Particle Hunters - Softcover

Ne'eman, Yuval; Kirsh, Yoram

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521317800 ISBN 13: 9780521317801

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1986

Synopsis

In The Particle Hunters, the authors give a non-technical account of the fascinating story of the search for the fundamental building blocks of matter. Beginning with the experiments of Thompson and Rutherford at the turn of the century, the book chronicles how physicists revealed layer upon layer of structure within the atom, and concludes with an up-to-date description of recent discoveries, including the 'charmed', 'beauty' and 'truth' quarks, the psi and upsilon particles, the tau lepton and the W and Z intermediate vector bosons, the carriers of the weak force. All that is required of the reader is a knowledge of a few basic concepts, such as energy, mass and electric charge. This lucid and entertaining exposition of the search for the ultimate 'elementary' particles, co-authored by a scientist who himself was responsible for many of the major steps forward in the field, will interest anyone wishing to keep pace with the progress of human knowledge, from the scientifically educated general reader, through to the professional physicist.

About this title

Review:

'... this is an eminently readable text, full of wit as well as illumination ... far and away the best guide to quantum physics at present available.' The Times Literary Supplement

'Now in its second edition, this is a clear and thoroughly up-to-date introduction to the particles as well as to the hunters.' New Scientist

'... a pleasant introduction to the phenomena, theories and experimental techniques of elementary particle physics.' Physics Today

'The authors, by avoiding the mathematical rigour that is part and parcel of a full treatment, seek to fill a clear gap in the range of material available to non-professionals in the subject.' Physics Education

'... an extremely readable introduction to the subject and should appeal to anyone who wants to learn about the major advances in our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. ... It is excellent for the lay reader wanting an introduction to the fascinating story of the development of particle physics this century ... The interested reader will have his or her mind stimulated and appetite whetted for more information about our attempt to build the ultimate 'theory of everything'.' Physics World

'... good supplementary reading for a serious physics undergraduate or for a well-motivated sixth-former ... a very worthwhile buy for any amateur astronomer.' Robert Lambourne, Observatory

'Originally written in Hebrew in 1983, published in English in 1986, revised 1987 and 1989, this excellent text is available again with further updates ... this superb book is well-suited to keen 17-18 year old school students and to the scientifically-inclined general reader.' Irish Astronomical Journal

'An excellent feature of the book is its emphasis on the experimental side of the subject ... Another is the series of marginal notes, anecdotal in character, that add the all-important human element to the narrative. Ne'eman's story is there, and an interesting one it is. And in general the coverage of material is complete and accurate. Kirsch is a specialist in popular exposition, and the introduction and management of jargon are skilfully done.' Science

'The clarity of presentation will appeal to a wide readership.' Aslib Book Guide

Book Description:

In the second edition of this vivid, non-technical introduction to the physics of elementary particles, the authors have brought the subject more up to date, including the discovery of the 'top quark' and the search for the Higgs particle.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1986
• ISBN 10: 0521317800
• ISBN 13: 9780521317801
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 286