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History and Philosophy of Physics papers — page 109

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On the concepts of vacuum and mass and the search for higgs
Some recollections on the recent history of the concepts of vacuum and mass and the search for higgs. According to the widely spread terminology the Higgs field permeates vacuum and serves as the…
L. B. OkunDec 5, 2012
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Sound and motion in the De Generatione Sonorum, a treatise by Robert Grosseteste
Here I am proposing a discussion of some parts of the De Generatione Sonorum, one of the short treatises written by Robert Grosseteste. The main subject of this treatise is the phonetics. However,…
Amelia Carolina SparavignaDec 5, 2012
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The Comets of Caroline Herschel (1750-1848), Sleuth of the Skies at Slough
In this paper, we discuss the work on comets of Caroline Herschel, the first female comet-hunter. After leaving Bath for the environs of Windsor Castle and eventually Slough, she discovered at least…
Roberta J. M. Olson, Jay M. PasachoffDec 4, 2012
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Early Cosmic-Ray Work Published in German
The article gives an overview on early cosmic-ray work, published in German in the period from around 1910 to about 1940.
Joerg R. HoerandelDec 4, 2012
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On the history of the strong interaction
These lecture notes recall the conceptual developments which led from the discovery of the neutron to our present understanding of strong interaction physics.
H. LeutwylerNov 28, 2012
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A Brief History of the Energy-Momentum Tensor; 1900-1912
A critical look at the history of relativistic dynamics.
Jean-Pierre ProvostNov 28, 2012
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Quanta: The Originality of Einstein's Approach to Relativity?
We suggest that not only quanta may have played a role in Einstein's ideas on relativity, but that they themselves may be related to the dynamical and relativistic behaviour of the…
Christian BraccoNov 28, 2012
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Translation and discussion of the De Iride, a treatise on optics by Robert Grosseteste
Here I am proposing a translation and discussion of the De Iride, one of the short scientific treatise written by Robert Grosseteste. In the first part of his Latin text we find reflection and…
Amelia Carolina SparavignaNov 26, 2012
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The Cosmological Constant
Contrary to popular mythology, Einstein did not invent the cosmological constant just in order construct his model universe. He discussed it earlier in "The Foundations of General Relativity"…
Alex HarveyNov 23, 2012
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How Einstein Discovered Dark Energy
In 1917 Einstein published his Cosmological Considerations Concerning the General Theory of Relativity. In it was the first use of the cosmological constant. Shortly thereafter Schrödinger presented…
Alex HarveyNov 22, 2012
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L'Astronomia del Venerdi' Santo e l'ora della Sindone
The solar eclipse of Good Friday has always been recognized as a problem from the astronomical point of view. The date of Crucifixion has been investigated by many scholars and the most accredited…
Costantino SigismondiNov 19, 2012
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Il Santo Sepolcro, orientamento astronomico della basilica e le omelie di san Cirillo di Gerusalemme
On the spur of Calvary the Shroud appears. On this rock the Scriptures are fulfilled, and this rock, located exactly to the West of the Temple of Jerusalem, becomes mystically the new orient, place…
Costantino SigismondiNov 19, 2012
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Francesco Ingoli's essay to Galileo: Tycho Brahe and science in the Inquisition's condemnation of the Copernican theory
In January of 1616, the month before before the Roman Inquisition would infamously condemn the Copernican theory as being "foolish and absurd in philosophy", Monsignor Francesco Ingoli…
Christopher M. GraneyNov 18, 2012
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From cosmic ray physics to cosmic ray astronomy: Bruno Rossi and the opening of new windows on the universe
Bruno Rossi is considered one of the fathers of modern physics, being also a pioneer in virtually every aspect of what is today called high-energy astrophysics. At the beginning of 1930s he was the…
Luisa BonolisNov 16, 2012
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On the Unavoidability of the Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics
Recently, the presence in the literature (also recent) of voluminous discussions about the interpretation of quantum mechanics has been labelled as scandalous. We claim that a weak point of the…
Roberto Beneduci, Franklin E. SchroeckNov 16, 2012
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The worldwide impact of Donati's comet on art and society in the mid-19th century
Donati's comet was one of the most impressive astronomical events of the nineteenth century. Its extended sword-like tail was a spectacular sight that inspired several literary and artistic…
Antonella Gasperini, Daniele Galli, Laura NenziNov 16, 2012
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Highlights from RHIC Plus some earlier BNL Highlights in Subnuclear Physics
Highlights of the contributions of Brookhaven National Laboratory to Subnuclear Physics are presented together with recent highlights from RHIC
Michael J. TannenbaumNov 15, 2012
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Dungal Letterato E Astronomo. Note di stilistica e di astronomia sulla Lettera a Carlo Magno circa le eclissi di sole dell'810
Dúngal's letter to Charlemagne on the double solar eclipse in the year 810 is extremely interesting both for its form and for its subject matter. Part I of the present study deals with the…
Paolo Zanna, Costantino SigismondiNov 15, 2012
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The Quantum Zeno Effect -- Watched Pots in the Quantum World
In the 5th century B.C.,the philosopher and logician Zeno of Elea posed several paradoxes which remained unresolved for over two thousand five hundred years. The 20th century saw some…
Anu VenugopalanNov 15, 2012
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The center of mass and center of charge of the electron
If the assumption that the center of mass(CM) and the center of charge(CC) of the electron are two different points was stated 100 years ago, our conceptual ideas about elementary particles would be…
Martin RivasNov 14, 2012
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Mistaken Identity and Mirror Images: Albert and Carl Einstein, Leiden and Berlin, Relativity and Revolution
Albert Einstein accepted a 'special' visiting professorship at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands in February 1920. Although his appointment should have been a mere formality, it…
Jeroen van DongenNov 14, 2012
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Gerberto e l'Astronomia
Gerbert of Aurillac was Pope Sylvester II form 999 to 1003. His history is presented in order to understand his outstanding contribution in the establishment of quadrivium sciences (arithmetics,…
Costantino SigismondiNov 12, 2012
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Gerberto e la Geografia Tolemaica
The horologia are ancient ephemerides, tables of durations of the days and nights during all months of the year. The algorithms used to compute the horologia are here presented and the results are…
Costantino SigismondiNov 12, 2012
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Discovery of Volcanic Activity on Io. A Historical Review
In the 2 March 1979 issue of Science 203 S. J. Peale, P. Cassen and R. T. Reynolds published their paper "Melting of Io by tidal dissipation" indicating "the dissipation of tidal energy…
L. A. MorabitoNov 12, 2012
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Experimenters' Free Will and Quantum Certainty
Physics has long lived with a schizophrenia that desires determinism for measured systems while demanding that experimenters decide what to measure on a whim. Intriguingly, such a free will…
Joseph J. BisognanoNov 8, 2012
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