Search

This paper provides a conceptual history of the development of early universe particle physics in the 1970s, focusing on the development of more sophisticated tools for constructing gauge-theories at finite-temperature. I start with a focus on early investigations into spontaneous symmetry restoration, and continue through the development of functional methods up to equilibrium finite-temperature field theory. I argue that the early universe provides an ideal setting for integrated modelling of thermal, gravitational, and particle physics effects due to its relative simplicity. I further argue that the development of finite-temperature field theory played an important secondary role in the rise of the effective field theory worldview, and investigate the status of the analogies between phase transitions in particle physics and condensed matter physics. I find that the division into "formal" versus "physical" analogies is too coarse-grained to understand the important physical developments at play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early history of string theory is marked by a shift from strong interaction physics to quantum gravity. The first string models and associated theoretical framework were formulated in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the context of the S -matrix program for the strong interactions. In the mid-1970s, the models were reinterpreted as a potential theory unifying the four fundamental forces. This paper provides a historical analysis of how string theory was developed out of S -matrix physics, aiming to clarify how modern string theory, as a theory detached from experimental data, grew out of an S -matrix program that was strongly dependent upon observable quantities. Surprisingly, the theoretical practice of physicists already turned away from experiment before string theory was recast as a potential unified quantum gravity theory. With the formulation of dual resonance models (the "hadronic string theory"), physicists were able to determine almost all of the models' parameters on the basis of theoretical reasoning. It was this commitment to "non-arbitrariness", i.e., a lack of free parameters in the theory, that initially drove string theorists away from experimental input, and not the practical inaccessibility of experimental data in the context of quantum gravity physics. This is an important observation when assessing the role of experimental data in string theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few decades, our theories of fundamental physics have become increasingly detached from empirical data. Recently, Richard Dawid has argued that the progressive separation of theory from experiment is concomitant with a number of changes in the methodology of the discipline. More precisely, Dawid has argued that the new methods of fundamental physics amount to a form of non-empirical confirmation, and that physical theories may therefore be confirmed even in the absence of empirical data. In this paper, I critically engage with Dawid's views on non-empirical physics. My main target is the excessively central role that, in my view, the notion of non-empirical confirmation plays on Dawid's analysis. I will therefore argue that, while non-empirical methods may legitimately be employed in physics, those are not always deployed with the purpose of confirming scientific theories. Non-empirical arguments may also be used in order to ground pragmatic choices regarding what theories deserve to be further developed—and this is an aspect of the work that non-empirical methods perform that cannot be solely understood in terms of Dawid's notion of non-empirical confirmation. I support these claims by making use of a case-study from the early history of particle physics. The case-study concerns a theory of the strong force that J. J. Sakurai introduced in 1960. As we shall see, both the genesis of Sakurai's theory as well as the arguments that he used to defend it provide direct support for my own views on the role that non-empirical methods play in physics. Finally, I conclude the paper by introducing a notion that I believe is useful in making sense of the manner in which the pragmatic and the epistemic dimensions of non-empirical reasoning relate to each other, namely the notion of a cognitive attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that non-empirical physics, as paradigmatically embodied by string theory, is a conservative research program, in spite of appearances. John Wheeler's 1950s research program of "daring conservatism" is identified as another non-empirical research program that checks all the same boxes as string theory. This case study is used to further analyze the connection between conservatism and a non-empirical approach. It is concluded that the prime difficulty of non-empirical physics is not that it involves unbridled speculation, but that the lack of empirical input prevents it from achieving revolutionary progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines historic appraisals of string theory to develop a less abstract understanding of the string theory controversy and assessment in non-empirical physics. This historical approach reveals several points of conflict in the controversy, each centring on a constraint. By proceeding stepwise through these constraints, I reveal the role that constraints played in determining divergent assessments of string theory. Rather than disagreement between two competing methods, a level of agreement is found amongst those critical and supportive of string theory as to the commitment to the relevant constraints, but disagreement as to the sufficiency of consistency, the path to background independence and a non-perturbative formulation, and how to interpret the significance of applications. Furthermore, the string theory community itself is shown to be divided in its commitment to the necessity of uniqueness and the legitimacy of anthropic reasoning. These varied assessments, guided by considerations of constraints, have informed divergent claims as to the past and future fertility of string theory. These are claims as to the value of string theory in guiding research in quantum gravity: claims as to whether string theory has and will be valuable as a means rather than an end. • Analysis of historic examples of non-empirical appraisal in the string theory controversy. • Show how appraisals are guided by consideration of constraints. • Highlights several points of conflict in the controversy concerning constraints. • Appraisals inform divergent claims of the past and future fertility of string theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

