Tracing the Roots of Nuclear Physics: Experiments by Early Pioneers

In summary, classic papers by pioneering experimentalists in nuclear physics, such as Rutherford, Joliot-Curie, Fermi, Lawrence, and Hahn, can be found on a Russian site with translations to English. Additionally, Dirac papers can be found in the Royal Society journals for free until December, and old French and European journals can be found on Gallica. The best work to study the Dirac equation are his papers where he introduced it, and other famous papers were published elsewhere. Other resources for finding classic papers include searching by author on the European classics website, accessing the Royal Society's digital archive for free for the next 18 days, and checking out interviews and citations for PRL's Top Ten. Physical Review
  • #1
Azael
257
1
Where can all the classic papers by the experimentalists that layed the foundation for nuclear physics be found?:confused:

Rutherford, joliot-curie, fermi, lawrence, Hahn ect.
Im very interested in reading exactly how they setup there experiments, the conclusions they drew and so on.
 
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  • #2
there is a russian site having translations (to english) of the earlier papers. You can find Dirac papers in the Royal Society journals, free until december, and surely a bunch of references to experimentalists there. You can find old french and european journals for free in Gallica.

I do not remember the links. You could try the "online" tag in physcomments.org
 
  • #3
arivero said:
there is a russian site having translations (to english) of the earlier papers. You can find Dirac papers in the Royal Society journals, free until december, and surely a bunch of references to experimentalists there. You can find old french and european journals for free in Gallica.

I do not remember the links. You could try the "online" tag in physcomments.org


Thanks :) Il try there
 
  • #4
arivero said:
You can find Dirac papers in the Royal Society journals, free until december,
I do not remember the links. You could try the "online" tag in physcomments.org

http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/index.cfm?page=1373

Still the best work to study the Dirac equation are the papers in
which Dirac introduced it:

The Quantum Theory of the Electron.
vol 117, 1 February 1928, pp.610-24
The Quantum Theory of the Electron II
vol 118, 1 March 1928, pp. 351-61

Dirac's start in quantum mechanics is where he, after reading
Heisenberg's paper on Matrix mechanics, introduces the Poisson
brackets from classical dynamics into quantum mechanics:

The fundamental equations of quantum mechanics.
vol 109, 1 December 1925, pp. 642-53

Hard to read without Heisenberg's work though. One might use:
The physical interpretation of the quantum theory:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486601137/?tag=pfamazon01-20
for this, see the appendix (which is half the book) Other famous Dirac papers where published elsewhere:
The lagrangian in Quantum Mechanics:
Physikalische Zeitschrift der Sowjetunion, vol 3, n0.1, pp 64-72
The theory of magnetic poles:
The Physical Review, vol 74, no.7, 1 October 1948, pp. 817-30Regards, Hans
 
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  • #5
Classic Papers:

Search here by author for European classics (I've seen papers by Lorentz, Curie, Arrhenius, van der Waals, de Haas, Onnes, Zeeman)
http://www.knaw.nl/cfdata/digital_library/output/proceedings/works.cfm [Broken]
(thanks to Astronuc for that reference)

For another 18 days, the Royal Society's digital archive is FREE!
http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/(yuvxwsm1u4troaijxznq4x45)/app/home/main.asp?referrer=default [Broken]

Interviews and citations for PRL's Top Ten
http://www.aps.org/apsnews/topten.cfm

Physical Review gave free access to a collection of classics during their centennial, a couple years ago (Zz linked it in a thread here). I think that access has since been closed down.
 
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1. What is the significance of tracing the roots of nuclear physics?

Tracing the roots of nuclear physics allows us to understand the origins of our current understanding of the atomic nucleus and the development of nuclear technology. It also highlights the contributions of early pioneers in this field and their groundbreaking experiments.

2. Who are some of the early pioneers in nuclear physics?

Some of the early pioneers in nuclear physics include Ernest Rutherford, Marie Curie, Lise Meitner, and Otto Hahn. Their experiments and discoveries paved the way for our current understanding of the atomic nucleus.

3. What were some key experiments in the early days of nuclear physics?

Some key experiments in the early days of nuclear physics include Rutherford's gold foil experiment, Curie and Meitner's research on radioactivity, and Hahn's discovery of nuclear fission. These experiments helped to unlock the secrets of the atomic nucleus and its properties.

4. How did early experiments in nuclear physics lead to the development of nuclear energy?

Early experiments in nuclear physics, such as Hahn's discovery of nuclear fission, laid the foundation for the development of nuclear energy. This discovery showed that enormous amounts of energy could be released by splitting the nucleus of an atom, leading to the development of nuclear power plants and weapons.

5. How does tracing the roots of nuclear physics impact current research in this field?

Tracing the roots of nuclear physics allows researchers to build upon the knowledge and insights gained by early pioneers. By understanding the historical context and progression of this field, scientists can continue to make advancements and breakthroughs in nuclear physics and its applications.

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