The author attempts to handle the most important physics development of the twentieth century, namely that of quantum theory, in one, not too bulky, volume. This heroic task is split into 29 chapters, each treating a topic that forms a well defined subpart of the big theme embracing quantum theory itself (and also some of its companions), and the experimental discoveries, technology, sociology and science politics connected with it. The contents of Part One cover roughly the first twenty years of the century. There are also chapters on the introduction of the quantum of action and atomic constitution, on discharge in gases, low-temperature research and the interaction of science with industrial and military affairs in World War I. Part Two, leading up to the Hiroshima bomb, includes, beyond such central chapters as the rise of nuclear physics, quantum field theory and the physical and philosophical interpretation of quantum mechanics, further accounts of the Eddington-Milne cosmology, physics in the dictatorial regimes of National Socialism, Fascism and Stalinism, and the intellectual immigration during the 1930s into the USA. Part Three brings the story up to the end of the century, embracing great topics like nuclear energy, Big Science (i.e. physics in military and civil projects), fundamental particle theories up to speculations about `grand unification', quantum electronics, or the increasingly hostile attitude toward science in the past 30 years. The short Part Four contains two chapters on a century in retrospect, which was really the century of physics. An enormous amount of material has been addressed in this book, and one wonders how one person can say anything reasonable about all these topics. The overall organization and the selection of chapters appears to be well planned and carried out quite successfully. In this reviewer's opinion, some chapters, e.g. on Dirac's theoretical work or cosmology (on which the author has contributed pioneering historical studies) provide particularly competent reviews, while others, e.g. the one on the introduction of quantum theory depend on disappointing second-hand sources. Physicists will profit particularly from the sociological and other background material given on their science; the layman is often confronted with a mere list of physical concepts rather than enlightenment concerning their contents. Of course, a number of historical mistakes cannot be avoided in such a global story: thus Samuel Goudsmit did not win the Nobel Prize, and Maria Goeppert-Mayer and Fritz London were not Polish born. As a particular feature of the book, references are always given to secondary (history of science) literature, even when the primary sources are more easily accessible. As the author stated in the preface, he thought that the standard reader of his Quantum Generations would be neither a scientist nor a historian of science. Still, it may be very difficult to win an audience for this book beyond the circles mentioned.

Quantum Generations: A History of Physics in the Twentieth Century

Cet habilitation a diriger des recherches se concentre sur des travaux
experimentaux produits en structure nucleaire dans les noyaux legers
loin de la stabilite. Elle se concentre autour de la notion de resonance
: qu’elles soient geantes, pygmees ou simples outils experimentaux.
Ce memoire se compose, apres mon curriculum vitae, d’une introduction
succincte des outils theoriques, avec pour objectif de relier les 
resonances etudiees experimentalement dans la seconde partie. Puis 
viennent les chapitres traitant du transfert dans les noyaux legers 
(9He) au GANIL, un apercu des differentes techniques et resultats 
obtenus sur les isotopes de bores 15-21B et de carbones 17-23C dans la 
premiere campagne SAMURAI a RIKEN. La partie sur le 16C, extraite d’un 
cours au Master NAC de Caen, est a relier a mon sejour post-doctoral a 
Berkeley. Puis vient l’etude des resonances geantes dans les noyaux 
radioactifs (et en particulier les modes de compression) au GANIL. 
Enfin, une derniere section independante presente des travaux plus 
generaux de communication scientifique.

États résonants de noyaux loin de la stabilité

We promote the teaching of mass functions as an integral part of an interdisciplinary science education. Mass functions characterize the frequency distributions of objects with different masses on all cosmic scales. We intend to enhance experiential learning of this concept with a creative LEGO brick experiment for a diverse student audience. To our surprise, the LEGO mass function is not only qualitatively but also quantitatively comparable to mass functions found across the Universe. We also discuss the relation between gravitation and mass distributions as a possible explanation for the continuity of the universal mass function.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6404/abe75c/pdf

The pedagogical representation of mass functions with LEGO and their origin

We introduce two simple online activities to explore the physics of neutron stars. These provide an introduction to the basic properties of compact objects, like their masses and radii, for secondary school students. The first activity explores the idea of the minimum mass of a neutron star. It is directly linked to the concept of binding energy and follows on from our previous activities. The second activity focuses on the maximum mass of neutron stars using a solvable model of the neutron star interior. The activities are based on spreadsheets, provided as Supplementary Material, and can be easily adapted to different levels, age groups and discussion topics. In particular, these activities can naturally lead towards discussions on extrapolations and limits of theoretical models.

From nuclei to neutron stars: simple binding energy computer modelling in the classroom

We propose discussions and hands-on activities for GCSE and A-level students, covering a fundamental aspect of nuclear physics: the concept of bond and the energy released (absorbed) when a bond is created (broken). This is the first of the series of papers named "A teaching guide of nuclear physics", whose main goal is to provide teaching tools and ideas to GCSE and A-level teachers, within a consistent and complete curriculum.

/pdf/a-teaching-guide-of-nuclear-physics-the-concept-of-bond-2wie65kqys.pdf

A teaching guide of nuclear physics: the concept of bond

We present a new teaching and outreach activity based around the construction of a three-dimensional chart of isotopes using bricks5. The activity, binding blocks, demonstrates nuclear and astrophysical processes through a seven-meter chart of all nuclear isotopes, built from over 26 000 bricks. It integrates A-Level and GCSE curricula across areas of nuclear physics, astrophysics, and chemistry, including: nuclear decays (through the colours in the chart); nuclear binding energy (through tower heights); production of chemical elements in the cosmos; fusion processes in stars and fusion energy on Earth; as well as links to medical physics, particularly diagnostics and radiotherapy.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6552/aa550c/pdf

Binding blocks: building the Universe one nucleus at a time

12C is synthesised in stars by fusion of three α particles. This process occurs through a resonance in the 12C nucleus, famously known as the Hoyle state. In this state, the 12C nucleus exists as a cluster of α particles. The state is the band-head for a rotational band with the 2+ rotational excitation predicted in the energy region 9 - 11 MeV. This rotational excitation can affect the triple-α process reaction rate by more than an order of magnitude at high temperatures (109 K). Depending on the energy of the resonance, the knowledge of the state can also help determine the structure of the Hoyle state. In the work presented here, the state of interest is populated by beta decay of radioactive 12N ion beam delivered by the IGISOL facility at JYFL, Jyvaskyla.

/pdf/rotational-excitation-of-the-hoyle-state-in-12c-3c6846zwa2.pdf

Rotational excitation of the Hoyle state in 12C

We present a new teaching and outreach activity based around the construction of a three-dimensional chart of isotopes using LEGO$^{\circledR}$ bricks. The activity, \emph{Binding Blocks}, demonstrates nuclear and astrophysical processes through a seven-meter chart of all nuclear isotopes, built from over 26,000 LEGO$^{\circledR}$ bricks. It integrates A-level and GCSE curricula across areas of nuclear physics, astrophysics, and chemistry, including: nuclear decays (through the colours in the chart); nuclear binding energy (through tower heights); production of chemical elements in the cosmos; fusion processes in stars and fusion energy on Earth; as well as links to medical physics, particularly diagnostics and radiotherapy.

Binding Blocks: building the Universe one nucleus at the time

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Binding blocks: building the Universe one nucleus at a time

Rotational excitation of the Hoyle state in 12C

Binding Blocks: building the Universe one nucleus at the time