The anomalous magnetic moment of the electron is of great significance in the study of elementary particles and quantum electrodynamics. The history of its discovery is in large part the story of a technique:—the use of molecular beams—which was not invented for the specific purpose hut which did, by permitting a discrepancy to appear where none was expected, answer an unasked question.
THE ELECTRON is one of the fundamental particles in the universe and is likely to remain one. It is as abundant as any other particle with the possible exception of the neutrino. There may be more neutrinos around, but I am not expert on that question. The electron has a definite charge and a definite rest mass.
This article is only available in PDF format
References
1. Reprints of both Thomson’s and Millikan’s papers appear in Great Experiments in Physics. Morris Shamos, Ed. Henry Holt, New York, 1959.
2. As is true of almost every major event in the history of physics, the proposals of Goudsmit and Uhlenbeck were not made without some previous provocative suggestions. See, for instance, Whittaker, A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity, Vol. II, pages 133, 134. Harper, New York, 1960.
6. The emphasis on the molecular‐beam magnetic‐resonance method as a generalized spectrometric procedure is not made in the early papers. In 1939 Rabi, Millman, Kusch, and Zacharias (Phys. Rev. 55, 526) discussed the trajectories of molecules in a system of inhomogeneous magnetic fields and, very importantly, the process of changing the orientation of a magnetic dipole in a magnetic field.
9. The use of the two‐wire system for producing inhomogeneous magnetic fields with precisely calculable properties was described by Rabi, Kellogg and Zacharias in 1934. The extrapolation of the system to iron magnets in which much higher fields would be produced was described by Millman, Rabi and Zacharias in 1938. (Phys. Rev. 53, 384).
Although motivated by the fundamental exploration of the weirdness of the quantum world, the prizewinning experiments have led to a promising branch of quantum computing technology.
As conventional lithium-ion battery technology approaches its theoretical limits, researchers are studying alternative architectures with solid electrolytes.
Bottom-up self-assembly is a powerful approach to engineering at small scales. Special strategies are needed to formulate components that assemble into predetermined shapes with precise sizes.
The polymath scientist leaves behind a monumental legacy in both the scientific and political realms.
November 04, 2025 09:53 AM
This Content Appeared In
Volume 19, Number 2
Get PT in your inbox
Physics Today - The Week in Physics
The Week in Physics" is likely a reference to the regular updates or summaries of new physics research, such as those found in publications like Physics Today from AIP Publishing or on news aggregators like Phys.org.