Seeking ultimates: an intuitive guide to physics: Peter T. Landsberg, Institute of Physics Publishing, Bristol and Philadelphia, 2000, 328 pp., US $34.99 pbk, ISBN 0 7503 0657 2
✍ Scribed by Hasok Chang
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 2002
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 66 KB
- Volume
- 33
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1355-2198
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
particles (for example, the positron), by 1934 there was general agreement that in beta decay, an electron and a neutrino were simultaneously produced in the act of emission, and that neither electrons nor neutrinos were otherwise present in nuclei, whether radioactive or stable.
The last controversy between the Cambridge and the Berlin groups was about the question of whether beta ray emission preceded or followed the gamma ray emission that normally accompanied it. This question, related to the nature of the energy states and hence to nuclear structure, was resolved in favor of the Berlin view, which was that the beta emission occurred first, leaving the nucleus in an excited state that decayed by gamma emission. Finally, the electron line spectrum was explained as the emission of extra-nuclear electrons by a direct interaction with the nucleus, a process known as ''internal conversion.'' Jensen's book competently explains these controversies and their resolutions, which came about by a combination of improved experiments and modifications of the theory. The book presents adequate references, tables, and experimental configurations. If there is any objection, it would be that the book is too complete. Had Jensen lived to see his dissertation through to publication as a book, he would perhaps have left out some material and presented what was left in a fashion more readable for non-specialists. However, we can only applaud the editorial decision to resist any substantive changes. In so doing, the editors have not only preserved an important work, but have also shown respect for Carsten Jensen's very promising talent, whose further exercise was unfortunately prevented by his untimely demise.
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