BOHR, Niels (1885-1962). Autograph manuscript, diagrams and notes relating to quantum physics, each leaf annotated and signed by Ernest Lawrence, ‘Bohr’s “scribbling” in connection with our discussions on the train between Berkeley and Omaha, June...
BOHR, Niels (1885-1962). Autograph manuscript, diagrams and notes relating to quantum physics, each leaf annotated and signed by Ernest Lawrence, ‘Bohr’s “scribbling” in connection with our discussions on the train between Berkeley and Omaha, June 10-12 [or 13], 1933’.
Four pages (two leaves) in pencil, 277 x 213mm (minor chips and tears to top and bottom margin, staple holes clear of text, paper clip mark). Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Lewis L. Strauss (businessman, public official, naval officer, 1896-1974: typed letter by David Judd to Strauss discussing the manuscript, 25 February 1960, 4 pages).
Bohr thinking out loud on subjects including the uncertainty principle, his great debate with Einstein about the limitations of the quantum approach, particle scattering and the stopping power of matter. Bohr’s ‘scribblings’, deriving from a dialogue on board a train with the nuclear scientist and Nobel laureate Ernest O. Lawrence, are decrypted by David Judd as beginning with discussion of Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, including two sketches representing elementary quantum mechanics, the first showing double slit diffraction, with notations representing uncertainties in the measurements of particles, together with Planck’s constant; in the lower part of f.1r, Bohr notes Einstein’s proposed device for removing the uncertainties in quantum measurements, part of his long-running argument with Bohr as to whether our knowledge of atomic events could ever go beyond the statistical. On f.1v, Bohr ‘describes a further application of the uncertainty principle to the simultaneous measurement of perpendicular components of [an] electric field’ (Judd). The second leaf relates to ‘scattering of an incident beam of particles by an atom, followed (on the verso) by ‘a description … of the theory of the stopping power of matter’.
As Judd writes, Bohr’s notes represent ‘the most usual and most fruitful method of communication between two physicists. The informality, the excited concern for concepts, and the consequent disregard of draftsmanship … characterize the dialogues on which advances in physics are based’.
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BOHR, Niels (1885-1962). Autograph manuscript, diagrams and notes relating to quantum physics, each leaf annotated and signed by Ernest Lawrence, ‘Bohr’s “scribbling” in connection with our discussions on the train between Berkeley and Omaha, June 10-12 [or 13], 1933’.
Four pages (two leaves) in pencil, 277 x 213mm (minor chips and tears to top and bottom margin, staple holes clear of text, paper clip mark). Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Lewis L. Strauss (businessman, public official, naval officer, 1896-1974: typed letter by David Judd to Strauss discussing the manuscript, 25 February 1960, 4 pages).
Bohr thinking out loud on subjects including the uncertainty principle, his great debate with Einstein about the limitations of the quantum approach, particle scattering and the stopping power of matter. Bohr’s ‘scribblings’, deriving from a dialogue on board a train with the nuclear scientist and Nobel laureate Ernest O. Lawrence, are decrypted by David Judd as beginning with discussion of Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, including two sketches representing elementary quantum mechanics, the first showing double slit diffraction, with notations representing uncertainties in the measurements of particles, together with Planck’s constant; in the lower part of f.1r, Bohr notes Einstein’s proposed device for removing the uncertainties in quantum measurements, part of his long-running argument with Bohr as to whether our knowledge of atomic events could ever go beyond the statistical. On f.1v, Bohr ‘describes a further application of the uncertainty principle to the simultaneous measurement of perpendicular components of [an] electric field’ (Judd). The second leaf relates to ‘scattering of an incident beam of particles by an atom, followed (on the verso) by ‘a description … of the theory of the stopping power of matter’.
As Judd writes, Bohr’s notes represent ‘the most usual and most fruitful method of communication between two physicists. The informality, the excited concern for concepts, and the consequent disregard of draftsmanship … characterize the dialogues on which advances in physics are based’.
Special Notice
These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
