Part Six The Solid State

Part Six The Solid State The history of solid state physics appears at first sight to lack the dramatic milestones characterizing the development of atomic and nuclear physics as highlighted by the papers reproduced in the earlier Parts of this volume. It is certainly the case that major breakthroughs in our understanding of condensed matter were spread over a much longer period of time and that significant achievements were made by a much larger cohort of scientists than the relatively few credited with unravelling the secrets of the atom. Perhaps the passage of time will change the perspective, and history will identify more clearly than seems possible at present the major landmarks and key figures in the story.