Birkhäuser History & Philosophy of Science 2008/2009 1 Highlights The Physical Tourist A Science Guide for the Traveler Find out where famous scientists lived, worked, and where important discoveries were made Add science to your sightseeing and enrich your understanding and appreciation for the city A wonderful gift for all, especially those interested in physics or general science See page 17 New Series The Moon that Wasn’t Israel Gohberg and Friends Studies in See page 16 See page 7 Universal Logic See page 23 Nexus Network Eine kleine Erhabene Welten Journal Nachtphysik See page 26 See page 8 See page 28 2 Contents History of Mathematics 4 History of Physics / Astronomy 16 History of Science 18 Biographies 21 Philosophy of Science 23 Deutschsprachige Titel / German language titles 25 The Collected Scientific Papers of the Mathematicians and Physicists of the Bernoulli Family 30 Leonhard Euler: Opera Omnia 32 Series Index 36 Journals 38 Authors and Editors Index 39 Contact Information 40 Birkhäuser Online For more information on our books and journals, including table of contents and reviews, please visit www.birkhauser.ch New titles Journals Book Series Conferences Contacts T Textbooks suitable for undergraduate, TEXTBOOK advanced undergraduate or graduate students 3 History of Mathematics Forthcoming Titles Ancient Indian Leaps into Mathematics Yadav, B.S., University of Delhi, India / Mohan, M., Ramjas College, University of Delhi, India (Eds) Due in March 2009 draft 2009. Approx. 200 p. 30 illus. Softcover A Lost Mathematician, ISBN 978-0-8176-4694-3 Takeo Nakasawa The Forgotten Father of Matroid Theory Selected Works of A.I. Shirshov Nishimura, H., Tsukuba University, Japan / Bokut, L.A., Sobolev Institute of Kuroda, S., Passau, Germany (Eds) Mathematics, Novosibirsk, Russia / Due in December 2008 Zelmanov, E., UCSD, La Jolla, USA / Shestakov, I., IME-USP, Sao Paulo, Brazil / Matroid theory was invented independently Latyshev, V., MGU im. Lomonosova, Moscow, by two mathematicians in the middle of Russia (Eds) the 1930’s, namely, Hassler Whitney in USA CM – Contemporary Mathematicians and Takeo Nakasawa in Japan. The former is famous, but unfortunately the latter had Due in Spring 2009 remained anonymous until a decade or two ago. The latter is still less known than the 2009. Approx. 250 p. Hardcover ISBN 978-3-7643-8857-7 former. The book consists of four parts. The first part consists of his four German papers, which Fields and Models were published in the same journal issued From Sturm to Tarski and Robinson by a Japanese extinct university. The second Sinaceur, H.B., CNRS, Paris, France part consists of their English translations. The third part is devoted to an explanation Due in Autumn 2009 of Nakasawa’s life and his times. The fourth 2009. XXVI, 446 p. 5 illus. Hardcover part deals with the comparison between the ISBN 978-0-8176-4114-6 two fathers of matroid theory. 2009. Approx. 150 p. Hardcover The Algebraic Mind EUR 49.90 / CHF 89.90 / ISBN 978-3-7643-8572-9 Galois Theory in the 19th Century Martini, L., Siena, Italy / Toti Rigatelli, L., Università di Siena, Italy SNHS – Science Networks. Historical Studies Due in Autumn 2009 2009. Approx. 230 p. Hardcover ISBN 978-3-7643-8802-7 4 History of Mathematics T TEXTBOOK Japanese Mathematics The Theory of the Top in the Edo Period (1600-1868) Volume 1 Horiuchi, A., Paris, France Introduction to the Kinematics and SNHS – Science Networks. Historical Kinetics of the Top Studies Klein, F. / Sommerfeld, A. Due in December 2008 The Theory of the Top: Volume I. Introduction to the Kinematics and Kinetics of the Top is The book presents the main features of the the first of a series of four self-contained Wasan tradition, which is a mathematical English translations of the classic and tradition which developed in Japan during definitive treatment of rigid body motion. the Edo period (1600-1868). It gives a Key features: description of the first mathematical Complete and unabridged presentation textbooks published in the 17th century, with recent advances and additional notes then shifts to the work of the two leading Annotations by the translators provide mathematicians of this tradition, Seki insights into the nature of science and Takakazu et Takebe Katahiro. mathematics in the late 19th century The book provides substantial information Each volume interweaves theory and on the historical and intellectual context, applications the role played by the Chinese mathematical Volume I focuses on providing fundamental treatises introduced at the late 16th century, background material and basic theoretical and an analysis of Seki’s and Takebe’s concepts. The Theory of the Top was contribution to the development of algebra originally presented by Felix Klein as an and calculus in Japan. 1895 lecture at Göttingen University that was broadened in scope and clarified 2009. Approx. 350 p. Hardcover EUR 189.– / CHF 329.