Details
RUTHERFORD, Ernest. "Collision of \Ka\k particles with light atoms. I: Hydrogen; II: Velocity of the hydrogen atom; III: Nitrogen and oxygen atoms; IV: An anomalous effect in nitrogen." Pp. [537-586]. Extract from: The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of science. [Sixth series.], vol. 37, no. 222. London: Taylor and Francis, June 1919.
8o. 6 plates, numerous diagrams in text (a few repairs on verso of plates). Disbound (few pages loose); cloth portfolio. Provenance: Harvey Plotnick (his sale, Christie's New York, 11 October 2002, lot 228).
FIRST EDITION. After Ernest Marsden noticed in 1915 that bombarding air with alpha particles appeared to generate some particles with exceptionally long range, Rutherford began to investigate the phenomenon in his laboratories at Manchester University. "In 1911, as a result of bombarding goldfoil with alpha particles, Rutherford formulated the hypothesis of the nuclear construction of the atom which is the basis of all subsequent work in atomic physics and chemistry. Most of the alpha particles passed straight through the foil, but some bounced back from it. Rutherford interpreted the bouncing in terms of his theory. Those that went through were simply passing through the planetary systems of electrons, while those that bounced back had hit, or interacted with, a nucleus. Eight years later, as reported in the paper cited, he found that alpha particles in collision with nitrogen atoms liberated from them nuclei of hydrogen atoms. Thus artificial transmutation was induced: in other words, the atom had been split" (PMM 411); Norman 1873.
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FIRST EDITION. After Ernest Marsden noticed in 1915 that bombarding air with alpha particles appeared to generate some particles with exceptionally long range, Rutherford began to investigate the phenomenon in his laboratories at Manchester University. "In 1911, as a result of bombarding goldfoil with alpha particles, Rutherford formulated the hypothesis of the nuclear construction of the atom which is the basis of all subsequent work in atomic physics and chemistry. Most of the alpha particles passed straight through the foil, but some bounced back from it. Rutherford interpreted the bouncing in terms of his theory. Those that went through were simply passing through the planetary systems of electrons, while those that bounced back had hit, or interacted with, a nucleus. Eight years later, as reported in the paper cited, he found that alpha particles in collision with nitrogen atoms liberated from them nuclei of hydrogen atoms. Thus artificial transmutation was induced: in other words, the atom had been split" (PMM 411); Norman 1873.