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Bohr's Theory of the Atom: Content, Closure and Consistency

Vickers, Peter John (2008) Bohr's Theory of the Atom: Content, Closure and Consistency. In: [2007] EPSA07: 1st Conference of the European Philosophy of Science Association (Madrid, 15-17 November, 2007).

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    Abstract

    How exactly does the much-discussed inconsistency in Bohr's theory of the atom manifest itself? A close look at the suggestions made so far in the literature suggests that the theory may not be inconsistent at all. The answer depends on (i) what exactly we take the content of 'Bohr's theory' to be, and (ii) what we take to follow from that content (how we 'close' the theory). In lieu of inconsistency, alternative characterisations of the relevant conceptual problems are possible. Looking briefly at the later Bohr theory, I conclude that the theory was only inconsistent after the introduction of the quantum adiabatic principle in 1917.

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    Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
    Keywords: Bohr, atom, theory content, consistency, inconsistency, old quantum theory, closure, conceptual problems
    Subjects: General Issues > Structure of Theories
    General Issues > History of Science Case Studies
    Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
    Conferences and Volumes: [2007] EPSA07: 1st Conference of the European Philosophy of Science Association (Madrid, 15-17 November, 2007)
    Depositing User: Dr Peter Vickers
    Date Deposited: 26 Apr 2008
    Last Modified: 07 Oct 2010 11:16
    Item ID: 4005
    URI: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/4005

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