String theorists are certain that they are practicing physicists. Yet, some of their recent critics deny this. This paper argues that this conflict is really about who holds authority in making rational judgment in theoretical physics. At bottom, the conflict centers on the question: who is a proper physicist? To illustrate and understand the differing opinions about proper practice and identity, we discuss different appreciations of epistemic virtues and explanation among string theorists and their critics, and how these have been sourced in accounts of Einstein's biography. Just as Einstein is claimed by both sides, historiography offers examples of both successful and unsuccessful non-empirical science. History of science also teaches that times of conflict are often times of innovation, in which novel scholarly identities may come into being. At the same time, since the contributions of Thomas Kuhn historians have developed a critical attitude towards formal attempts and methodological recipes for epistemic demarcation and justification of scientific practice. These are now, however, being considered in the debate on non-empirical physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galaxies are the basic structural element of the universe; galaxy formation theory seeks to explain how these structures came to be. I trace some of the foundational ideas in galaxy formation, with emphasis on the need for non-baryonic cold dark matter. Many elements of early theory did not survive contact with observations of low surface brightness galaxies, leading to the need for auxiliary hypotheses like feedback. The failure points often trace to the surprising predictive successes of an alternative to dark matter, the Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND). While dark matter models are flexible in accommodating observations, they do not provide the predictive capacity of MOND. If the universe is made of cold dark matter, why does MOND get any predictions right? • Low surface brightness galaxies provide critical tests of galaxy formation theory. • Dark matter-based galaxy formation theory failed to predict the observed properties of low surface brightness galaxies. • The observed properties of low surface brightness galaxies were correctly predicted by the Modified Newtonian Dynamics. • Fine-tuning problems in the dark matter paradigm stem from trying to mimic the predictions of Modified Newtonian Dynamics. • There is an analogy between feedback in dark matter models with eccentrics in the time of Copernicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

mRNA translation is a crucial process that leads to protein synthesis in living cells. Therefore, it is a process that needs to work optimally for a cell to stay healthy and alive. With advancements in microscopy and novel experimental techniques, a lot of the intricate details about the translation mechanism are now known. However, the why and how of this mechanism are still ill understood, and therefore, is an active area of research. Theoretical studies of mRNA translation typically view it in terms of the Totally Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process or TASEP. Various works have used the TASEP model in order to study a wide range of phenomena and factors affecting translation, such as ribosome traffic on an mRNA under noisy (codon-dependent or otherwise) conditions, ribosome stalling, premature termination, ribosome reinitiation and dropoff, codon-dependent elongation and competition among mRNA for ribosomes, among others. In this review, we relay the history and physics of the translation process in terms of the TASEP framework. In particular, we discuss the viability and evolution of this model and its limitations while also formulating the reasons behind its success. Finally, we also identify gaps in the existing literature and suggest possible extensions and applications that will lead to a better understanding of ribosome traffic on the mRNA. • Explanation of the translation mechanism and similarities with TASEP. • Details of TASEP and the various aspects of translation it can explain. • Application of TASEP to transcription, motor transport and fungal growth. • Survey of the experiments that uncovered details of the translation mechanism. • How the large scale experimental data have been used in TASEP. • Limitations and future perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • History of liquid crystal discovery • History of liquid crystal research in Ukraine • Yuriy Reznikov's activities and results • Current status of research in Ukraine on liquid crystals [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a reconstruction of the studies on the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics carried out in Italy at the turn of the 1960s. Actually, they preceded the revival of the interest of the American physicists towards the foundations of quantum mechanics around mid-1970s, recently reconstructed by David Kaiser in a book of 2011. An element common to both cases is the role played by the young generation, even though the respective motivations were quite different. In the