Einstein's revolution: Reconciliation of mechanics, electrodynamics and thermodynamics (Q2717923)

With the 2001-physics Nobel Prize for work on Bose Einstein-condensation around, it is valuable to look at similar epochs in a historical perspective.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEHere is a very interesting, philosophically constructed paper shedding much light on many ideas and facts featuring important aspects of the Special Theory of Relativity (STR) and Quantum Mechanics.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe chief purpose of the work is to make a firm and clear step towards a complete description of the genesis and acceptance of STR and to throw light on the inter-relationship between the various physical theories of concern today. The two theses put forth, explained and defended are:NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINE(i): Einstein's STR paper of 1905 can be taken as a subprogramme of a general research scheme and had its pivotal role in the revolutionary quantum concept,NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINE(ii): One of the reasons for Einstein's success over Lorentz consists in the following: STR superseded Lorentz theory, when the general programme imposed itself and in so doing, made the ether concept untenable.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEWith just two mathematical equations explicitly written down but with eighty-two references cited, the work renders very smooth reading, leading to scientific contemplation of a pure and high order.