The event is aimed at the CERN community and CERN Alumni and Retirees, therefore physical attendance will require having a valid CERN access card. 

CERN Alumni should use this form to request CERN access cards.

The author of the new book "Modern Special Relativity: A Student's Guide with Discussions and Examples" will give a talk at the CERN Library:

Abstract:

The Special Theory of Relativity (SR) is the foundation of modern physics.  We are today facing a challenge: Teaching future researchers about modern developments and clarifying common misconceptions originating in non-invariant aether theories  which linger in minds of many, nourished by books by unqualified authors. It is easy to see this considering the relativistic Doppler effect: how is it possible to measure the relative speed to a star emitting light zillion years ago? Time permitting I will remind that SR was born out of the need to introduce the principle of relativity in electromagnetism (EM). Efforts to construct a consistent relativistic EM theory gave birth to theory of Gravity Relativity (GR) while classical relativistic EM remains a unfinished patchwork. This prompts frequent misunderstanding which my recent book clarifies arguing at a very elementary level accessible to anyone with a general STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) background.

The event will be followed by a Q&A and signing sessions. The book is available from the CERN Library & Bookshop.

About the author: 

Johann Rafelski was an early key contributor to the QED of strong fields theory, and instrumental in the development of Quark-Gluon Plasma experimental program at CERN. His most noted contribution was the strangeness signature, work achieved during his frequent CERN gigs in 70's and 80's. After brief tenured roles at U Frankfurt and U Cape Town he has been teaching at the University of Arizona since 1987; he has published a dozen books and has authored 400+ research publications in the span of 55 years. His theoretical physics research is spanning a wide domain of subatomic physics, and remains highly cited. His major long term science hobby is Nuclear Fusion. Rafelski is a fellow of the American Physical Society, a Fulbright Professor, and has been elected foreign member of the Academia Europea and of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He remains active in research with 6 PhD graduates since Pandemic. He has been elected to University wide roles including many years of service in the Faculty Senate.