This volume reviews conceptual conflicts at the foundations of physics now and in the past century. The focus is on the conditions and consequences of Einstein's pathbreaking achievements that sealed the decline of the classical notions of space, time, radiation, and matter, and resulted in the theory of relativity.

Contributions form notable experts offer both new and historical insights on relativity, gravity, quantum theory, field theory, and the history of physics Topics give detailed mathematical discussions of relativity Explores recent developments and applications in the general theory of relativity Includes works by leading experts in Einstein studies along with several eminent physicists and mathematicians working in related areas Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext
Professor Jürgen Renn ist "Einstein-Experte" und Direktor am Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte in Berlin. Zu seinen Arbeitsschwerpunkten zählen die Entstehung der Mechanik in der Antike, Wechselwirkungen von praktischem und theoretischem Wissen seit der Renaissance, der Übergang von der klassischen zur modernen Physik, die Entstehung der Relativitätstheorie und der Einsatz neuer Medien in der Wissenschaftsgeschichte. Professor Renn war Koordinator der Ausstellung 'Albert Einstein - Ingenieur des Universums', die von Mai bis September 2005 in Berlin stattfand.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Part I: At the Limits of the Classical Worldview.- Theories of Gravitation in the Twilight of Classical Physics.- The Newtonian Theory of Light Propagation.- Mach and Einstein, or, Clearing Troubled Waters in the History of Science.- Part II: Contexts of the Relativity Revolution.- Tilling the Seedbed of Einstein's Politics: A Pre-1905 Harbinger?.- The Early Reception of Einstein's Relativity among British Philosophers.- Science and Ideology in Einstein's Visit to South America in 1925.- The Reception of Einstein's Relativity Theories in Literature and the Arts (19201950).- Part III: The Emergence of the Relativistic Worldview.- Hilbert's Axiomatic Method and his "Foundations of Physics": Reconciling Causality with the Axiom of General Invariance.- Not Only Because of Theory: Dyson, Eddington and the Competing Myths of the 1919 Eclipse Expedition.- Peter Havas (19162004).- Peter Bergmann and the Invention of Constrained Hamiltonian Dynamics.- Thoughts About a Conceptual Framework for Relativistic Gravity.- Part IV: A New Worldview in the Making.- Observational Tests of General Relativity: An Historical Look at Measurements Prior to the Advent of Modern Space-Borne Instruments.- Primordial Magnetic Fields and Cosmic Microwave Background.- Singularity Theorems in General Relativity: Achievements and Open Questions.- The History and Present Status of Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime.- The Border Between Relativity and Quantum Theory.- The Issue of the Beginning in Quantum Gravity.