Background
Wilson, Edgar Bright was born on December 18, 1908 in Gallatin, Tennessee, United States. Son of Edgar Bright and Alma (Lackey) Wilson.
( Because of its connection with laser technology, the th...)
Because of its connection with laser technology, the theory of infrared and Raman vibrational spectra is even more important now than when this book was first published. As the pioneering text in the field and as the text still preferred today, Molecular Vibrations is the undeniable choice of anyone teaching or studying molecular spectroscopy at the graduate level. It is the only book of its kind in the area written by well-known scientists, and besides its value as a pedagogical classic, it is an essential reference for anyone engaged in research. The genius of the book is its rigorous, elegant treatment of the mathematics involved in detailed vibrational analyses of polyatomic molecules. The reader is led carefully and gradually through the main features of the theory and its methods: starting from a valuable introduction to the theory of molecular vibrations and the application of wave mechanics to this subject; leading into the mathematical methods devised by Professor Wilson and his students for handling the mathematical problems and for making use of symmetry and group theory; proceeding through vibrational selection rules and intensities, potential functions and methods of solving the secular determinant; and concluding with a sample vibrational analysis of the molecule of benzene. Sixteen appendices, comprising nearly one hundred pages, offer much extremely useful information that is more clearly understood outside the body of the text. Well-known for their distinguished contributions to the field, the authors — in addition to Professor Wilson of Harvard University — are J. C. Decius of Oregon State University and Paul C. Cross, late President of Mellon Institute. Younger students interested in the field of molecular spectroscopy will especially welcome this inexpensive reprint edition of an exceptional book. "An authoritative and complete presentation written on a very high level." — G. Herzberg, Science "The easiest and quickest route to acquiring skill in handling the mathematics of molecular vibrations." — Nature
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/048663941X/?tag=2022091-20
( When this classic text was first published in 1935, it ...)
When this classic text was first published in 1935, it fulfilled the goal of its authors "to produce a textbook of practical quantum mechanics for the chemist, the experimental physicist, and the beginning student of theoretical physics." Although many who are teachers today once worked with the book as students, the text is still as valuable for the same undergraduate audience. Two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling, Research Professor at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, Palo Alto, California, and E. Bright Wilson, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Harvard University, provide a readily understandable study of "wave mechanics," discussing the Schrodinger wave equation and the problems which can be solved with it. Extensive knowledge of mathematics is not required, although the student must have a grasp of elementary mathematics through the calculus. Pauling and Wilson begin with a survey of classical mechanics, including Newton's equations of motion in the Lagrangian form, and then move on to the "old" quantum theory, developed through the work of Planck, Einstein and Bohr. This analysis leads to the heart of the book ― an explanation of quantum mechanics which, as Schrodinger formulated it, "involves the renunciation of the hope of describing in exact detail the behavior of a system." Physics had created a new realm in which classical, Newtonian certainties were replaced by probabilities ― a change which Heisenberg's uncertainty principle (described in this book) subsequently reinforced. With clarity and precision, the authors guide the student from topic to topic, covering such subjects as the wave functions for the hydrogen atom, perturbation theory, the Pauli exclusion principle, the structure of simple and complex molecules, Van der Waals forces, and systems in thermodynamic equilibrium. To insure that the student can follow the mathematical derivations, Pauling and Wilson avoid the "temptation to condense the various discussions into shorter and perhaps more elegant forms" appropriate for a more advanced audience. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics is a perfect vehicle for demonstrating the practical application of quantum mechanics to a broad spectrum of chemical and physical problems.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486648710/?tag=2022091-20
( This book is intended to assist scientists in planning ...)
This book is intended to assist scientists in planning and carrying out research. However, unlike most books dealing with the scientific method, which stress its philosophical rationale, this book is written from a practical standpoint. It contains a rich legacy of principles, maxims, procedures and general techniques that have been found useful in a wide range of sciences. While much of the material is accessible to a college senior, the book is more specifically intended for students beginning research and for those more experienced research workers who wish an introduction to various topics not included in their training. Mathematical treatments have been kept as elementary as possible to make the book accessible to a broad range of scientists. Its principles and rules can be absorbed to advantage by workers in such diverse fields as agriculture, industrial and military research, biology and medicine as well as in the physical sciences. After discussing such basics as the choice and statement of a research problem and elementary scientific method, Professor Wilson offers lucid and helpful discussions of the design of experiments and apparatus, execution of experiments, analysis of experimental data, errors of measurement, numerical computation and other topics. A final chapter treats the publication of research results. Although no book can substitute for actual scientific work, this highly pragmatic compendium contains much knowledge gained the hard way through years of actual practice. Moreover, the author has illustrated the ideas discussed with as many actual examples as possible. In addition, he has included notes and references at the end of each chapter to enable readers to investigate particular topics more deeply. E. Bright Wilson, Jr. is a distinguished scientist and educator whose previous works include Molecular Vibrations and Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (with Linus Pauling). In the present book, he has distilled years of experiment and experience into an indispensable broad-based guide for any scientific worker tackling a research problem.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486665453/?tag=2022091-20
Wilson, Edgar Bright was born on December 18, 1908 in Gallatin, Tennessee, United States. Son of Edgar Bright and Alma (Lackey) Wilson.
Bachelor of Science, Princeton University, 1930. Honorary Doctor of Science, Princeton University, 1981. A.M., Princeton University, 1931.
Doctor of Philosophy, California Institute of Technology, 1933. A.M. (honorary), Harvard University, 1936. D. honoris causa, University Brussels, 1975.
Honorary Doctor of Science, Dickinson College, 1976. Honorary Doctor of Science, Columbia University, 1979. Honorary Doctor of Science, Clarkson College, 1983.
Honorary Doctor of Science, Harvard University, 1983. Doctor Chemical, University Bologna, 1976.
He was also the Theodore William Richards Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus at Harvard University. Wilson was elected to the first class of the Harvard Society of Fellows. Wilson made major contributions to the field of molecular spectroscopy.
He developed the first rigorous quantum mechanical Hamiltonian in internal coordinates for a polyatomic molecule.
He developed the theory of how rotational spectra are influenced by centrifugal distortion during rotation. He pioneered the use of group theory for the analysis and simplification normal mode analysis, particularly for high symmetry molecules, such as benzene.
In 1955, with J.C. Decius and Paul C. Cross, Wilson published Molecular Vibrations, still the primary reference text for the theoretical analysis of vibrational spectroscopy, including the GF matrix method that Wilson had developed. Following the second world war, Wilson was a pioneer in the application of microwave spectroscopy to the determination of molecular structure.
Wilson wrote an influential introductory text Introduction to Scientific Research that provided an introduction of all the steps of scientific research, from defining a problem through the archival of data after publication.
( When this classic text was first published in 1935, it ...)
( Because of its connection with laser technology, the th...)
( This book is intended to assist scientists in planning ...)
(An Introduction to Scientific Research 1952 E. BRIGHT WIL...)
Honorary trustee Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, since 1979. Member American Chemical Society (Norris award Northeast section 1966, Lewis award California section 1969, T.W. Richards medal Northeast section 1978), American Physical Society (Plyler award 1978), American Philosophical Society, American Academy Arts and Sciences, International Academy, Quantum Molecular Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, Phi Beta Kappa.
Son of Edgar Bright and Alma (Lackey) W. M. Emily Buckingham, June 15, 1935 (deceased 1954). Children: Kenneth, David, Nina (Nina W. Cornell).
M. Therese Bremer, July 25, 1955. Children: Anne, Paul, Steven.