Reader, J.
and Clark, C.
(2013),
1932 A watershed year in nuclear physics, Physics Today, [online], https://doi.org/10.1063/PT.3.1917, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=912195
(Accessed November 25, 2025)
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1932 A watershed year in nuclear physics
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Abstract
1932 was the year for an amazing series of discoveries in physics. This started with the announcement of the discovery of deuterium, followed by the discoveries of the neutron and the positron, as well as artificial disintegration of nuclei by accelerators. This paper revisits these discoveries, focusing on how they were made and some of the longer term consequences. These include the development of nuclear fission, nuclear reactors, atomic weapons, and positron emission tomography.Citation
Physics Today
Volume
66
Pub Type
Journals
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Keywords
deuterium, neutron, positron, nuclear physics, accelerators, nuclear fission, nuclear reactor
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Created March 4, 2013, Updated September 29, 2025