Engines Of Discovery: A Century Of Particle Accelerators - Softcover

Sessler, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9812700714 ISBN 13: 9789812700711

Publisher: Wspc, 2007

Synopsis

This book for the first time chronicles the development of particle accelerators from the invention of electrostatic accelerators, linear accelerators, and the cyclotron to the colliders of today. It also addresses accelerators employed as sources of x-rays, for medical purposes, and in industrial applications. The book identifies the crucial discoveries in applied physics and engineering that have driven the field and gives the reader insight into the people who made these discoveries as well as the methods they used. Particle accelerators exploit every aspect of today's cutting edge technology to the full and they themselves have contributed to these technologies. It is a saga every bit as fascinating as man's mastery of transport and communications a century before and from which we have much to learn for the future. Thus, the book should appeal to the general public, scientists, and students.The field of accelerator physics is, at this time, a very active field. The governments of developed and developing countries spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on particle physics research ― a pure science with important implications for the understanding of not only particle physics, but also astronomy and cosmology. At the same time there is much activity in developing light sources and spallation neutron sources ― both employed for extensive studies in surface science, chemistry, biology, and medicine. There is also large commercial activity in producing accelerators for industrial and medical use.

About this title

Review

....there are many interesting and amusing anecdotes and analogies illustrated by a fantastic collection of photographs of early accelerators.... -- Physics World "Physics World"

Book Description

I believe that the book describes very well the history of particle accelerators. Active scientists and historians of science will appreciate this chronicle of the development of particle accelerators and their key role in the progress of physics and other sciences during the last half century. Once again the authors show how the progress of science is strongly related to the progress in the instruments that allow us to 'see' beyond our senses, to see the structures of atoms and molecules, and the structures inside the atoms and inside the protons and neutrons. From the structure of proteins to the standard model of elementary particles, the scientific development is traced back to the development of these wonderful instruments, the particle accelerators.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wspc
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9812700714
• ISBN 13: 9789812700711
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 210