Number Theory and the Periodicity of Matter - Softcover

Boeyens, Jan C. A. A.; Levendis, Demetrius C.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9048176921 ISBN 13: 9789048176922

Verlag: Springer, 2010

Inhaltsangabe

Of all the great innovations and intellectual achievements of mankind there is nothing that rivals the invention of counting and discovery of the number system. The way in which this discovery led to the development of abstract higher mathematics is the least of its merits, compared to the universal f- cination that the natural numbers hold for all people. Numbers are at the roots of magic, superstition, religion and science. Numerologists can int- pret great historical and cosmicevents, predict thefuture and explain human nature. Better informed, sophisticated people may frown upon and ridicule such claims,but the number of incidents that link numbers tophysical e?ects is simply too large to ignore as mere coincidence. It is in cases like these that the more respectable number theory is substituted for numerology. Although it is recognized as the most fundamental branch of mathem- ics,thevocabulary ofnumbertheoryincludesconcepts suchasprimenumber, perfect number, amicable number, square number, triangular number, py- midal number, and even magic number, none of which sounds too scienti?c and may suggest a di?erent status for the subject. Not surprisingly, number theory remains the pastime of amateurs and professionals alike – all the way from the great Gauss down. It may be claimed that abstract number theory is more lofty than mundane science, never to be degraded into a servant of physical theory.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Born in South Africa in 1934, Jan Boeyens started his research career in Chemistry and Physics at the SA National Laboratories, Pretoria, South Africa and then moved on abroad to work in several prestigious universities, notably:

- Stanford University, California, USA (Research Associate)

- University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa (Professor of Theoretical Chemistry and Dean of Science)

- Texas A & M University, USA (Visiting Professor)

- Free University of Berlin, Germany (Guest Professor)

- Ruprecht Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany (Regular Visiting Professor)

- University of Pretoria, South Africa (Fellow: Unit for Advanced Study)

In 1993, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Germany) awarded him with their Research Prize for Theoretical Chemistry. During his research career, he has also received several South-African Research Awards.

From 1996 to 2002, he was an executive member of the International Union of Crystallography.

He has authored 275 refereed papers in Crystallography and Structure Theory, edited several Specialist Proceedings and has five books on Theoretical Chemistry and Cosmology to his credit.

Prof. Jan Boeyens passed away in Pretoria, August 2015.

Von der hinteren Coverseite

Philosophers have long speculated that a link exists between natural numbers and the physical world...

Pythagoras:
"...all is number"

John Dalton (1803):
"...Atoms combine in simple numerical ratios..."

Prout’s hypothesis, published anonymously in 1815:
"...the elements are different aggregates of the atoms of primordial hydrogen..."

Alexandre Émile Beguyer de Chancourtois (1862):
"...the properties of the elements are the properties of numbers..."

William Harkins (1921):
"...the ratio Z/(A - Z) never exceeds the value 0.62 in atomic species..."

Within this book, readers with an interest in mathematics, science or natural philosophy will find this expectation addressed...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Springer
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2010
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 9048176921
• ISBN 13: 9789048176922
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 392
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Springer Nature Customer Service Center GmbH; ProductSafety@springernature.com; ; Europaplatz 3; Heidelberg; 69115; Deutschland