Focus of Discoveries, a (Second Edition)

On the special occasion of the 125th anniversary in 2012 of the "PTB" and its predecessor "PTR," this second edition is presented (in CD) with a new chapter on the current impact of quantum standards.

In 1887, the "Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt" (PTB) was originally founded as the "Physikalisch-Technische Reichsanstalt" (PTR) in Berlin in order to promote basic research in physics. It subsequently developed into the largest research center worldwide as a place where...
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On the special occasion of the 125th anniversary in 2012 of the "PTB" and its predecessor "PTR," this second edition is presented (in CD) with a new chapter on the current impact of quantum standards.

In 1887, the "Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt" (PTB) was originally founded as the "Physikalisch-Technische Reichsanstalt" (PTR) in Berlin in order to promote basic research in physics. It subsequently developed into the largest research center worldwide as a place where scientists could concentrate exclusively on their research subject, and served as a model for similar institutes established in other countries.

Within a very short time, the PTR produced extremely important scientific results that cemented its international position at the top, such as Max Planck's radiation law and energy quantization theory as well as Walther Meissner's discovery of the Meissner effect which represented a turning point in the field of superconductivity. This book describes the scientific and industrial milieu of the time, and explains in detail the role of the key people, including Albert Einstein's involvement with the PTR. A brief discussion on how the PTR was affected by the Nazi dictatorship in Germany is also given.
Contents: The Foundation and the Key Role of Werner SiemensSome Memoranda at the BeginningThe Start under President Hermann von HelmholtzThe Institute as a ModelThe Optical Laboratory and the Birth of Quantum TheoryThe Low-Temperature Laboratory and the Discovery of the Meissner EffectThe Chemical Laboratory and the Discovery of New ElementsThe Laboratory for RadioactivityThe Imperial Institute and Albert EinsteinCounting and Measuring -- Quantum Statistics and Quantum StandardsFundamental Constants -- the Best Information on Nature AvailableThe Meter Convention for the Global Consistency of MeasurementsThe Presidents of the Institute until 1933The Institute under the Nazi Dictatorship and a New BeginningThe Electromagnetic Quantum Triangle -- Quantum Standards from the Perspective of Ohm's Law
Readership: General readers; students and scientists in physics, chemistry and related areas; academics interested in the history of science.