Max Born was a widely influential German physicist and mathematician who was awarded the 1954 Nobel Prize in Physics for his pivotal role in the development of quantum mechanics. Born won the prize primarily for his contributions to the statistical interpretation of the wave function, though he is known for his work in several areas of quantum mechanics as well as solid-state physics, optics, and special relativity. Born's entry in the Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society included thirty books and 330 papers.
Books Born wrote several textbooks and popular science books throughout his career, including Dynamical Theory of Crystal Lattices and Principles of Optics.
English editions Title Date Publication Identifier Topic and notesThe Constitution of MatterTranslated by E. W. Blair and T. S. Wheeler.1923Methuen PublishingBMFRS4; Translation of the German book Der Aufbau der Materie. Drei Aufsatze uber moderne Atomistik und Elektronentheorie (1920).Mechanics of the AtomTranslated by J. W. Fisher and revised by D. R. Hartree1927BellBMFRS9; Translation of the German book Vorlesungen über Atommechanik (1925). Reviewed by J. A. Cranston and R. H. Fowler, as well as others.Atomic PhysicsTranslated by J. Dougall1935Blackie and SonBMFRS14; Translation of the German book Moderne Physik (1933). The book received several reviews.Einstein's Theory of RelativityTranslated into English by Henry Brose1924Methuen PublishingBMFRS6; Translation of the German book Die Relativitatstheorie Einsteins und ihre physikalischen Grundlage (1919). Reviewed by H. T. H. Piaggio and James BarnesA General Kinetic Theory of LiquidsCoauthored with Herbert S. Green1949Oxford University PressBMFRS18; The book received several reviews.Dynamical Theory of Crystal LatticesCoauthored with Huang Kun1954Oxford University PressBMFRS19; Condensed matter physicsPrinciples of OpticsCoauthored with Emil Wolf1959Pergamon PressBMFRS21; opticsThe Restless Universe1935Blackie and SonBMFRS15; The book has received several reviews.Experiment and Theory in Physics1943 Oxford University PressBMFRS16; The book has received several reviews.Natural Philosophy of Cause and Chance1949 Oxford University PressBMFRS17; The book has received several reviews.Physics and Politics1962Oliver and BoydBMFRS23; Translation of the German book Physik und Politik (1960)
German editions Title Translated title Date Publication Identifier Topic and notesDynamik der KristallgitterDynamics of the crystal lattice1915TeubnerBMFRS1; Review by Erwin Schrödinger.Die Relativitätstheorie Einsteins und Ihre Physikalischen GrundlagenEinstein's theory of relativity and its physical foundations1920SpringerBMFRS2; Review by Hans Thirring.Der Aufbau der Materie. Drei Aufsätze über moderne Atomistik und ElektronentheorieThe Structure of Matter: Three Essays on Modern Atomic and Electron Theory1920SpringerBMFRS3; Reviewed in English by Nature.Atomtheorie des festen ZustandesSolid State Atomic Theory1923TeubnerBMFRS5; Reviewed by Hans Thirring.Vorlesungen über AtommechanikLectures on atomic mechanics1923SpringerBMFRS7; Coauthored with Friedrich Hund. Received reviews.Probleme der Atomdynamik : Erster Teil: Die Struktur des Atoms. Zweiter Teil: Die Gittertheorie des Festen ZustandesProblems of Atomic Dynamics: I. The structure of the Atom; II. The lattice Theory of the Fixed State1926SpringerBMFRS8; Reviewed by H. T. H. Piaggio.Elementare Quantenmechanik(II. Band der Vorlesungen uber Atommechanik)Elementary Quantum Mechanics(Volume II of The Lectures on Atomic Mechanics)1930SpringerBMFRS10; Coauthored with Pascual Jordan. ReviewOptik: Ein Lehrbuch der elektromagnetischen LichttheorieOptics: A Textbook on Electromagnetic Light Theory1933SpringerBMFRS11; Received reviews.Dynamische Gittertheorie der Kristalle (Aufbau Der Zusammenhängenden Materie pp 623–794)Dynamic Lattice Theory of Crystals (Structure Of Related Matter pp 623–794)1933SpringerBMFRS12; Coauthored with Maria Goppert-MayerModerne Physik: Sieben Vorträge über Materie und StrahlungModern Physics: Seven Lectures on Matter and Radiation1933SpringerBMFRS13; Reviewed.Physik und PolitikPhysics and Politics1960Vandenhoeck & RuprechtBMFRS22; Reviewed.Ausgewählte AbhandlungenSelected treatises1963Vandenhoeck & RuprechtBMFRS24; Received reviews.Von der Verantwortung des NaturwissenschaftlersThe Responsibility of the Natural Scientist1965Nymphenburger VerlagBMFRS26; Der Luxus des GewissensThe Luxury of Conscience1969Nymphenburger VerlagBMFRS28; Second author to Hedwig Born. Review.Born-Einstein Briefwechsel, 1916-1955The Born-Einstein Letters, 1916-19551969Nymphenburger VerlagBMFRS29; Review.
