The early historical roots of Lee-Yang theorem

Giuseppe Iurato

Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1410.6450

The early historical roots of Lee-Yang theorem

Giuseppe Iurato

View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

A deep and detailed historiographical analysis of a particular case study concerning the so-called Lee-Yang theorem of theoretical statistical mechanics of phase transitions, has emphasized what real historical roots underlie such a case study. To be precise, it turned out that some well-determined aspects of entire function theory have been at the primeval origins of this important formal result of statistical physics.

Explore related subjects

physics.hist-ph math.HO

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Giuseppe Iurato. 2014-11-02. The early historical roots of Lee-Yang theorem. https://arxiv.org/abs/1410.6450

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Astrobiology and the Transformation of Scientific Epistemology

Astrobiology occupies an unusual position within the philosophy of science. Confronted with the n = 1 problem - having only a single example of life to study - it attempts to investigate life beyond Earth while relying entirely on Earth's biosphere as its reference point, a constraint that creates unique epistemic challenges. Unlike traditional sciences with clear predictive frameworks, astrobiology operates as what we might call a transient science: a discipline functioning without foundational certainties, relying predominantly on abductive reasoning, and confronting hypotheses that may remain untestable for decades. It is, in essence, a science of absence - of evidence, certainty, and analogy - where progress lies in refining conceptual and experimental tools to recognize unfamiliar forms of life. This positions astrobiology alongside emerging fields like artificial intelligence and cognitive science within a broader transformation of how scientific knowledge is constructed when dealing with phenomena that transcend direct empirical access.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2026

The wavelength of light as Thomas Young invented it

This paper documents Thomas Young's invention of a concept which he alternately refers to as the ''magnitude'', ''breadth'', ''interval'' or ''length of an undulation'' of light. First, the paper highlights that Young was first to link some concept of a wavelength to a theory of optics and to assign a precise value to this length for each component of the colour spectrum. Then, it sets out an explanation of how Young made up these values. Finally, it examines the reasons why Young introduced an optical wavelength into his theory of light, insofar as these reasons might in turn shed light on why he was first to do so.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2026

Pyroelectricity: A Brief History of its Discovery and Physical Principles - an Overview

This paper deals with the historical development and physical mechanisms of pyroelectricity, a phe-nomenon whose roots date back over 2000 years to ancient times. This paper is aimed at students and engineers as a concise introduction to the subject area. While the attractive effect of heated tourma-line was already described by Theophrastus, scientific systematization did not occur until the 18th century by researchers, such as Aepinus and Canton, who identified the effect of electrical polarization resulting from temperature changes. This essay highlights the path from early analogies to magnetism to the modern crystallographic description by Haüy and Thomson. In the physics section, pyroelectricity is defined as the temperature dependence of the spontaneous polarization in anisotropic solids. At the microscopic level, the permanent dipole moment of an elementary cell is described by the vector sum of individual moments. It is mathematically demonstrated that the macroscopic spontaneous polarization correlates with the surface charge density and is linked to the temperature change via the pyroelectric cofficient. A distinction was made between the primary pyroelectric effect and the secondary effect resulting from the thermal deformation of the crystal. Finally, the renaissance of this field of research through the development of modern infrared detectors and ferroelectric materials in the 20th century was highlighted.

physics.hist-ph↗