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Neutrino
by
Frank Close
Neutrinos are perhaps the most enigmatic particles in the universe. These tiny, ghostly particles are formed by the billions in stars and pass through us constantly, unseen, at almost the speed of light. Yet half a century after their discovery, we still know less about them than all the other varieties of matter that have ever been seen.
In this engaging, concise volume,...more
In this engaging, concise volume,...more
Hardcover, 181 pages
Published
December 9th 2010
by Oxford University Press
(first published October 14th 2010)
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The neutrino is a pesky critter: nearly impossible to detect and changing flavor at the drop of a hat. Enrico Fermi and Bruno Pontecorvo were the first to realize that neutrinos must exist (based on conservation of spin), but it was to be a long time from those first conjectures to the first definitive detection of a neutrino. There are actually three flavors of neutrino (corresponding to the three leptons: electrons, muons, and tau particles), plus their anti-neutrino counterparts. It turns out...more
This is a short book, but a comprehensive one, covering the initial conceptualization of neutrinos, the original attempts to actually detect such an evasive particle and the incredible improvements in detection in the modern era that have validated our models of the solar interior and the details of supernova explosions, and may provide new insights into gamma ray bursts and the core of the Milky Way. It's both interesting and inspiring to read about the immense effort involved in discovering ne...more
Only two chapters in.. but Close is immediately, obviously a wonderful story teller.
This is (apparently) the story of Wolfgang Pauli, he of the Exclusion Principle, and Ray Price. Pauli for being the visionary who realized neutrinos must exist. Price for being the experimentalist who observed them, after decades of effort, and in the face of much naysaying.
I'm very pleased with the depth of the science, and also the lack of math and higher physics. It's an easy read, yet very informative.
======...more
This is (apparently) the story of Wolfgang Pauli, he of the Exclusion Principle, and Ray Price. Pauli for being the visionary who realized neutrinos must exist. Price for being the experimentalist who observed them, after decades of effort, and in the face of much naysaying.
I'm very pleased with the depth of the science, and also the lack of math and higher physics. It's an easy read, yet very informative.
======...more
Yay!
Frank Close does a pretty good job of explaining not only what neutrinos are (remarkably strange little critters), but also how they came to be posited and proven, over the space of decades.
And in telling the story of the neutrino, he also ably tells the story of the scientists behind it, including at least one unexpected (well, when he set out to write the book) protagonist.
Thoroughly recommended. I'm going to be seeking out more of his work...
Frank Close does a pretty good job of explaining not only what neutrinos are (remarkably strange little critters), but also how they came to be posited and proven, over the space of decades.
And in telling the story of the neutrino, he also ably tells the story of the scientists behind it, including at least one unexpected (well, when he set out to write the book) protagonist.
Thoroughly recommended. I'm going to be seeking out more of his work...
I picked up this book because of all the recent news about the possibility of faster-than-light Neutrinos. I had decided to read all I could about them. About two years ago I had begun reading Frank Close's book on antimatter and in looking at his bibliography saw he had a book on Neutrinos. Since his book is the only non-textbook about said particle, my choice was simple. This slim volume is cleanly written and a relatively easy read for the layman. There were only a few times where I became ad...more
Neutrino is one of those books which you go on reading solely for the purpose of finishing it. Though the book starts off on a very exciting and promising note, it goes on to bore you with its technical and irrelevant details. But if you're somebody who's extremely passionate about Neutrino astronomy or someone who would do anything to satiate one's curiosity, this is the right book for you.. But on the bright side, the book has a lot to offer. The language is clear, lucid and the author is succ...more
A quick tour through the history of neutrino theory and experimentation, as well as a forward look. Close gets lightly into the physics, some of the odd side stories of the characters involved and descriptions of the experiments. Not a heavy duty book by any means, but does touch on nucleosynthesis, some basics of weak interactions and tries to describe neutrino oscillations.
This was a nice, brisk survey of the history of neutrino physics up through about 2005. It does not include any discussion of the most recent innovations in the field - hints for non-zero theta-13, plans for untangling the mass hierarchy or hunting for CP violation, etc. - but it is easily timely enough for the interested lay-person or even students in the field. The book is fast-paced and lucid, though as a professional physicist it is hard for me to really gauge its accessibility.
Jan 02, 2013
Julian Onions
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
astronomy-physics,
science
A very good summary of all that's known about neutrinos, which turns out to be not a whole lot. There is still so much we don't know about them, and in spite of their brief time in the limelight last year when they seemed to be breaking the rules, they are still very mysterious.
This is a wonderful walk through the story of the neutrino. Not very dense on maths or the physics, it could be read and enjoyed by most most readers with even a passing interest in physics.
I really enjoyed this concise explanation of what neutrinos are and how we came to know about them. My favorite snippet of the book was an interaction between the neutrino scientists and nuclear power plant managers, with the people at the power plant insisting that no neutrinos escape the plant, believing the scientists are enquiring about an environmental contaminant instead of a harmless particle.
Pretty good look at the long history of the search for elusive Neutrino. An interesting read.
An excellent and concise history of the science of neutrinos.
Fascinating view into the sun, and the universe
Brief and to the point.
Well written, very clear, a relief to read after a clutch of disappointing books.
Considering the recent discovery of faster-than-light neutrinos, it seemed like a good idea to brush up on the subject. A concise and clear guide to the neutrino, and the men who discovered this particle. Though it profiles these brilliant men, biography does not get in the way of explaining the discovery process and science of these mysterious particles. I was also surprised to find out how many Italians there were in particle physics.
Narrow topic, but an interesting book, especially the frustratingly long effort to reconcile observed electron neutrinos from the Sun with reality. Has a rather repetitive recap at the end that ends up recapping some of the recap which rather bogged things down. I definitely know more about neutrinos than I did before though.
Only about two chapters in, but this book pulled me in like no non-fiction book ever has before. I look forward to each pages turning. fascinating.
UPDATE: Finished this book, and wow! It was incredibly well written, concise, and informative. Fun to read, even though it was all sciency, and easy to understand.
UPDATE: Finished this book, and wow! It was incredibly well written, concise, and informative. Fun to read, even though it was all sciency, and easy to understand.
I enjoyed the book and like many people found it to be short, concise and very readable. I did not find the book to be overly technical or require a degree in physics to follow the story. Quite an impressive particle to pass through matter.
Very clear and comprehensible insight into the world of neutrinos, how they were first discovered and the amazing journey that led to its introduction into the standard model of physics.
As per usual close's books are short, informative and excellently written. If you have any interest in neutrinos or physics in general you should get this book and enjoy!
Didn't read all of this as there's a NOVA documentary about it coming ~
( when back and read it, good to read right after Seife's book )
( when back and read it, good to read right after Seife's book )
A concise history of the discovery of the neutrino and its properties.
May 16, 2013
Rebecca Kaplan
marked it as to-read
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