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The book is a journey into the world of elementary particles which are the basic constituents of all matter in the universe, as well as the nature of the interactions between them. It is written in a non-technical way so that anyone interested about these issues will be able to read it. All and all, this is a book that not only helps outsiders understand the subject in a non-mathematical manner; it also inspires them to join the exciting endeavor. It contains many line diagrams to illustrate the ideas and a few mathematical equations like E = mc2.
List of contents
Conservation Laws. Waves and Particles. Insider's Story of the Atomland. Smaller than the Atom. Destination Unification. Suggested Reading. Index.
About the author
Palash B Pal is a senior professor at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics in Kolkata. He was awarded a PhD from the Carnegie-Mellon University. Dr. Pal's research interests are in the area of particle physics. He has written various academic books, as well as popular-level books, and received the Rabindra Smriti Puroskar (Rabindranath Tagore memorial prize) from the Government of West Bengal. He has authored nearly 100 academic papers.
Summary
At the Root of Things: The Subatomic World is a journey into the world of elementary particles-the basic constituents of all matter in the universe-and the nature of the interactions among them. The book begins with a summary of pre-quantum physics and later tackles quantum physics, which is essential for the study of elementary particles. It is written in a non-technical way so that anyone interested about these issues will be able to read it. All and all, this is a book that not only helps outsiders understand the subject in a non-mathematical manner; it also inspires them to join the exciting endeavor. It contains many line diagrams to illustrate the ideas and a few mathematical equations like E = mc2.
Additional text
"… a good introduction to particle physics for laypeople. … Pal excels at presenting difficult concepts of symmetry and quantum physics in an easy-to-understand manner without resorting to difficult mathematical equations. He succeeds in explaining esoteric mathematical concepts by using examples from everyday life that can be understood by anyone. The writing is lucid and entertaining, and the text’s larger than usual font is easy on the eyes. … What stands out is the insight that the book provides into how theories in science are developed and how much painstaking effort and hard work go into solving the mysteries of the universe and coming up with the answers that people sometimes take for granted. Summing Up: Recommended."—CHOICE, December 2015
