Discover
/
Article

A center of fundamental research

JAN 01, 1953
The Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University, England, has a world‐wide reputation for its scientific accomplishments. An outline of its current programs of research has been given in this article.
W. L. Bragg

The first building of the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University, England, was opened in 1874 and its first professors were James Clark Maxwell, Lord Rayleigh, and J. J. Thomson. It was in this Laboratory that C. T. R. Wilson constructed the cloud chamber, an apparatus which has perhaps had more influence on the development of atomic physics than any other single piece of equipment; it was here that F. W. Aston developed his mass spectrograph, Lord Rutherford confirmed the disintegration of nitrogen by alpha particles, Sir James Chadwick discovered the neutron, and Sir John Cockroft and E. T. S. Walton first achieved the disintegration of atomic nuclei by artificially accelerated particles.

This article is only available in PDF format

More about the authors

W. L. Bragg, Cambridge University.

Related content
/
Article
The ability to communicate a key message clearly and concisely to a nonspecialized audience is a critical skill to develop at all educational levels.
/
Article
With strong magnetic fields and intense lasers or pulsed electric currents, physicists can reconstruct the conditions inside astrophysical objects and create nuclear-fusion reactors.
/
Article
A crude device for quantification shows how diverse aspects of distantly related organisms reflect the interplay of the same underlying physical factors.
/
Article
Events held around the world have recognized the past, present, and future of quantum science and technology.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1953_01.jpeg

Volume 6, Number 1

Get PT in your inbox

pt_newsletter_card_blue.png
PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

pt_newsletter_card_darkblue.png
PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

pt_newsletter_card_pink.png
PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.