US they reacted to research cuts after the war in Vietnam, and were inspired by the New Age mood. In Italy the dissatisfaction of the young generations was rooted in the student protests of 1968 and the subsequent labour and social fights, which challenged the role of scientists. The young generations of physicists searched for new scientific approaches and challenged their own scientific knowledge and role. The criticism to the foundations of quantum mechanics and the perspectives of submitting them to experimental tests were perceived as an innovative research field and this attitude was directly linked to the search for an innovative and radical approach in the history of science. All these initiatives gave rise to booming activity throughout the 1970s, contributing to influence the scientific attitude and the teaching approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The background and the organisation of Quark Matter '84 in Helsinki, Finland, are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These few words are to commemorate the life and work of Lubomír Majling, our friend and colleague who passed away suddenly in the middle of his calculations on February 3rd, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1970s, the reinterpretation of renormalization group techniques in terms of effective field theories and their subsequent rapid development led to a major reinterpretation of the entire renormalization program, originally formulated in the late 1940s within quantum electrodynamics (QED). A more gradual shift in its interpretation, however, occurred already in the early-to-mid-1950s when renormalization techniques were transferred to solid-state and nuclear physics and helped establish the notion of effective or quasi-particles, emergent entities that are not to be found in the original, microscopic description of the theory. We study how the methods of QED, when applied in different contexts, gave rise to this ontological reinterpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to a recent rebuttal of Okon and Sudarsky (2014b) presented in Griffiths (2015) , we defend the claim that the Consistent Histories formulation of quantum mechanics does not solve the measurement problem. In order to do so, we argue that satisfactory solutions to the problem must not only not contain anthropomorphic terms (such as measurement or observer ) at the fundamental level, but also that applications of the formalism to concrete situations (e.g., measurements) should not require any input not contained in the description of the situation at hand at the fundamental level. Our assertion is that the Consistent Histories formalism does not meet the second criterion. We also argue that the so-called second measurement problem, i.e., the inability to explain how an experimental result is related to a property possessed by the measured system before the measurement took place, is only a pseudo-problem . As a result, we reject the claim, defended in Griffiths (2015) , that the capacity of the Consistent Histories formalism to solve it should count as an advantage over other interpretations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last three decades, string theory has emerged as one of the leading hopes for a consistent theory of quantum gravity that unifies particle physics with general relativity. Despite the fact that string theory has been a thriving research program for the better part of three decades, it has been subjected to extensive criticism from a number of prominent physicists. The aim of this paper is to obtain a clearer picture of where the conflict lies in competing assessments of string theory, through a close reading of the argumentative strategies employed by protagonists on both sides. Although it has become commonplace to construe this debate as stemming from different attitudes to the absence of testable predictions, we argue that this presents an overly simplified view of the controversy, which ignores the critical role of heuristic appraisal. While string theorists and their defenders see the theoretical achievements of the string theory program as providing strong indication that it is ‘on the right track’, critics have challenged such claims, by calling into question the status of certain ‘solved problems’ and its purported ‘explanatory coherence’. The debates over string theory are therefore particularly instructive from a philosophical point of view, not only because they offer important insights into the nature of heuristic appraisal and theoretical progress, but also because they raise deep questions about what constitutes a solved problem and an explanation in fundamental physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the relationship between the ‘elusive’ science of psychical research and experimental physics in the period approximately, 1870–1930. Most studies of the relationship between psychical research and the established sciences have examined the ways in which psychical researchers used theories in the established sciences to give greater plausibility to their interpretations of such puzzling phenomena as telepathy, telekinesis and ectoplasm. A smaller literature has examined the use of laboratory instruments to produce scientific evidence for these phenomena. This paper argues that the cultures of experiment in the established science of physics could matter to psychical research in a different way: it suggests that experience of capricious effects, recalcitrant instruments and other problems of the physical laboratory made British physicists especially sympathetic towards the difficulties of the spiritualistic séance and other sites of psychical enquiry. In the wake of widely-reported claims that the mediums they had investigated had been exposed as frauds, these scientific practitioners were eventually persuaded by the merits of an older argument that human psychic subjects could