Einstein's Mirror

New title from the authors of "The Quantum Universe". An accessible and non-mathematical account of Einstein's theory of relativity. 70 line diagrams, 110 half-tones, 60 colour plates.

Einstein's Mirror is a book on relativity with a difference. Following the successful format of their earlier book, The Quantum Universe, the authors blend a simple, non-mathematical account of the underlying theory of special relativity and gravitation with a description of the way these theories have been triumphantly supported by experiment. Applications of relativity in atomic and nuclear physics are wide-ranging, from satellite navigation systems, particle accelerators and nuclear power to quantum chemistry, anti-matter and black holes. The text is enlivened by a superb collection of photographs and by amusing anecdotes about the early pioneers. The closing chapter examines the influence of Einstein's relativity on the development of science fiction. Final year students at school, general readers with an interest in science, and undergraduates in science subjects will all enjoy and benefit from this fascinating and accessible introduction to one of the most profound scientific discoveries of the twentieth century.

Preface; 1. A revolution in time; 2. The nature of light; 3. Light and time; 4. The ultimate speed; 5. E=mc2; 6. Matter and anti-matter; 7. Little boy and fat man: relativity in action; 8. Down to Earth; 9. Warped space; 10. The Big Bang, black holes and unified fields; Afterword: Relativity and science fiction; Index.

From the authors of the best-seller The Quantum Universe, this lavishly illustrated book provides a fascinating and accessible introduction to one of the most profound scientific discoveries of the twentieth century, special relativity and gravitation, and will be enjoyed by general readers of science and science fiction, final year school students, and science undergraduates.

Tony Hey is Vice President of Microsoft Research and has published over 150 research papers on particle physics, computer science and multi-disciplinary eScience. He is the co-author, with Ian Aitchison, of the graduate textbook Gauge Theories in Particle Physics (4th edition) and co-editor of Richard Feynman's Lectures on Computation. He is also co-author of popular science books on quantum mechanics and relativity, The New Quantum Universe and Einstein's Mirror. Most recently, he co-edited The Fourth Paradigm, a book about eScience and the new era of data-intensive science.