Articles
Sole author in English {| class="wikitable sortable" width="auto" style="text-align: left" |- ! Title ! Date ! Publication ! Identifier ! Topic and notes |- |Physical aspects of quantum mechanics |1927 |Nature |BMFRS144;
|The quantum theory of chemical valence |1929 |Nature |BMFRS156;
|The application of the theory of homopolar valency to polyatomic molecules |1931 |Chemistry at the Centenary Meeting of the British Association pp. 249–254; |BMFRS166
|Modified field equations with a finite radius of the electron |1933 |Nature |BMFRS174;
|Cosmic rays and the new field theory |1934 |Nature |BMFRS180;
|On the quantum theory of the electromagnetic field |1934 |Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A |BMFRS181;
|Quantum electrodynamics |1934 |Papers and Discussions of the International Conference on Physics, London vol. I 19-27 |BMFRS182
|On the theory of optical activity. I. General theory of a system of coupled isotropic oscillators; II. Molecules with a binary axis of symmetry |1935 |Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A |BMFRS190;
|Quantised field theory and the mass of the proton |1935 |Nature |BMFRS192;
|The mysterious number 137 |1935 |Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. |BMFRS193;
|Unitary theory of field and matter. I. Classical treatment. Charged particle with magnetic rest-moment |1936 |Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. |BMFRS194;
|Unitary theory of field and matter. II. Classical treatment. Charged particle with electric and magnetic moment |1936 |Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. |BMFRS195;
|On the linearization of the energy density of the electromagnetic field |1936 |Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. |BMFRS196;
|Some philosophical aspects of modern physics |1936 |Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb. |BMFRS199; |The 1936 ceremonial Inaugural Lecture as Tait Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. Published in 1938 |- |Wave mechanics of couples (neutron-neutrino) |1937 |Nature |BMFRS200;
|The statistical mechanics of condensing systems |1937 |Physica |BMFRS201;
|Relativity and quantum theory |1938 |Nature |BMFRS202;
|A suggestion for unifying quantum theory and relativity |1938 |Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A |BMFRS203;
|Application of 'reciprocity' to nuclei |1938 |Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A |BMFRS205;
|Some remarks on reciprocity |1938 |Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. |BMFRS206;
|Statistical laws of nature |1938 |J. Instn. Elect. Engrs. |BMFRS208; |The twenty-ninth Kelvin Lecture, held in 1938 |- |Cause, purpose and economy in natural laws |1939 |Nature |BMFRS210;
|Reciprocity and the number 137 |1939 |Proc. R. Soc. Edinb. |BMFRS211;
|Thermodynamics of crystals and melting |1939 |J. Chem. Phys. |BMFRS212;
|Relation between breaking and melting |1940 |Nature |BMFRS217; |Response from Reinhold Furth . |- |On the stability of crystal lattices I |1940 |Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. |BMFRS221;
|Diffuse reflexion of X-rays |1941 |Nature |BMFRS224;
|On the stability of crystal lattices. IX |1942 |Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. 38, 82-99 |BMFRS227; |Born published a corrigenda in November 1944. |- |The teaching of theoretical physics in universities |1942 |Rep. Progr. Phys. |BMFRS228;
|Lattice dynamics and X-ray scattering |1942 |Proc. Phys. Soc. Lond. |BMFRS229;
