The Hunting of the Quark: A True Story of Modern Physics (Touchstone Book)

Shows how modern physicists, with the aid of powerful particle chambers, were able to establish the existence of the quark, the particle inside the proton and neutron components of the atom's nucleus

During the 1960s and 70s the "Standard Model" theory of elementary particles was developed and was supported by experimental findings; the theory involves quarks, entities at the sub-nuclear level which carry fractional electrical charges and which cannot be isolated from the complex of particles in which they exist. Riordan, an experimentalist involved in the quark "hunt," tells the story colorfully, with many brief sketches of the personalities involved. An excellent book to show layreaders the drama and the disappointments of life on a research frontier; highly recommended for college and public libraries. Jack W. Weigel, Univ. of Michigan Lib.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.