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Magnetostatic principles in ferromagnetism
NUCLEAR
INSTRUM[E~TS
AND BIETHODS
21 (1963) 183-184; N O R T H - H O L L A N D
PUBLISHING
CO.
BOOK REVIEWS
Nuclear Electronics, Proceedings of the Conference on Nuclear Electronics in Belgrade May 1961. Edited by the sponsor, the International Atomic Energy Agency, in Vienna 1962. Three volumes, each with about 500 pages, contain the full records of this large-scale conference, during which more t h a n ! 50 papers on radiation detectors and their associated electronic circuitry were read and discussed. The present state of nuclear electronic technique, mainly as it is used in nuclear research, is outlined and a world-wide survey on progress is obtained on subjects such as semiconductor detectors, spark counters, luminiseence chambers, conventional and fast pulse circuitry and pulse analysers. Volume I is devoted to physical-electronic properties of radiation detectors and here are found sections of seCn~illation and Ckerenkov detectors, photomultipliers and image intensifiers and on gaseous and liquid ionization detectors, the l a t t e r in particular indicating the new interest in spark chambers for experiments in high energy physics. Finally, nearly half of the volume gives valuable and extensive information on semiconductor detectors and their use. Volume I I is divided between a section on amplitude converters, multiehannel analysers and data handling, and a section on classical electronics. The former reflects the development of transistorized circuitry and refined techniques in the collection and handling of nuclear d a t a of increasing complexity. Among topics discussed are multi-dimenslonal analysers, and electrostatic and magnetic memories of different types used in pulse-height and t i m e analysers. The section on classical electronics additionally treats subjects such as pulse amplifiers and methods of discriminating between particles giving different scintillation shapes pulse-height discriminators and counting circuits. Volume I I I contains a section on last electronics and smaller sections on experimental systems, accelerators and monitoring systems and instruments. Under the cover of fast electronics are t r e a t e d counting systems for speeds up to 200 Me/s, tunneldiode circuits, fast time-to-pulse-height converters, coincidence circuits, and ultra-high-speed oscillographic techniques. Among experimental systems discussed are found semiconductor detector arrays, Compton spectrometers and rocket telemetry systems. The section on accelerators includes descriptions of pulsedaccelerator facilities for time-of-flight measurements, with b e a m pulse length's in the nanosecond region, obtained by different time-compression methods. In the last section, on monitors, are descriptions of various schemes for portable detectors and contamination control of humans, and of laboratory and air conditions. The proceedings are well arranged and the typography of high class. One is aware of the language difficulties raised when presenting information of such internationally wide origin. The texts of the papers are either in English, French, or Russian
lettering, while abstracts appear in all these languages plus Spanish. Readers in t h e w e s t e r n world would have found a translation of the Russian t e x t valuable, at least in the list of contents and in the figure captions, which would have helped in extracting the essentials of t h e publications. The Russian reader would probably object against finding all discussions, even those pertaining t o Russian papers, in English. I n contrast to t h e similar conference in Paris 1958, the present one does not include discussions on electronics in connection with reactor technology, but on the other hand the remaining field of nuclear electronics has undergone a rapid grow. To conclude, the conference proceedings sbould provide a wealth of information for scientists and engineers engaged in developing nuclear research facilities. P. A. TOW
W. F. BROW~ Jr., Magnetostatic Principles in Ferromagnetism, Volume I of the series Selected Topics in Solid State Physics, edited b y E . P. Wohlfar~ch. P p X I I + 202, price: guilders 17.50, North-Holland Publishing CO. 1962. "Selected topics" in the rapidly expanding field of solids t a t e physics will be t r e a t e d in this new series of monographs, each concentrating o n o n e particular topic .which the editor finds inadequately covered elsewhere. In the first volmne professor William Fuller Brown, Jr. gives a discussion of several fields of modern ferromagnetic theory such as microrrmgnetics, domain theory, and resonance and spin-wave calculations from a unified point of view a n d with special emphasis on the application of rnaguetostatic principles in these fields. Critical assessment is given of fundamental theories and descriptions of ferromagnetic materials, e.g. of the domain theory as based on the Bloch wall concept. One of the objects of the book is to reconcile the Amperiancurrent approach and the concept of magnetic poles which is firmly established in research Oil ferromagnetism. The author also tries to reconcile some of the systems of units by introducing a generalized Gaussian system. The mksA systenl which is becoming widely used by scientists as well as engineers is not adopted since "those authors who t r y to follow the "modern t r e n d " by converting to mks find t h a t the task of conversion is gigantic, and t h a t errors are ahuest certain to creep in". A somewhat more extensive analysis of this problem would have been appreciated. The level of presentation is above semi-popular, but the e x t r a work imposed upon the reader is rewarding. One is looking forward with high expectations to the future volumes of the series. C. NORDLING 183
INSTRUM[E~TS
AND BIETHODS
21 (1963) 183-184; N O R T H - H O L L A N D
PUBLISHING
CO.
