The combination of relativity theory and quantum theory. Offprint

Dublin: DAIS, 1943. Eddington, Arthur (1882-1944). The combination of relativity theory and quantum theory. Offprint from Comm. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Series A, no. 2 (1943). 8vo. [2], 69, [1]pp. 258 x 182 mm. Original printed wrappers. Fine copy. "Nat. Phil. Departmental Library" inscribed on title by unidentified writer. First Separate Edition. Eddington made significant contributions to relativity theory, publishing the first account of general relativity in English (1918) and establishing a bridge between relativity and quantum theory in his Mathematical Theory of Relativity (1923), a work that Einstein called "the finest presentation (truncated) of the subject in any language" (DSB). His last years were devoted to his vision (which he called "Bottom's dream") of "a harmonization of quantum physics and relativity. The difficulties were immense and, as we now know, the greatest complexities of nuclear physics and subatomic particles were not yet discovered. But he took hurdle after hurdle as he saw them, with daring leaps, always landing, as he believed, surefootedly on the far side, even though he could not demonstrate his trajectories with mathematical rigor" (DSB). (Inventory #: 36294)