not be treated like laboratory hardware. However, well into the twentieth century, they maintained that experimental physics had important lessons for psychical researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Henri Poincaré acquired a reputation in his lifetime for being difficult to read. It was said that he missed out important steps in his arguments, assumed the truth of claims that would be difficult if not impossible to prove, and in short that he lacked rigour. In the years after his death this view coalesced into an exaggerated claim that his work was simply too vague, and has become a cliché. This paper argues that Poincaré was far from indifferent to rigour, and that what characterises his work is an attempt to convey a particular sense of what it is to understand a topic. Throughout his working life Poincaré was concerned to promote the understanding of many domains of mathematics and physics. This is as apparent in his views about geometry, his conventionalism, and his theory of knowledge, as it is in his work on electricity and optics, on number theory, and function theory. It is one of the ways Poincaré discharged his responsibilities as a scientist, and that it accounts not only for a surprising degree of unity in his work but also gives it its distinctive character--at once profound and elusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The historical origins of medical physics are traced from the first use of weighing as a means of monitoring health by Sanctorius in the early seventeenth century to the emergence of radiology, phototherapy and electrotherapy at the end of the nineteenth century. The origins of biomechanics, due to Borelli, and of medical electricity following Musschenbroek's report of the Leyden Jar, are included. Medical physics emerged as a separate academic discipline in France at the time of the Revolution, with Jean Hallé as its first professor. Physiological physics flowered in Germany during the mid-nineteenth century, led by the work of Adolf Fick. The introduction of the term medical physics into English by Neil Arnott failed to accelerate its acceptance in Britain or the USA. Contributions from Newton, Euler, Bernoulli, Nollet, Matteucci, Pelletan, Gavarret, d'Arsonval, Finsen, Röntgen and others are noted. There are many origins of medical physics, stemming from the many intersections between physics and medicine. Overall, the early nineteenth-century definition of medical physics still holds today: ‘Physics applied to the knowledge of the human body, to its preservation and to the cure of its illnesses’. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The early history of the attempts to unify quantum theory with the general theory of relativity is depicted through the work of the Italian physicist Gleb Wataghin, who, in the context of quantum electrodynamics, has anticipated some of the ideas that the quantum gravity community is entertaining today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holography is a fruitful concept in modern physics. However, there is no generally accepted definition of the term, and its significance, especially as a guiding principle in quantum gravity, is rather uncertain. The present paper critically evaluates variants of the holographic principle from two perspectives: (i) their relevance in contemporary approaches to quantum gravity and in closely related areas; (ii) their historical forerunners in the early twentieth century and the role played by past and present concepts of holography in attempts to unify physics. By combining these two perspectives a certain depth of focus is gained which allows us to draw some tentative conclusions about what might be reasonable aspirations and prospects for holography in quantum gravity. By the same token, we will have a brief and critical look at wider philosophical interpretations of the term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The discovery of cosmic rays, a milestone in science, was based on the work by scientists in Europe and the New World and took place during a period characterized by nationalism and lack of communication. Many scientists that took part in this research a century ago were intrigued by the penetrating radiation and tried to understand the origin of it. Several important contributions to the discovery of the origin of cosmic rays have been forgotten; historical, political and personal facts might have contributed to their substantial disappearance from the history of science. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This essay presents an alternative to contemporary substantivalist and relationist interpretations ol quantum gravity hypotheses by means of an historical comparison with the ontology of space in the seventeenth century. Utilizing differences in the spatial geometry between the foundational theory anc the theory derived from the foundational, in conjunction with nominalism and platonism, it will bc argued that there are crucial similarities between seventeenth century and contemporary theories o space, and that these similarities reveal a host of underlying conceptual issues that the substantival/relational dichotomy fails to distinguish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple document comprehension (MDC) refers to the ability to integrate information from multiple sources into a coherent representation, which requires specific cognitive processes. Assuming that epistemic beliefs are domain-related, this study investigates exploratively how epistemic beliefs in the domains of science and history affect the mastery of cognitive requirements in domain-general MDC (e.g. the comparison of source information). 