The Lost Notebook of ENRICO FERMI : The True Story of the Discovery of Neutron-Induced Radioactivity

"This book tells the curious story of an unexpected finding that sheds light on a crucial moment in the development of physics : the discovery of artificial radioactivity induced by neutrons. The finding in question is a notebook, clearly written in Fermi's handwriting, which records the frenzied days and nights that Fermi spent experimenting alone, driven by his theoretical ideas on beta decay. The notebook was found by the authors while browsing through documents left by Oscar D'Agostino, the chemist among Fermi's group. From Fermi's notes, they reconstruct with skill and expertise the detailed timeline of the critical days leading up to his vital discovery. While much is already known about the road that led Fermi to his important result, this is the first time that it has been possible to reconstruct precisely when and how the initial evidence of neutron-induced decay was obtained. In relating this fascinating story, the book will be of great interest not only to those with a passion for the history of science but also to a wider audience."--[Source inconnue] Front Matter ....Pages I-VIII Introduction (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 1-3 Fermi in Italy: his manuscripts (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 4-12 The beginning of Nuclear Physics in Rome (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 13-45 Nuclear Physics in Rome after the Rome Conference: 1931-1933 (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 46-68 New particles and new theories: 1932-1933 (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 69-94 The Solvay Conference and Fermi’s theory of beta decay: October-December 1933 (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 95-107 The discovery of alpha-particle–induced radioactivity (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 108-118 The discovery of neutron-induced radioactivity (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 119-139 Fermi’s strategic choices (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 141-149 Fermi at work: chronicle of a discovery (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 150-177 Pages from the Irpinia notebook and the loose sheets of paper (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 179-226 Further developments and conclusions (Francesco Guerra, Nadia Robotti)....Pages 228-232 Back Matter ....Pages 233-261 Annotation This book tells the curious story of an unexpected finding that sheds light on a crucial moment in the development of physics: the discovery of artificial radioactivity induced by neutrons. The finding in question is a notebook, clearly written in Fermi's handwriting, which records the frenzied days and nights that Fermi spent experimenting alone, driven by his theoretical ideas on beta decay. The notebook was found by the authors while browsing through documents left by Oscar D'Agostino, the chemist among Fermi's group. From Fermi's notes, they reconstruct with skill and expertise the detailed timeline of the critical days leading up to his vital discovery. While much is already known about the road that led Fermi to his important result, this is the first time that it has been possible to reconstruct precisely when and how the initial evidence of neutron-induced decay was obtained. In relating this fascinating story, the book will be of great interest not only to those with a passion for the history of science but also to a wider audience Examines an "unexpected finding that sheds light on a crucial moment in the development of physics: the discovery of artificial radioactivity induced by neutrons. The finding in question is a notebook, clearly written in Fermi's handwriting, which records the frenzied days and nights that Fermi spent experimenting alone, driven by his theoretical ideas on beta decay ... While much is already known about the road that led Fermi to his important result, this is the first time that it has been possible to reconstruct precisely when and how the initial evidence of neutron-induced decay was obtained"--Amazon.com