– / ISBN 978-3-7643-8744-0 as a result of collaboration with Arnold Sommerfeld. Graduate students and researchers interested in theoretical and applied mechanics will find this a thorough and insightful account. Other volumes in this series include Development of the Theory for the Heavy Symmetric Top, Perturbations: Astronomical and Geophysical Applications, and Technical Applications of the Theory of the Top. 2008. Approx. 300 p. 43 illus. Hardcover EUR 64.90 / CHF 115.– / ISBN 978-0-8176-4720-9 5 History of Mathematics Collected Works of Charles Patterns of Change François Sturm Linguistic Innovations in the Pont, J.-C., Université de Genève, Development of Classical Mathematics Switzerland (Ed.) Kvasz, L., Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia, and Charles University, Praha, Charles François Sturm was born in Geneva, Czech Republic Switzerland, on September 29, 1803. He obtained his scientific education in this SNHS – Science Networks. Historical city and began his rich scientific career Studies, Vol. 36 there through significant research in sound propagation and compressibility of fluids. The book offers a reconstruction of linguistic In September of 2003, on the occasion of innovations in the history of mathematics. It the 200th anniversary of his birth, his home argues that there are at least three ways in city honoured his worldwide recognition which the language of mathematics can be with a colloquium and workshop under the changed. sponsorship of the University of Geneva. As illustration of changes of the first kind, This volume is based on lectures presented called re-codings, is the development at that colloquium, which focused on along the line: synthetic geometry, analytic C.F. Sturm’s own work. The book contains a geometry, fractal geometry, and set theory. selection of reproductions of his scientific In this development the mathematicians publications. Sturm contributed notably to changed the very way of constructing geometry (theory of polygons, elementary geometric figures. geometry, projective geometry, conic As illustration of changes of the second kind, sections), algebra, analysis (differential called relativization, is the development equations, series), optics (caustics, of synthetic geometry along the line: physiological optics), mechanics, and Euclid’s geometry, projective geometry, non- other areas of physics (particularly fluid Euclidean geometry, Erlanger program up to mechanics and speed of sound in water). Hilbert’s Grundlagen der Geometrie. Changes of the third kind, called 2008. Approx. 750 p. Hardcover re-formulations are for instance the changes EUR 149.– / CHF 259.– / ISBN 978-3-7643-7989-6 that can be seen on the different editions of Euclid’s Elements. Perhaps the best known Sturm-Liouville Theory among them is Playfair’s change of the formulation of the fifth postulate. Past and Present Amrein, W.O. / Hinz, A.M. / Pearson, D.B. 2008. XVIII, 264 p. Hardcover (Eds) EUR 99.– / CHF 175.– / ISBN 978-3-7643-8839-3 2005. XX, 335 p. Hardcover EUR 69.90 / CHF 119.00 / ISBN 978-3-7643-7066-4 6 History of Mathematics Israel Gohberg and Friends Ettore Majorana On the Occasion of his 80th Birthday Aspects of his Scientific Bart, H., Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, and Academic Activity The Netherlands / Hempfling, T., Basel, Guerra, F., Università di Roma La Sapienza, Switzerland / Kaashoek, M.A., Vrije Italy / Robotti, N., Università di Genova, Italy Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Eds) PSNS – Publications of the Scuola Normale Superiore, Vol. 6 This book is dedicated to Israel Gohberg on occasion of his 80th birthday on Little more than one hundred years have August 23, 2008. It is an expression gone by since the birth of Ettore Majorana, of esteem and friendship for a great a highly renowned theoretical physicist. mathematician, a remarkable person and an His career was brief and irregular but very inspiring colleague. intense, and he disappeared in March The book contains reflections by Gohberg 1938 in circumstances that are still not himself on his own mathematical activities completely clear. and those of others. It also includes This volume is a contribution to a better contributions of colleagues and co-workers, understanding of the scientific, academic both from his time in the Soviet Union and human personality of Ettore Majorana, and from when he lived and worked in the beyond the layers of legendary aspects West. The contributions in question are not which have accumulated over the years. mathematical research papers but focus on Based on primary sources alone – scientific the man Israel Gohberg and are intended literature of the period and numerous for a wide audience. To be found are letters, archival documents – the figure of Ettore speeches, laudatios and reminiscences Majorana emerges in a completely new light. which, together, present an attractive A rich reproduction of original documents picture of the way in which Israel Gohberg in completes the volume. the past four to five decades influenced the 2008. XII, 243 p. Softcover lives of many mathematicians. Biographical EUR 23.– / CHF 38.– / ISBN 978-88-7642-331-4 material such as a curriculum vitae, a list of publications, a list of Ph.D.