156 university students reported their epistemic beliefs in physics or history and completed a computer-based test measuring their MDC. The results showed that MDC was significantly predicted by the epistemic beliefs dimension of personal justification in physics. A conservative approach revealed no interaction effects between epistemic beliefs and the mastery of specific cognitive requirements but results of a liberal approach hinted at associations with epistemic beliefs in physics rather than history. The results are discussed with respect to the nature of epistemic beliefs and theoretical assumptions regarding their relations to MDC requirements. • Epistemic beliefs are supposed to affect multiple document comprehension (MDC). • Personal justification beliefs in physics relate to MDC. • This was the only significant effect under the conservative approach. • A liberal approach shows that beliefs in physics affect information-integration items. • Domain-related epistemic beliefs can partly predict domain-general MDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foundational investigations in quantum mechanics, both experimental and theoretical, gave birth to the field of quantum information science. Nevertheless, the foundations of quantum mechanics themselves remain hotly debated in the scientific community, and no consensus on essential questions has been reached. Here, we present the results of a poll carried out among 33 participants of a conference on the foundations of quantum mechanics. The participants completed a questionnaire containing 16 multiple-choice questions probing opinions on quantum-foundational issues. Participants included physicists, philosophers, and mathematicians. We describe our findings, identify commonly held views, and determine strong, medium, and weak correlations between the answers. Our study provides a unique snapshot of current views in the field of quantum foundations, as well as an analysis of the relationships between these views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rudolph Clausius (1822–1888) played an important role in advancing the theory of heat during the 19th century. His contributions concerned the development of the two fundamental principles of heat as well as the microscopic approach of kinetic theory where he introduced the new concept of the mean free path. He always strictly separated these two fields. When Clausius took up his studies the idea that heat belonged to the so-called imponderables which were weightless and invisible had not yet disappeared. Carnot had still used that idea for his well-known cycle. Clausius was able to make the Carnot-cycle compatible with the concept of heat as a kind of motion. His research opened the way for thermodynamics later chiefly advocated by Planck as well as for modern statistical physics mainly connected with the names of Maxwell and Boltzmann. Scientific education and research of Clausius will be discussed here in the context of the development of the theory of heat. As he published most of his important papers on this subject already during the first two decades of his career we confine on this period. Clausius began his studies in Berlin in 1840, habilitated there in 1850 and was appointed at the newly founded Polytechnical School in Zürich in 1855. It will be shown that Clausius remained an outsider in the physics community of his time as he himself did not perform any research experiments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper I address Descartes’ use of analogy in physics. First, I introduce Descartes’ hypothetical reasoning, distinguishing between analogy and hypothesis. Second, I examine in detail Descartes’ use of analogy to both discover causes and add plausibility to his hypotheses—even though not always explicitly stated, Descartes’ practice assumes a unified view of the subject matter of physics as the extension of bodies in terms of their size, shape and the motion of their parts. Third, I present Descartes’ unique “philosophy of analogy”, where the absence of analogy serves as a criterion for falsifying proposed explanations in physics. I conclude by defending Descartes’ philosophy of analogy by appeal to the value scientists assign to simplicity in their explanations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Many of the major scientists of the late 19th and early 20th century have weighed in on the mechanisms that influence the forces produced in the Crookes radiometer. However, even today, there is still some uncertainty, and in fact confusion, about the order of magnitudes of forces produced by these mechanisms and the dominant mechanisms in various operational regimes and configurations. The development of a better understanding of the radiometric force, aimed at resolving that confusion, has been helped by modern computational techniques. In the transitional flow regime, where the radiometric force is observed, kinetic approaches are necessary for valid results. These modern kinetic approaches, coupled with significant increases in computational speed, have qualitatively improved the level of understanding of radiometric flows. For the first time, flowfields near the vanes of a radiometer can be fully investigated in an attempt to quantify the importance of various mechanisms involved in the production of the radiometric force. In many cases, the computational techniques have been validated by highly accurate experiments. Various operational regimes and geometric configurations have been studied in an attempt to maximize the force. This review looks at the historic context of three types of radiometers, most notably the Crookes radiometer, develops a modern understanding of the mechanisms behind the radiometric force, and documents recent applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper is in three sections. The first establishes that Newton, in spite of a well-known passage in a letter to Richard Bentley of 1692, did believe in action at a distance. Many readers may see this merely as an act of supererogation, since it is so patently obvious that he did. However, there has been a long history among Newton scholars of allowing the letter to Bentley to over-ride all of Newton’s other pronouncements in favour of action at a distance, with devastating effects on our understanding of related aspects of his physics and his theology. Furthermore, this misconceived scholarly endeavour shows no sign of abating. The second section then offers a historical reconstruction, based on Newton’s writings, of how, when and why he began to accept actions at a distance and make them one of the cornerstones of his physics. Finally, using this chronological account of Newton’s use of actions at a distance, the paper re-assesses the claims of B. J. T. Dobbs that Newton’s important manuscript, De gravitatione et aequipondio fluidorum, was written, not in the late 1660s or early 1670s as was previously supposed, but during the composition of the Principia, in 1684 or 1685. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cosmic Ray research on Mt. Aragats began in 1934 with the measurements of East–West anisotropy by the group from Leningrad Physics-Technical Institute and Norair Kocharian from Yerevan State University. Stimulated by the results of their experiments in 1942 Artem and Abraham Alikhanyan brothers organized a scientific expedition to Aragats. Since that time physicists were studying Cosmic Ray fluxes on Mt. Aragats with various particle detectors: mass spectrometers, calorimeters, transition radiation detectors, and huge particle detector arrays detecting protons and nuclei accelerated in most violent explosions in Galaxy. Latest activities at Mt. Aragats include Space Weather research with networks of particle detectors located in Armenia and abroad, and detectors of Space Education center in Yerevan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper deals with the ways that the issue of completing quantum mechanics was brought into laboratories and became a topic in mainstream quantum optics. It focuses on the period between 1965, when Bell published what we now call Bell''s theorem, and 1982, when Aspect published the results of his experiments. Discussing some of those past contexts and practices, I show that factors in addition to theoretical innovations, experiments, and techniques were necessary for the flourishing of this subject, and that the experimental implications of Bell''s theorem were neither suddenly recognized nor quickly highly regarded by physicists. Indeed, I will argue that what was considered good physics after Aspect''s 1982 experiments was once considered by many a philosophical matter instead of a scientific one, and that the path from philosophy to physics required a change in the physics community''s attitude about the status of the foundations of quantum mechanics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

By seeking to uncover the rules of collective human activities, today''s statistical physicists are aiming to return to their roots. Statistics originated in the study of social numbers in the 17th century, and the discovery of statistical invariants in data on births and deaths, crimes and marriages led some scientists and philosophers to conclude that society was governed by immutable “natural” laws beyond the reach of governments, of which the Gaussian “error curve” became regarded as the leitmotif. While statistics flourished as a mathematical tool of all the sciences in the 19th century, it provoked passionate responses from philosophers, novelists and social commentators. Social statistics also guided Maxwell and Boltzmann towards the utilization of probability distributions in the development of the kinetic theory of gases, the foundation of statistical mechanics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the development of rhope in the scientific term and history of Greek physics. Information on the usage of the word; Where the word comes from; Definition of rhope; Association of the history of physics with Aristotle; In-depth look at the history of physics.

Focuses on the transition from the caloric theory of heat to thermodynamics. Discussion of the caloric theory of heat; States in the development of the caloric theory; Doubts regarding the caloric theory; Emergence of thermodynamics.

• We develop a combined geodynamic, mineralogical and seismic modeling approach. • Thermal structure of the stagnant slab in the MTZ beneath SE China is constrained. • The morphology of the slab indicates that it underwent little deformation. The structure of Earth's mantle transition zone (MTZ) contains important information about how oceanic plates are recycled into the mantle. However, morphologies of stagnant slab in the MTZ inferred from seismic studies remain controversial. Here, we conduct combined geodynamic, mineral physical and seismologic modeling to infer fine features of the stagnant slab in the MTZ beneath southeastern China. This method applies mineral physics modeling in combination with geodynamically consistent thermal anomalies to predict seismic velocity structures in the MTZ that are used in triplication waveform modeling. The synthetic waveforms are systematically compared with observed data using a grid search optimization. Our best-fit model reveals a stagnant slab lying at the bottom of the MTZ with a peak temperature reduction of 350 ± 80 K and a thickness of 85 ± 20 km, indicating that it underwent little deformation. By joint modeling of the mineral physics and thermal history of the slab, our approach improves estimates of both the thickness and temperature of the stagnant slab and provides a better understanding of the paleo subduction system beneath southeastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editors discuss a commemorative section on the work of 19th-20th century mathematician and physicist Henri Poincaré, citing articles on topics including the three-body problem, the special theory of relativity, and the nature of scientific proof.