Models and Modelers of Hydrogen

Book excerpt: Atomic theory began more than two and a half millenia ago in Greece and India; but scientific details have emerged ? albeit very rapidly ? only in our century. This book conveys a glimpse of the grandeur of 20th century physics through nine essays and one interview on the models and modelers of a basic element of matter: the hydrogen atom. The basic ideas are simply presented and illustrated, the mathematical treatments are of a tutorial nature, and facsimile reproductions of ten key papers are included. Using the simple hydrogen atom, educators may use this book to initiate high school students into the grandeur of physics or motivate university students to become science-literate.