Models and Modelers of Hydrogen: Thales, Thomson, Rutherford, Bohr, Sommerfeld, Goudsmit, Heisenberg, Schrodinger, Dirac, Sallhofer

Atomic theory began more than two millenia and half ago in Greece and India, but scientific details emerged - very rapidly - only in the 20th century. This text conveys a glimpse of the grandeur of 20th century physics through nine essays and one interview on the models and modellers of a basic element of matter: the hydrogen atom. Basic ideas are presented and illustrated, the mathematical treatments are of a tutorial nature, and facsimile reproductions of 10 key papers are included. Using the simple hydrogen atom, educators may use this book to initiate high school students into the grandeur of physics or motivate university students to become science-literate.