The Atomic Nucleus

Front Page
Title Page
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 RADIOACTIVITY
Becquerel's Discovery
The Properties of Radioactive Radiation
The Energy Radiated by Radium
Alpha, Beta and Gamma Bays
The Properties of Alpha, Beta and Gamma Rays
What Is an Alpha Particle?
Radium Emanation (Radon)
The Hypothesis of Radioactive Decay
The Spinthariscope
The Geiger Counter
The Cloud Chamber
The Photographic Method of Registering Alpha Particles
The Charge of an Alpha Particle
The Decay Time of Radium and Uranium
Once More About the Energy Contained in Atoms of Radium
Isotopes
Brief Summary
Chapter 2 THE NUCLEAR MODEL OF THE ATOM
Scattering of Alpha Particles
The Experiments of Geiger and Marsden
The Static Model of the Atom
The Nuclear Model of the Atom
The Relation Between the Place of an Element in Mendeleyev's Periodic System and the Charge of Its Nucleus
Measuring the Charge of the Nucleus with X-Rays
Chapter 3 THE MASS OF ATOMIC NUCLEI
Measuring the Mass of an Atom
Separating the Isotopes of Neon
Isotopes of Stable Elements
Prout’s Hypothesis
The Binding Energy of Nuclei
Methods of Separating Isotopes
Separating the Isotopes of Hydrogen
Chapter 4 THE DISINTEGRATION OF ATOMIC NUCLEI
Anomalous Scattering of Alpha Particles
The Disintegration of Nitrogen Nuclei
The Disintegration of Other Elements
Blackett’s Experiments
Nitrogen Converted into Oxygen
Why Don’t All Elements Disintegrate Under the Action of Alpha Particles?
The Discovery of the Neutron
Ways of Observing Neutrons
Nuclear Transformations That Produce Neutrons
Nuclear Transformations Produced by Neutrons
Chapter 5 THE DISCOVERY OF THE POSITRON
What Is a Positron?
Cosmic Rays
Skobeltsyn’s Experiments
How the Positron Was Discovered
The “Birth and Death” of Electrons
Chapter 6 THE ARTIFICIAL TRANSFORMATIONOF ATOMIC NUCLEI
The First Apparatus for the Artificial Disintegration of Atomic Nuclei
The Disintegration of Lithium
An Experimental Verification of Einstein’sEquation
The Van de Graaff Generator
Acceleration by an Alternating Electric Field
The Cyclotron
The Betatron
New Types of Charged-Particle Accelerators
Chapter 7 ARTIFICIAL RADIOACTIVITY
The Discovery of Artificial Radioactivity
Artificial Radioactivity Induced by Neutrons
Thermal Neutrons
Neutron Capture That Does Not Lead to Radioactivity
Isomerism of Atomic Nuclei
New Chemical Elements
Chapter 8 MESONS
Ionization and Radiative Losses
Showers
The Discovery of the Meson
The Lifetime of a Meson
The Mass of Mesons
Nuclear Transformations Produced by Pi-Mesons and the Transformation of Pi- and Mu-Mesons
Heavy Mesons
Hyperons
Again About Cosmic Rays
Chapter 9 THE NEUTRINO
The Pauli Hypothesis
K-Capture
Allen’s Experiments
Chapter 10 THE STRUCTURE OF ATOMIC NUCLEI AND THE FORCES ACTING BETWEEN NUCLEAR PARTICLES
Are There Electrons in Atomic Nuclei?
What Are Atomic Nuclei Made of?
The Radioactivity of the Neutron
Nuclear Forces
A Model of the Nucleus
Nuclear Transformations Accompanied by the Ejection of Several Particles
Chapter 11 NUCLEAR FISSION
Neutron Capture by Uranium
An Investigation of the Nature of the Transuranium Elements
The Discovery of Rare-Earth Elements Among the Decay Products of Uranium
The Fission of Uranium
Chemical Elements with Atomic Numbers Above 92
Nuclear Fragments and Their Energy
Secondary Neutrons
Thermal Neutrons and the Fission of Uranium
The Spontaneous Fission of Uranium-235 Nuclei
Chapter 12 NUCLEAR CHAIN REACTIONS
The Chain Reaction
The Nuclear Reactor
The First Soviet Uranium Reactor
The Atomic Bomb
Chapter 13 THE PEACEFUL USES OF ATOMIC ENERGY
Atomic Power Stations
Atomic Power Plants
Tracer Atoms and Their Use in the National Economy
Chapter 14 THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
The Binding Energy per Nuclear Particle
The Energy Liberated in Nuclear Fusion
Thermonuclear Reactions
The Hydrogen Bomb
Controlled Thermonuclear Reactions
APPENDIX
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