Overview

John Stewart Bell (1928-1990) was one of the most important figures in twentieth-century physics, famous for his work on the fundamental aspects of the century's most important theory, quantum mechanics. While the debate over quantum theory between the supremely famous physicists, Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr, appeared to have become sterile in the 1930s, Bell was able to revive it and to make crucial advances - Bell's Theorem or Bell's Inequalities. He was able to demonstrate a contradiction between quantum theory and essential elements of pre-quantum theory - locality and causality. The book gives a non-mathematical account of Bell's relatively impoverished upbringing in Belfast and his education. It describes his major contributions to quantum theory, but also his important work in the physics of accelerators, and nuclear and elementary particle physics.

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9780198742999

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Bell's biography reminds us of the obstacles encountered in the making of physics. Whitaker's book, with its vivid biographical depiction and wealth of technical detail, fills a lacuna felt by many historians, philosophers, and physicists. Olival Freire Jr, Physics Today The work of John Bell is integral to modern quantum theory through his famous theorem which sparked a new age of foundational and experimental research; but very little is known about Bell's background and private life. Here Andrew Whitaker has given us a superbly written and insightful biography, free of technicalities and rich in historical detail. Essential reading for physicists and philosophers of physics. Dean Rickles, The University of Sydney, Austrialia This book beautifully chronicles the life story of one of the 20th century's most brilliant, charismatic, and influential geniuses. No, not Richard Feynman, but John Stewart Bell - the man whose epochal discovery arose not from his day job but from his hobby, the universally-admired sage whose views remain widely misunderstood even by those who praise him, and the mild-mannered vegetarian whose penetrating insights will be remembered, centuries from now, for ruthlessly slaying the orthodox quantum philosophy. Travis Norsen, Smith College, USA Whitakers book is the first comprehensive book on John Bells outstanding work and life. As an active researcher in the field of quantum physics, experienced science writer and aided by direct information from the Bell family, Whitaker is the best person for writing such an account. The result is a fascinating book on most important parts of quantum physics and on the people who were involved in it. I can strongly recommend Whitakers book to students, teachers, and researchers as well, in fact, to anybody who is interested in these exciting topics of quantum physics. Reinhold Bertlmann, Vienna, Austria Andrew Whitaker has written a beautiful, compelling, and utterly readable biography of one of the most important physicists of the last century. The ramifications of Bell's theorem continue to be felt in ways John Stewart Bell could not have anticipated in our present century. It is fascinating to read his story starting with upbringing in Belfast (Whitaker's home city) and continuing in Harwell, Birmingham and Geneva. Lucien Hardy, Perimeter Institute

The work of John Bell is integral to modern quantum theory through his famous theorem which sparked a new age of foundational and experimental research; but very little is known about Bell's background and private life. Here Andrew Whitaker has given us a superbly written and insightful biography, free of technicalities and rich in historical detail. Essential reading for physicists and philosophers of physics. Dean Rickles, The University of Sydney, Austrialia This book beautifully chronicles the life story of one of the 20th century's most brilliant, charismatic, and influential geniuses. No, not Richard Feynman, but John Stewart Bell - the man whose epochal discovery arose not from his day job but from his hobby, the universally-admired sage whose views remain widely misunderstood even by those who praise him, and the mild-mannered vegetarian whose penetrating insights will be remembered, centuries from now, for ruthlessly slaying the orthodox quantum philosophy. Travis Norsen, Smith College, USA Whitakers book is the first comprehensive book on John Bells outstanding work and life. As an active researcher in the field of quantum physics, experienced science writer and aided by direct information from the Bell family, Whitaker is the best person for writing such an account. The result is a fascinating book on most important parts of quantum physics and on the people who were involved in it. I can strongly recommend Whitakers book to students, teachers, and researchers as well, in fact, to anybody who is interested in these exciting topics of quantum physics. Reinhold Bertlmann, Vienna, Austria Andrew Whitaker has written a beautiful, compelling, and utterly readable biography of one of the most important physicists of the last century. The ramifications of Bell's theorem continue to be felt in ways John Stewart Bell could not have anticipated in our present century. It is fascinating to read his story starting with upbringing in Belfast (Whitaker's home city) and continuing in Harwell, Birmingham and Geneva. Lucien Hardy, Perimeter Institute

Andrew Whitaker has written a beautiful, compelling, and utterly readable biography of one of the most important physicists of the last century. The ramifications of Bell's theorem continue to be felt in ways John Stewart Bell could not have anticipated in our present century. It is fascinating to read his story starting with upbringing in Belfast (Whitaker's home city) and continuing in Harwell, Birmingham and Geneva. * Lucien Hardy, Perimeter Institute * Whitakers book is the first comprehensive book on John Bells outstanding work and life. As an active researcher in the field of quantum physics, experienced science writer and aided by direct information from the Bell family, Whitaker is the best person for writing such an account. The result is a fascinating book on most important parts of quantum physics and on the people who were involved in it. I can strongly recommend Whitakers book to students, teachers, and researchers as well, in fact, to anybody who is interested in these exciting topics of quantum physics. * Reinhold Bertlmann, Vienna, Austria * This book beautifully chronicles the life story of one of the 20th century's most brilliant, charismatic, and influential geniuses. No, not Richard Feynman, but John Stewart Bell - the man whose epochal discovery arose not from his day job but from his hobby, the universally-admired sage whose views remain widely misunderstood even by those who praise him, and the mild-mannered vegetarian whose penetrating insights will be remembered, centuries from now, for ruthlessly slaying the orthodox quantum philosophy. * Travis Norsen, Smith College, USA * The work of John Bell is integral to modern quantum theory through his famous theorem which sparked a new age of foundational and experimental research; but very little is known about Bell's background and private life. Here Andrew Whitaker has given us a superbly written and insightful biography, free of technicalities and rich in historical detail. Essential reading for physicists and philosophers of physics. * Dean Rickles, The University of Sydney, Austrialia * Andrew Whitaker's account of Bellas life and work is a superb testament to a truly great physicist. His honesty and clarity, as well as his modesty, indeed ring like a bell throughout! As a physicist himself, working on the fundamental aspects of quantum theory, the author is ideally suited to providing the explanations necessary for non-physicists to appreciate Bellas work. He also knows the way in which personal interactions contribute to and affect research, so there are many charming accounts and thumbnail sketches of those whom Bell encountered. Nor has he neglected Bellas domestic life and origins, having interviewed the family and those who taught him. There really cannot be much more to be said about him so this must be the definitive biography. It was a delight to read. * David Bailin, Contemporary Physics * [I]t is nicely illustrated with many pictures of John, his wife Mary and others such as Michael Horne, Daniel Greenberger and Artur Ekert. This is not a book to learn about physics, but to get to know a bit about the man who made one of the most profound, if not the most profound, discoveries of the 20th century. * Nicolas Gisin, Physics World * Bell's biography reminds us of the obstacles encountered in the making of physics. Whitaker's book, with its vivid biographical depiction and wealth of technical detail, fills a lacuna felt by many historians, philosophers, and physicists. * Olival Freire Jr, Physics Today *

Author Information

Andrew Whitaker was awarded a BA in Theoretical Physics from the University of Oxford in 1967 and a PhD in the theory of nuclear magnetic resonance from the University of Nottingham in 1971. He lectured and carried out research at the University of Ulster until 1988, and since then at Queen's University Belfast, where he became a Professor in 1999. Much of his work over the last thirty years has been in the fundamental aspects of quantum theory, in particular the quantum Zeno effect and aspects of Bell's Theorem. He also has an interest in the history of science and has co-edited volumes on Kelvin, Maxwell and physicists of Ireland.

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