This historical survey of the discovery of the electron has been published to coincide with the centenary of the discovery. The text maps the life and achievements of J.J. Thomson, with particular focus on his ideas and experiments leading to the discovery. It describes Thomson's early years and education. It then considers his career at Cambridge, first as a fellow of Trinity, later as the head of the Cavendish Laboratory and finally as Master of Trinity and national spokesman for science. The core of the book is concerned with the work undertaken at the Cavendish, culminating in the discovery of "corpuscles", later named "electrons".; In the final two chapters, the immediate aftermath and implications of the work are described. These include the creation of the subject of atomic physics as well as the broader long term developments which can be traced from vacuum valves and the transistor through to the microelectronics revolution.
Author(s): E. A. Davis
Edition: 1
Year: 1997
Language: English
Pages: 256
Book Cover......Page 1
Half-Title......Page 2
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Dedication......Page 7
Contents......Page 8
Foreword......Page 10
Preface......Page 22
Education at Owens College......Page 23
Cambridge and the Mathematics Tripos......Page 28
References......Page 30
Analytical Dynamics......Page 31
College Lectureship—Vortex Atoms......Page 34
The Cavendish Laboratory......Page 36
References......Page 41
Appointment as Cavendish Professor......Page 57
Gaseous Discharge......Page 58
The Changing Nature of the Cavendish......Page 63
References......Page 69
Grotthus Chains and Faraday Tubes of Force......Page 82
Electrodeless Discharges......Page 87
Electrolysis of Steam and Condensation......Page 89
Electricity of Drops......Page 91
The Gyroscopic Atom and Chemical Combinations......Page 92
Summary......Page 94
References......Page 95
Research Students......Page 109
X-rays......Page 111
The Cathode Ray Controversy......Page 118
Resolution of the Cathode Ray Problem......Page 119
Measurement of the Charge......Page 123
Corpuscles versus Electrons......Page 127
Acceptance of Subatomic Particles......Page 128
Notes......Page 130
References......Page 131
The Electromagnetic View of Matter and the Thomson Atom......Page 173
Positive Rays......Page 179
The Structure of Light......Page 183
Views on Physical Theories......Page 187
Last 20 Years......Page 188
References......Page 189
Elementary Particle Physics......Page 207
The Electronics Revolution......Page 210
Notes......Page 212
Index......Page 213
