What are cosmic rays?: by Pierre Auger. Translated from the French by Maurice M. Shapiro. 127 pages, 22 plates, diagrams, 14 × 20 cms. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1945. Price $2.00
✍ Scribed by R.H. Oppermann
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1945
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 51 KB
- Volume
- 239
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0016-0032
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
The book is written primarily for the reader who lacks a technical knowledge of physics and includes also the physicist who wants to get a quick view of what has been done in this new field. It, therefore, is written in an easy-to-read style, first providing a background through a description of the ionization phenomena in matter, the progress of the study of the "rays from the sky," and the definite determination of the cosmic rays. The story assumes the form of a mystery "thriller" in which scientists play the part of super detectives, yet the serious, factual side is always foremost. Mysteries are unraveled, followed closely by proven explanations. Various problems that have become evident are given and the means of their solution, and the many unsolved problems are pointed out. "Question No..I," so called, makes itself evident through most of the book. It is:--What is the primal origin of the cosmic rays? A survey of the principal hypotheses which have been advanced rejects the theories which see within the solar system the possible source, rejects the stars, rejects reglons of space where matter exists only in very low concentration, and finally rejects the action of magnetic fields such as those which may exist in the neighborhood of double stars.
The book reveals that we know a great deal about cosmic rays. What is more important, it reveals some of the things that we don't know, which offer a challenge and a sthnulation--a healthy condition for the pushing back of the unknown. It is an up-to-date evaluation of the state of knowledge of this fascinating subject. R. H. OPPERMANN.