Flash of the Cathode Rays: A History of J J Thomson's Electron

by Per F. Dahl

The electron is fundamental to almost all aspects of modern life, controlling the behavior of atoms and how they bind together to form gases, liquids, and solids. Flash of the Cathode Rays: A History of J.J. Thomson's Electron presents the compelling story of the discovery of the electron and its role as the first subatomic particle in nature. The book traces the evolution of the concept of electrical charge, from the earliest glow discharge studies to the final cathode ray and oil drop experiments of J.J. Thomson and Robert Millikan. It also provides an overview of the history of modern physics up to the advent of the old quantum theory around 1920.

Consolidating scholarly material while incorporating new material discovered by the well-respected author, the book covers the continental and English race for the source of the cathode rays, culminating in Thomson's corpuscle in 1897. It explores the events leading to Millikan's unambiguous isolation of the electron and the simultaneous circumstances surrounding the birth of Ernest Rutherford's nuclear atom and the discovery of radioactivity in 1896. The author also focuses on the controversies over N-rays, Becquerel's positive electron, and the famous Ehrenhaft-Millikan dispute over subelectrons.

Scholarly yet accessible to those with basic physics knowledge, this book should be of interest to historians of science, professional scientists and engineers, teachers and students of physics, and general readers interested in the development of modern physics.

544 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[John Eliades · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastically written account of not only JJ Thomson's discovery of the electron, but also the development of mass spectrometry and discovery of the fundamental nature of matter. It is non-fiction written in the style of a novel. Dahl brings the historical figures back to life, and his thorough use of references is an asset to any who would like to track through the old papers for themselves. This book was so well researched and so thorough that is is cited in several scientific review papers on the subjects of the invention mass spectrometry and the discovery of the electron. It also includes stories about many other physicists of the 19th century and takes you back as if you were working along side them. At time of this writing the book was rated at three stars. I absolutely disagree with that assessment.
Rating : Awesome!