Diffraction of Cathode Rays by a Thin Film (Thomson, Paget, Reid) in Nature, Vol. 119, No. 3007, June 18, 1927, p. 890 AND The Diffraction of Cathode Rays by Thin Films of Platinum (Thomson) in Nature, Vol. 120, No. 3031, December 3, 1927, p. 802
Published by Macmillan, London, 1927
- First Edition
- Used

Seller: Atticus Rare Books, West Branch, IA, U.S.A.Atticus Rare Books
AbeBooks seller since August 23, 2001
Condition: Used
£ 540.65
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL WRAPS OF THOMSON & REID'S NOBEL PRIZE WINNING PAPERS "for the experimental discovery of the diffraction of electrons by crystals" (Nobel Prize Portal). The experiments conducted here "beautifully confirmed the [de Broglie's] wave theory" (Lindau Nobel Laureate Portal). Sir George Paget Thomson was born in 1892, the son of the physicist Sir J. J. Thomson. Paget Thomson studied at Cambridge's Trinity College, later working for a year studying atomic structure with his father; this was followed by work at Cavendish Laboratory until WWI. Following a post at Cambridge, Paget Thomson became Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen. It is at Aberdeen that Paget Thomson began to carry out experiments revealing the phenomena of electron diffraction with thin metal foils and high-voltage electrons. In 1924, the de Broglie hypothesis argued that a wave must be associated with the motion of any material corpuscle. "Reasoning that the effect would be easier to analyze with a solid than with a gaseous target, Thomson asked one of his students, Alexander Reid, to modify an existing apparatus and investigate the scattering of a beam of electrons with energy in the keV range through this celluloid films at normal incidence" (Lindau). In the first paper offered here (June 1927), Reid and Paget Thomson describe "the rings formed when a beam of cathode rays was sent at normal incidence through a thin film of celluloid and struck a photograph plate placed some distance behind the film. These were attributed to a diffraction of the cathode rays by the film, the cathode rays behaving as waves of wave-length h/mv according to de Broglie's theory of wave mechanics, and regularities in the structure of the film, or in the size of the molecules, making it behave as a kind of diffraction grating" (Abstract). In the paper of 1927 December, Paget Thomson (working alone) confirmed and extended his experimentation "to films of gold, aluminium, and of an unknown (probably organic) substance. In particular, the relation that the size of the rings is in all cases inversely as the momentum of the cathode rays is fully confirmed, and the number and size of the rings correspond remarkably with what is to be expected from the known crystalline structure of gold and aluminium, using de Broglie's expression for the wave- length of the cathode rays" (Abstract). "Whereas his father had seen the electron as a particle (and won his Nobel Prize in the process), Paget Thomson demonstrated that it could be diffracted like a wave, a discovery proving the principle of wave-particle duality which had first been posited by de Broglie in the 1920s as what is often dubbed the de Broglie hypothesis" (Strickland, Creators of Quantum Physics, 180). CONDITION & DETAILS: Two issues in original wraps. London: Macmillan. 4to. (10.5 x 7.5 inches; 262 x 188mm). Ex-libris with stamps on front wraps; professionally rebacked at the spine (see scan). Slight wear; bright and clean throughout. Both very good condition.…
Seller Inventory # 694
Bibliographic details
- Title
- Diffraction of Cathode Rays by a Thin Film (Thomson, Paget, Reid) in Nature, Vol. 119, No. 3007, June 18, 1927, p. 890 AND The Diffraction of Cathode Rays by Thin Films of Platinum (Thomson) in Nature, Vol. 120, No. 3031, December 3, 1927, p. 802
- Author
- Thomson, G. [George Paget]; Reid, G. AND Thomson, G.
- Publisher
- Macmillan, London
- Publication year
- 1927
- Edition
- 1st Edition.
- Seller catalogs
- Atomic & Particle Physics, & Quantum Theory, de Broglie Theory, Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
Atticus Rare Books
West Branch, IA, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since August 23, 2001
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 3 to 6 business days | 2 to 4 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 7.12 | £ 7.95 |
Payment methods
- Bank Wire Transfer
- Check
- Money Order
- Paypal
Specialty
Antiquarian & 20th Century Science, Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics, & MedicineSeller's business information
Atticus Rare Books
IA, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
All items may be returned for a full refund for any reason within 14 days of receipt. We accept personal
checks from regular clients. We also accept PayPal, international money orders, direct bank deposit, VISA,
Mastercard, and American Express. Contact information: Atticus Rare Books 1411 Plato Road West
Branch, IA 52358. Email: infoatticus@gmail.com. Phone: 319-
643-3487. Federal Tax ID and EIN : 46-4756614
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Atticus Rare Books, West Branch, Iowa, U.S.A., +1 319-643-3487, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.