Article ID: CBB001251955

Early History of Cosmic Particle Physics (2012)

unapi

Walter, M. (Author)
Wolfendale, A. W. (Author)


European Physical Journal H
Volume: 37, no. 3
Issue: 3
Pages: 323-358


Publication Date: 2012
Edition Details: Part of special issue: Cosmic Rays, Gamma Rays and Neutrinos: A Survey of 100 Years of Research
Language: English

The discovery of cosmic rays is a standard example of `one man's noise is another man's signal'. From the apparently minor leakages of electricity from well-insulated detectors came a subject of great importance for modern science: the detection of a so-called `radiation' coming from not just beyond the Earth's atmosphere but from deep cosmic space. Furthermore, a radiation of energy density rivalling that of starlight. Our goal is to examine the history of the subject from the period of `pre-discovery' in the years from 1900 to 1912, through the discovery itself up to the 1940's when particle physics was continued with accelerators. The crucial role of `new techniques', principally the Wulf electrometer and the Wilson cloud chamber and their use in precission studies by Hess, Kolhörster, Anderson and Blackett are described. The arguments about the veracity of Hess's claim for an extra-terrestrial origin are included, as well as the developments leading to the inspired discovery of the positron and the muon. The question of `origin' is also examined, from the contention by Hess that the Sun was not responsible, to the idea -- still held -- that supernovae are involved.

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Article Spiering, Christian (2012) Cosmic Rays, Gamma Rays and Neutrinos: A Survey of 100 Years of Research. European Physical Journal H (pp. 319-321). unapi

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https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB001251955/

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Authors & Contributors
Monaldi, Daniela
Wang, Lei
Pawłowska, Maria
S. C. Roy
Yang, Jian
Wiederkehr, Karl Heinrich
Concepts
Physics
Atomic, nuclear, and particle physics
Cosmic rays
Memorials; commemorations
Particles (nuclear physics)
Radioactivity
Time Periods
20th century, early
20th century
20th century, late
19th century
Places
Italy
Cracow (Poland)
United States
Sweden
Japan
Germany
Institutions
Bose Research Institute (Calcutta)
Uniwersytet Jagielloński (Cracow)
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