|Quantum Theory and Diffuse X-Ray Reflexions |1942 |Nature |BMFRS231;
|On the theory of temperature diffuse scattering |1942 |Phys. Rev. |BMFRS232; |Response from William Houlder Zachariasen |- |Effect of thermal vibrations on the scattering of X-rays. III |1942 |Proc. R. Soc. Lond. |BMFRS233;
|Density of Frequencies in Lattice Dynamics |1943 |Nature |BMFRS238;
|The thermodynamics of crystal lattices |1943 |Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. |BMFRS240;
|Theoretical investigations on the relation between crystal dynamics and x-ray scattering |1943 |Rep. Progr. Phys. |BMFRS242;
|Recent progress in the physics of the solid state |1944 |Coal Research, Sept 1944. p. 39-47 |BMFRS243
|Unification of the theories of photon and meson |1944 |Nature |BMFRS244;
|Theoretical Physics in the U.S.S.R. |1945 |Nature |BMFRS250;
|On the quantum theory of pyroelectricity |1945 | |BMFRS251;
|Dublin Colloquium, 1945 |1945 |Nature |BMFRS255;
|Elastic constants of diamond |1946 |Nature |BMFRS258;
|Raman effect in rock-salt |1946 |Nature |BMFRS259;
|Elastic constants of ice |1946 |Nature |BMFRS261;
|The free path for the transfer of energy in crystals |1946 |Proc. Math. Phys. Soc. Egypt vol. 3 p. 35-41 |BMFRS263
|Atomic energy and its use in war and peace |1947 |Cairo University Press Fouad I. |BMFRS266 |Published lecture |- |Raman spectrum of rock-salt under high resolution [Letter to editor] |1947 |Nature |BMFRS273; |Response to article by R. S. Krishnan |- |Relativistic quantum mechanics and the principle of reciprocity |1948 |Rep. Internat. Conf. 'Fundamental particles''' vol. 1 p. 14–21 |BMFRS276
|Elementary particles and the principle of reciprocity |1949 |Nature|BMFRS284;
|The second order Raman effect in crystals, in particular diamond |1949 |J. Chim. Phys.|BMFRS286;
|Reciprocity Theory of Elementary Particles |1949 |Rev. Mod. Phys.|BMFRS289;
|The foundation of quantum statistics |1949 |Il Nuovo Cimento|BMFRS290;
|Einstein's Statistical Theories |1949 |The Library of Living Philosophers|BMFRS291;
|Non-Localizable Fields and Reciprocity |1950 |Nature|BMFRS294;
|Physics (a half-century review) |1950 |Scientific American|BMFRS300;
|Physics and metaphysics |1950 |Science News vol. 17 p. 9–27Mem. Manch. lit. and phil. Soc. vol. 91 p. 35–53 |BMFRS301 |The Joule Memorial Lecture of 1949 |- |Fifty years of physics |1951 |Science News vol. 19 p. 46-60. |BMFRS304
|Physics in the Last Fifty Years |1951 |Nature|BMFRS305;
|Dirac's New Theory of the Electron |1952 |Nature|BMFRS307;
|Physical Reality |1953 |The Philosophical Quarterly|BMFRS310;
|The interpretation of quantum mechanics |1953 |Br. J. Phil. Sci.|BMFRS311;
|The conceptual situation in physics and the prospects of its future development |1953 |Proc. Phys. Soc.|BMFRS312; |37th Guthrie Lecture of the Physical Society |- |Astronomical recollections |1953 |Vistas in astronomy Pergamon Press |BMFRS313
|=On the Interpretation of Freundlich's Red-Shift Formula |1954 |Proc. Phys. Soc. A|BMFRS315;
|Continuity, determinism and reality |1955 |Dan. Mat. Fys. Medd. vol. 30, no. 2, p. 1 |BMFRS320
|Special Theory of Relativity |1963 |Nature|BMFRS345;
|Reminiscences of my work on the dynamics of crystal lattices |1964 |Proceedings of the International Conference on Lattice Dynamics at Copenhagen Pergamon Press |BMFRS351
|Reciprocity theory of elementary particles |1965 |Progress of Theoretical Physics (Osaka), Supplementary Number, pp. 31–55 |BMFRS353
|The moon race and beyond |1966 |Discovery vol. 27, p. 5 |BMFRS357
Collaborations in English