The Quark Machines - Softcover

Fraser, G

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0750304472 ISBN 13: 9780750304474

Publisher: Routledge, 1997

Synopsis

Relating the story of the transatlantic struggle for subnuclear domination, The Quark Machines: How Europe Fought the Particle Physics War, Second Edition covers the history, the politics, and the personalities of particle physics. Extensively illustrated with many original photographs of the key players in the field, the book sheds new light on the sovereignty issues of modern scientific research as well as the insights it has produced.

Throughout the twentieth century, Europe and the United States have vied for supremacy of subnuclear physics. Initially, the advent of World War II and an enforced exodus of scientific talent from Europe boosted American efforts. Then, buoyed along by the need to develop the bomb and the ensuing distrust of the Cold War, the United States vaulted into a commanding role-a position it retained for almost fifty years. Throughout this period, each new particle accelerator was a major campaign, each new particle a battle won.

With the end of the Cold War, U.S. preeminence evaporated and Europe retook the advantage. Now CERN, for four decades the spearhead of the European fightback, stands as the leading global particle physics center. Today, particle physics is at a turning point in its history-how well Europe retains its advantage remains to be seen.

About this title

Review

Fraser gives us an impressionist picture of some of the key people, ideas, and tools that contributed to the Standard Model with bright splotches of colour spread over a broad range of space and time on the backdrop of the major historical events of this century.
-History of Physics Newsletter

... a careful and fascinating account of particle physics in the 20th Century.
-Christine Sutton, New Scientist

An account worth having for its record of how the struggle for dominance in fundamental physics looked from the European side. This is a story which includes many of the great moments of 20th-century science.
-The Financial Times

Fraser presents the history of particle physics from a refreshingly new perspective-that of the machine builders.
-Michael Riordan, CERN Courier

Fraser shows unusual skill in finding vivid analogies that capture physical pictures without distorting them. In many ways this book complements Abraham Pais' 'Inward Bound.'
-Gary Feldman, Physics World

From Library Journal

Fraser is well qualified to write this account of particle physics research. A scientist in his own right, he has for the past 18 years been the editor of CERN [Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire] Courier, the in-house magazine of high-energy physics. As U.S. funding for cyclotrons has all but vanished, the Geneva-based CERN has become the world's center for high-energy research. Written in a hyperbolic style, Fraser's popular-science account traces the history and politics that have surrounded CERN from its inception through its current research program. The reader will also learn much about major scientific research. Recommended for large public and academic libraries.?James Olson, Northeastern Illinois Univ. Lib., Chicago
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0750304472
• ISBN 13: 9780750304474
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 218