Über das H-Theorem vom Anwachsen der Entropie vom Standpunkt der neuen Quantenmechanik. Offprint from Festschrift zum 60. Geburtstag "Arnold Sommerfelds." Kramers's copy.
Publisher Information: 1928.
Pauli, Wolfgang (1900-1958). Über das H-Theorem vom Anwachsen der Entropie vom Standpunkt der neuen Quantenmechanik. Offprint from P. Debye, ed., Probleme der modernen Physik: Arnold Sommerfeld zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet (Leipig: S. Hirzel, 1928). 30-45pp. 243 x 170 mm. Without wrappers as issued. Signatures separated, last leaf detached. Good copy. From the library of H. A. Kramers (1894-1952), with his stamp on the first page.
First Edition, Offprint Issue. Pauli’s paper gives a quantum-mechanical treatment of irreversible processes (entropy), in particular Boltzmann’s H-theorem proving the second law of thermodynamics. He discussed his approach in a letter to Bohr dated 16b June 1928, just before he started writing the present paper:
"Stimulated by our conversations during my last visit to Copenhagen on the problem of the uni-direction of the arrow of time, I have recently thought somewhat about the question: under what condition and in which generality may an “H-theorem” about increasing entropy be derived from the new quantum mechanics? . . . Now I believe that I am able to give the following answer to the problem of the H-theorem”:
"1. One can demonstrate the increase of entropy quite generally, that is, not only for special systems (such as the ideal gas) but independent of their specific composition.
"2. However, one still cannot dispense with the particular assumption concerning “disordering”—in contrast to my original hope. This assumption, corresponding to the Stoßzahlansatz in classical mechanics, can be formulated in wave mechanics always in such a way that the phases of certain groups of eigenvibrations are independent of each other. I shall try in the next few days to write up the thing . . . " (quoted in Mehra & Rechenberg, The Historical Development of Quantum Theory, 6, p. 447).
This copy is from the library of Dutch physicist H. A. Kramers, one of the major contributors to quantum theory.
Book Id: 50941Price: $1,500.00