{"title":"Gian-Carlo Wick and neutron physics in the 1930s","authors":"Christopher R. Gould, Eduard I. Sharapov","doi":"10.1140/epjh/s13129-024-00072-9","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Italian theorist Gian-Carlo Wick is well known for his work in mathematical physics. Nevertheless, working with Fermi’s group in Rome in the 1930s, he took on several behind-the-scenes roles that resulted in important papers in neutron physics. He clarified Fermi’s methodology for calculating neutron slowing down probabilities; using transport theory, he provided a comprehensive general method for calculating the neutron scattering albedo; and with an insight into the way, neutron scattering could yield information about lattice dynamics, he formulated the first theory of inelastic thermal neutrons scattering in crystalline materials. This work and his contributions are not well known today. We discuss its physical essence, its relevance to neutron physics, and its subsequent impact in later work.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":791,"journal":{"name":"The European Physical Journal H","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1140/epjh/s13129-024-00072-9.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"The European Physical Journal H","FirstCategoryId":"4","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1140/epjh/s13129-024-00072-9","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The Italian theorist Gian-Carlo Wick is well known for his work in mathematical physics. Nevertheless, working with Fermi’s group in Rome in the 1930s, he took on several behind-the-scenes roles that resulted in important papers in neutron physics. He clarified Fermi’s methodology for calculating neutron slowing down probabilities; using transport theory, he provided a comprehensive general method for calculating the neutron scattering albedo; and with an insight into the way, neutron scattering could yield information about lattice dynamics, he formulated the first theory of inelastic thermal neutrons scattering in crystalline materials. This work and his contributions are not well known today. We discuss its physical essence, its relevance to neutron physics, and its subsequent impact in later work.
期刊介绍：
The purpose of this journal is to catalyse, foster, and disseminate an awareness and understanding of the historical development of ideas in contemporary physics, and more generally, ideas about how Nature works.
The scope explicitly includes:
- Contributions addressing the history of physics and of physical ideas and concepts, the interplay of physics and mathematics as well as the natural sciences, and the history and philosophy of sciences, together with discussions of experimental ideas and designs - inasmuch as they clearly relate, and preferably add, to the understanding of modern physics.
- Annotated and/or contextual translations of relevant foreign-language texts.
- Careful characterisations of old and/or abandoned ideas including past mistakes and false leads, thereby helping working physicists to assess how compelling contemporary ideas may turn out to be in future, i.e. with hindsight.
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