The Birth of Particle Physics

A distinctive collection of essays, discussions, and personal descriptions of the evolution of particle physics.

Laurie M. Brown (Edited by), Lillian Hoddeson (Edited by)

9780521338370, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 31 October 1986

436 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.4 cm, 0.64 kg

Editors Laurie Brown and Lillian Hoddeson have brought together a distinctive collection of essays, discussions, and personal descriptions of the evolution of particle physics based on the presentations and discussions at the May 1980 International Symposium on the History of Particle Physics, held at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois. This collection focuses primarily on the development of cosmic-ray physics and quantum field theory in the 1930s and 1940s, before the advent of the great postwar accelerators, and draws on research conducted in the United States, Italy, Japan, Great Britain, Germany, France, and the USSR.

Part I. Introduction: 1. The birth of elementary particle physics: 1930–1950 Laurie M. Brown and Lillian Hoddeson
Part II. Theoretical Underpinnings: 2. The origin of quantum field theory Paul A. M. Dirac
3. Growing up with field theory: the development of quantum electrodynamics Victor F. Weisskopf
4. The development of meson physics in Japan Satio Hayakawa
Part III. Discoveries of Particles: 5. The early stage of cosmic-ray particle research Dmitry Skobeltzyn
6. Some reminiscences of the early days of cosmic rays H. Victor Neher
7. Unraveling the particle content of cosmic rays Carl D. Anderson with Herbert L. Anderson
8. The intriguing history of the ? meson Gilberto Bermardini
9. Some aspects of French physics in the 1930s Pierre V. Auger
10. The scientific activities of Leprince-Ringuet and his group on cosmic rays: 1933–1953 Louis Leprince-Ringuet
11. The decay of 'mesotrons' (1939–1943): experimental particle physics in the age of innocence Bruno B. Rossi
12. Particle physics in the 1930s: a view from Berkeley Robert Serber
13. The observation of the leptronic nature of the 'mesotron' by Conversi, Pancini and Piccioni Oreste Piccioni
14. The period that led to the 1946 discovery of the leptronic nature of the 'mesotron' Marcello Conversi
15. On the discovery of the neutral kaons Robert W. Thompson
Part IV. Discussion and Commentary: 16. First round-table discussion Roger H. Stuewer, Robert W. Seidel, Donald F. Moyer, Victor F. Weisskopf
Gilberto Bernardini, Silvan S. Schweber, Paul A. M. Dirac and Herbert L. Anderson
17. Second round-table discussion Spencer R. Weart, Takehiko Takabayasi, Satio Hayakawa, Charles Weiner, Bruno B. Rossi, Robert Serber, M. G. K. Menon and Dudley Shapere
18. Some characteristic aspects of early elementary particle theory in Japan Takehiko Takabayasi
Part V. A New Picture: 19. My work in meso physics with nuclear emulsions Cesare Mansueto Giulio Lattes
20. The fine structure of hydrogen Willis E. Lamb
21. Renmormalization theory of quantum electrodynamics: an individual view Julian Schwinger
22. Two shakers of physics: memorial lecture for Sin-itiro Tomonaga Julian Schwinger
23. Particle physics in rapid transition: 1947–1952 Robert E. Marshak
Indices.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX]