Dynamical Model of Elementary Particles Based on an Analogy with Superconductivity. I in Physical Review 122, 1961, pp. 345 - 358, AND Dynamical Model of Elementary Particles Based on an Analogy with Superconductivity. II in Physical Review 124, 1961, pp. 246-254 [TWO VOLUMES]

TWO VOLUME BOUND FIRST EDITIONS of two of three papers that led to Yoichiro Nambu's 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics "for the discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous symmetry breaking in subatomic physics" (Nobel Prize Committee). Nambu's work "was an important precursor to the theory that unifies electromagnetic and weak forces, and similar symmetry breaking is central to most modern particle physics theories" (Schirber, "Nobel Focus: Particle Physics Gets a Break," Phys. Rev. Focus 22, 2008).

According to the model put forth in these papers, "the Lagrangian [method] which describes a physical system may be invariant under a symmetry group which is ‘spontaneously broken' by the physical states of the theory" (Kantorovich, Scientific Discovery: Logic and Tinkering, 237). In short, Nambu's work "showed how to connect the highly symmetric, massless particles that appear in the underlying particle theories with the massive particles observed in the real world" (ibid).

While Nambu's model was later superseded, his idea was "later incorporated into the... Higgs mechanism" (ibid). Nambu's "work was deep and original and he was well-ahead of his time," (ibid quoting Helen Quinn, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center).

ALSO INCLUDED IN VOLUME 124: Brans and Dicke's "Mach's Principle and a Relativistic Theory of Gravitation" (pp. 925-935). "The Brans-Dicke theory of gravity is the best-known example of the class of theories called "scalar-tensor" theories because they contain both scalars and tensors in the field equations relating the curvature of space to the matter in the universe. In Brans-Dicke, the gravitational constant becomes a variable, and the resulting scalar field has kinetic energy" (History of Physics: The Wenner Collection). CONDITION & DETAILS: Lancaster: American Physical Society. Two complete volumes, identically bound in brown buckram, gilt-lettered at the spine. Ex-libris with no spine markings whatsoever. Pictorial bookplate of the Bridgeport Library on the front pastedown; stamp on title page and rear flyleaf. 4to (10.5 x 8 inches; 263 x 200mm). Tightly and solidly bound; bright and clean inside and out. Near fine condition.