all of these historical and physical details come alive in his book. I recommend it highly to anyone who would try to understand what Quantum Physics is all about.

The Fascinating History of Quantum Physics *****

Gino Segre is a physicist at the University of Pennsylvania and who's uncle Emilio Segre studied under Enrico Fermi. In his new book "Faust in Copenhagen: A Struggle for the soul of Physics" he effectively uses a skit parody of Goethe's "Faust" to introduce the reader to the founders of Quantum Theory and especially to the "Copenhagen interpretation" of Quantum Mechanics. The skit was conceived by George Gamow (who later published it in one of his own books) and mostly written by Max Delbruck. It was to be performed by the younger scientists at Niels Bohr's annual gathering at his Copenhagen Institute in 1932. The attenders were many of the then and future big names of theoretical physics, plus Lise Meitner, the lone woman and an experimental physicist. These included Bohr, Paul Dirac, Werner Heisenberg, Meitner and Delbruck. Wolfgang Pauli did not make it, but was portrayed as "Mephisto" in the skit. Einstein never attended these meetings because he was not happy with the whole turn of Quantum Mechanics, which seemed to make the universe a victim of chance.

This is a brilliant retelling of a fascinating story of scientific discovery. Segre also weaves some of his own family history into the tale, which gives the reader a taste of the personal and political, as well as the scientific, turmoil of the times. The year also saw Adolph Hitler's rise to power in Germany, an event that would soon affect them all. Such connections help us understand the monumental difficulties and the strengths and weaknesses of the people involved in this remarkable period. In fact 1932 was called "The Miracle Year" by many physicists, although Einstein, for one, was not satisfied. He eventually retired to his study at Princeton to work, rather fruitlessly, on the Unified Field Theory, still fighting with Bohr and others over the "incomplete" Quantum Theory.

Eventually the "Copenhagen Interpretation" became a fixture in Quantum Mechanics, still standing to this day, despite constant and ongoing attacks. This is certainly how the best science is done, with the participants usually still speaking to each other, despite deep philosophical differences.

Segre has made all of these historical and physical details come alive in his book. I recommend it highly to anyone who would try to understand what Quantum Physics is all about.

Physics, genius, humanity. 5 stars. *****
Some years ago I read, and greatly enjoyed, George Gamow's `Thirty Years that Shook Physics: The Story of Quantum Theory,' so I new something of Segre's theme as soon as I saw his title (Segre is a professor of physics at the University of Pennsylvania). In Gamow's book, the account of the Copenhagen "Faust" of 1932 had been a postscript, included to show how great minds--the discoverers and framers of quantum theory--were given to playfulness. Gamow, unfortunately, wasn't present that evening, having been denied travel to Denmark by the Soviet police state, but he not only included the script of the skit in his book, his own drawings illustrated it. Appropriately, Segre's book is dedicated to the memory of Gamow. But the `Faust' skit/ parody is just a poignant `thumbnail' of a hugely fascinating period of explosive intellectual achievements. Segre's book starts slowly, perhaps awkwardly from a literary perspective (at least it struck me that way as I began to read it), but immediately he foreshadows that his accounts are pregnant with fascinating scientific, human, and historical insights. Segre does not fail to make good on the promise. 1932 proved to be "the miracle year" and something of a triumphal culmination for quantum theory, not because all of its problems were then solved--they still are not--but because by the end of that year its startling cadre of guiding geniuses, most notably Bohr, Pauli, Heisenberg, Fermi, and Dirac, had all done their finest work (though still admired by the `boy physicists,' Planck and Einstein had made their great contributions two and three decades earlier). It was the golden year of the golden age of physics, the headiest time in the whole history of science. From the early 1920s through the early 30s, due to the great influence and impulsion of Bohr, Copenhagen was the hub for brilliant boyish physicists delving eagerly into a strange new understanding of the world. Then Hitler happened, and the world changed in many ways. Well, that's just my own abrupt synopsis, Segre's book tells the story beautifully. In due course, Segre does an excellent job of explaining and connecting the principle insights of quantum theory, he unveils not merely cold genius but the humanity and frailty of genius. The reader will sense that he/she has come to somehow know these men and women (yes, there were some women in this `man's world'), and to care about them, especially Bohr, Heisenberg, Pauli, and Ehrenfest. The `human factor' of Segre's book certainly exceeds that of most texts on physics. The author begins by telling the reader that this will be quite a story. And it is. The deeper one gets into it, the harder it becomes to put the book down. For the last 140 pages or so, I had no inclination to stop and finished the book around 2:30 AM--something that is hardly typical although I read many books. Segre has authored a tremendous book about science that is also a book about the humanity of frail human genius, and even about humanity generally. Gamow's book (Thirty Years that Shook Physics) is wonderful; professor Segre's book is even better.

Physics, genius, humanity. 5 stars. *****

Some years ago I read, and greatly enjoyed, George Gamow's `Thirty Years that Shook Physics: The Story of Quantum Theory,' so I new something of Segre's theme as soon as I saw his title (Segre is a professor of physics at the University of Pennsylvania). In Gamow's book, the account of the Copenhagen "Faust" of 1932 had been a postscript, included to show how great minds--the discoverers and framers of quantum theory--were given to playfulness. Gamow, unfortunately, wasn't present that evening, having been denied travel to Denmark by the Soviet police state, but he not only included the script of the skit in his book, his own drawings illustrated it. Appropriately, Segre's book is dedicated to the memory of Gamow. But the `Faust' skit/ parody is just a poignant `thumbnail' of a hugely fascinating period of explosive intellectual achievements.

Segre's book starts slowly, perhaps awkwardly from a literary perspective (at least it struck me that way as I began to read it), but immediately he foreshadows that his accounts are pregnant with fascinating scientific, human, and historical insights. Segre does not fail to make good on the promise.

1932 proved to be "the miracle year" and something of a triumphal culmination for quantum theory, not because all of its problems were then solved--they still are not--but because by the end of that year its startling cadre of guiding geniuses, most notably Bohr, Pauli, Heisenberg, Fermi, and Dirac, had all done their finest work (though still admired by the `boy physicists,' Planck and Einstein had made their great contributions two and three decades earlier). It was the golden year of the golden age of physics, the headiest time in the whole history of science. From the early 1920s through the early 30s, due to the great influence and impulsion of Bohr, Copenhagen was the hub for brilliant boyish physicists delving eagerly into a strange new understanding of the world. Then Hitler happened, and the world changed in many ways.

Well, that's just my own abrupt synopsis, Segre's book tells the story beautifully. In due course, Segre does an excellent job of explaining and connecting the principle insights of quantum theory, he unveils not merely cold genius but the humanity and frailty of genius. The reader will sense that he/she has come to somehow know these men and women (yes, there were some women in this `man's world'), and to care about them, especially Bohr, Heisenberg, Pauli, and Ehrenfest. The `human factor' of Segre's book certainly exceeds that of most texts on physics.

The author begins by telling the reader that this will be quite a story. And it is. The deeper one gets into it, the harder it becomes to put the book down. For the last 140 pages or so, I had no inclination to stop and finished the book around 2:30 AM--something that is hardly typical although I read many books. Segre has authored a tremendous book about science that is also a book about the humanity of frail human genius, and even about humanity generally. Gamow's book (Thirty Years that Shook Physics) is wonderful; professor Segre's book is even better.