5th Solvay Conference on Physics, 1927

It is in the margins of this Conference that a famous first debate between Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein takes place on a fundamental question: should the quanta theory be seen as a complete theory?

The Conference pits the ‘elders’ (Hendrik Lorentz and Albert Einstein) against the members of the ‘Boys’ Club’ (Werner Heisenberg, Wolfgang Pauli and Paul A. M. Dirac), so-called because they are all under 30!

The Bohr-Einstein controversy takes a dramatic turn during the 1930 Conference. Albert Einstein believes he has found a ‘thought’ experiment that will refute Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. After a restless night, Niels Bohr manages to refute Einstein’s line of argument.

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Albert Einstein et Niels Bohr

Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr deep in discussion in the streets of Brussels, after their debate at the Solvay Conference on Physics of 1930.

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Cinquième Conseil de physique Solvay, photographie de groupe,1927

From 24 to 29 October 1927, 29 renowned physicists were invited to discuss ‘Electrons and photons’.

Extrait de De BROGLIE Louis, "La Nouvelle dynamique des quanta" dans Institut international de physique Solvay (1928). Electrons et photons: rapports et discussions du cinquième Conseil de physique tenu à Bruxelles du 24 au 29 octobre 1927. Paris: Gauthier-Villars et cie.

Extrait de BRAGG William Lawrence, "L'intensité de réflexion des Rayons X" dans Institut international de physique Solvay (1928). Electrons et photons: rapports et discussions du cinquième Conseil de physique tenu à Bruxelles du 24 au 29 octobre 1927. Paris: Gauthier-Villars et cie.

Institut international de physique Solvay (1928). Electrons et photons: rapports et discussions du cinquième Conseil de physique tenu à Bruxelles du 24 au 29 octobre 1927. Paris: Gauthier-Villars et cie.

http://bib56.ulb.ac.be/uploads/r/null/2/e/b/2eb713537b15e677874fa040a137b1a38f4936e4a769d73dc4780c399b339aa1/Solvay_1_2666.pdf

Retranscription d'une note écrite par Paul Ehrenfest sur le tableau noir le dernier jour du cinquième Conseil de physique Solvay, 1927

Incomplete retranscription of a note written by Paul Ehrenfest at the fifth Solvay Conference on Physics.

LANGMUIR'S RARE FOOTAGE

This rare footage is a "home movie" shot with a General Electric camera by the American chemist Irving Langmuir, 1932 Nobel Laureate in chemistry. Langmuir was spending his holidays in Europe: injured, he was invited as an auditor. The movie captures 2 minutes of an intermission in the proceedings. Twenty-one of the 29 attendees appear in the film