Planetary Atom, The: A Fictional Account Of George Adolphus Schott The Forgotten Physicist

The Planetary Atom is a novel that tells the story of George Adolphus Schott, a British researcher who criticized the Planetary Atom proposed by Ernest Rutherford and Bohr but was later forgotten and his discovery of Synchrotron Radiation was attributed to another. The novel rehabilitates an unjustly forgotten British researcher and restores him to his rightful place as one of the great scientists of his time.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2021
Publisher: World Scientific Europe Ltd

I thoroughly enjoyed delving into the captivating world of The Planetary Atom. Naturally, we are all familiar with the profound contributions of renowned researchers like Ernest Rutherford, who established the iconic planetary atom model. However, it was only during my reading of this book that I stumbled upon the lesser-known figure of George Adolphus Schott. What truly amazed me was the profound significance and intellectual depth of Schott's work, which left me thoroughly impressed.

Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, a Nobel Laureate in Physics and a professor at Collège de France in Paris, writes in the preface of the book: "While science may not be fiction, the lives and works of scientists offer genuine material for a novel like The Planetary Atom, which captivates the general public's interest. Jean-Marie Lehn, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and a professor at Université Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, provides a foreword to the book.

This largely fictional biography vividly recreates the life and times of George Adolphus Schott, a contemporary of Rutherford and Bohr, who critically examined the proposed Planetary Atom, intended to explain remarkable observations made by Rutherford. Schott's groundbreaking research proved the Planetary Atom to be incompatible with fundamental principles of physics. Regrettably, his work was overshadowed by Bohr's successful explanation of the atom's structure. However, it was later discovered that Schott had, in fact, foreseen significant effects. Despite this, his contribution was overlooked, and his discovery of Synchrotron Radiation was mistakenly attributed to someone else.

In The Planetary Atom, the novel meticulously reconstructs Schott's interactions with eminent scientists of his era. Through this captivating narrative, Schott is rightfully rehabilitated and restored to his rightful place as one of the great scientists of his time. It is a testament to the power of literature to shed light on the lives and achievements of forgotten figures, reminding us of the rich tapestry of scientific history.

For those interested in further exploring the world of George Adolphus Schott and his contributions to science, I have provided a few related links:

"George Adolphus Schott: A Forgotten Pioneer of Physics" - An article by Mark Buchanan, published in the British Journal for the History of Science, explores the life and work of George Adolphus Schott and his contributions to physics.

"George Adolphus Schott: The Man Who Challenged Rutherford's Planetary Atom" - A blog post by Mark Buchanan, also featured in the British Journal for the History of Science, delves deeper into the critical role of George Adolphus Schott in challenging Rutherford's model of the atom.

"George Adolphus Schott: The Forgotten Physicist Who Predicted Synchrotron Radiation" - A detailed article by Mark Buchanan, published in the Physics World magazine, highlights the remarkable achievements of George Adolphus Schott, including his discovery of Synchrotron Radiation.

These resources provide valuable insights into the life and work of George Adolphus Schott, allowing readers to delve deeper into his contributions to physics and his rightful place in scientific history.

ISBN-13: 9781800610026