NUCLEAR PHYSICS
by Harry Henderson
The history of physics since the turn of the century is set forth in seven biographies that concentrate on the people and lives behind the scientific breakthroughs of the nuclear age. Beginning with the Curies' radiation experimentation, Henderson (Modern Mathematicians, 1995) reveals how each scientist chronologically and inspirationally built on the findings of his or her predecessors and colleagues. Neils Bohr relied on Rutherford's ideas about the nuclear atom for his theories of quantum physics; Lise Meitner expanded upon the work of the Curies, Einstein, Fermi, and Planck for her groundbreaking developments in nuclear fission. Clear language and precise examples mark the discussion of each pioneer and their innovations, from the discovery of X rays and the naming of electrons and protons, to the atomic bomb and the existence of quarks. Struggles as well as achievements are outlined in this Milestones in Discovery and Invention Series entry. The concepts are complex; readers with a background in the subject will find this accessible, although for neophytes, terminology is often defined, and icon-driven insets highlight key ideas, connections, trends, parallels, and quotes tangentially related to the time period or person at hand. (index, not seen, b&w diagrams, charts, photos, chronologies, bibliographies) (Biography. 12-15)