BOOK REVIEWS
Nuclear Electronics, Proceedings of the Conference on Nuclear Electronics in Belgrade May 1961. Edited by the sponsor, the International Atomic Energy Agency, in Vienna 1962. Three volumes, each with about 500 pages, contain the full records of this large-scale conference, during which more t h a n ! 50 papers on radiation detectors and their associated electronic circuitry were read and discussed. The present state of nuclear electronic technique, mainly as it is used in nuclear research, is outlined and a world-wide survey on progress is obtained on subjects such as semiconductor detectors, spark counters, luminiseence chambers, conventional and fast pulse circuitry and pulse analysers. Volume I is devoted to physical-electronic properties of radiation detectors and here are found sections of seCn~illation and Ckerenkov detectors, photomultipliers and image intensifiers and on gaseous and liquid ionization detectors, the l a t t e r in particular indicating the new interest in spark chambers for experiments in high energy physics. Finally, nearly half of the volume gives valuable and extensive information on semiconductor detectors and their use. Volume I I is divided between a section on amplitude converters, multiehannel analysers and data handling, and a section on classical electronics. The former reflects the development of transistorized circuitry and refined techniques in the collection and handling of nuclear d a t a of increasing complexity. Among topics discussed are multi-dimenslonal analysers, and electrostatic and magnetic memories of different types used in pulse-height and t i m e analysers. The section on classical electronics additionally treats subjects such as pulse amplifiers and methods of discriminating between particles giving different scintillation shapes pulse-height discriminators and counting circuits. Volume I I I contains a section on last electronics and smaller sections on experimental systems, accelerators and monitoring systems and instruments. Under the cover of fast electronics are t r e a t e d counting systems for speeds up to 200 Me/s, tunneldiode circuits, fast time-to-pulse-height converters, coincidence circuits, and ultra-high-speed oscillographic techniques. Among experimental systems discussed are found semiconductor detector arrays, Compton spectrometers and rocket telemetry systems. The section on accelerators includes descriptions of pulsedaccelerator facilities for time-of-flight measurements, with b e a m pulse length's in the nanosecond region, obtained by different time-compression methods. In the last section, on monitors, are descriptions of various schemes for portable detectors and contamination control of humans, and of laboratory and air conditions. The proceedings are well arranged and the typography of high class. One is aware of the language difficulties raised when presenting information of such internationally wide origin. The texts of the papers are either in English, French, or Russian
lettering, while abstracts appear in all these languages plus Spanish. Readers in t h e w e s t e r n world would have found a translation of the Russian t e x t valuable, at least in the list of contents and in the figure captions, which would have helped in extracting the essentials of t h e publications. The Russian reader would probably object against finding all discussions, even those pertaining t o Russian papers, in English. I n contrast to t h e similar conference in Paris 1958, the present one does not include discussions on electronics in connection with reactor technology, but on the other hand the remaining field of nuclear electronics has undergone a rapid grow. To conclude, the conference proceedings sbould provide a wealth of information for scientists and engineers engaged in developing nuclear research facilities. P. A. TOW
W. F. BROW~ Jr., Magnetostatic Principles in Ferromagnetism, Volume I of the series Selected Topics in Solid State Physics, edited b y E . P. Wohlfar~ch. P p X I I + 202, price: guilders 17.50, North-Holland Publishing CO. 1962. "Selected topics" in the rapidly expanding field of solids t a t e physics will be t r e a t e d in this new series of monographs, each concentrating o n o n e particular topic .which the editor finds inadequately covered elsewhere. In the first volmne professor William Fuller Brown, Jr. gives a discussion of several fields of modern ferromagnetic theory such as microrrmgnetics, domain theory, and resonance and spin-wave calculations from a unified point of view a n d with special emphasis on the application of rnaguetostatic principles in these fields. Critical assessment is given of fundamental theories and descriptions of ferromagnetic materials, e.g. of the domain theory as based on the Bloch wall concept. One of the objects of the book is to reconcile the Amperiancurrent approach and the concept of magnetic poles which is firmly established in research Oil ferromagnetism. The author also tries to reconcile some of the systems of units by introducing a generalized Gaussian system. The mksA systenl which is becoming widely used by scientists as well as engineers is not adopted since "those authors who t r y to follow the "modern t r e n d " by converting to mks find t h a t the task of conversion is gigantic, and t h a t errors are ahuest certain to creep in". A somewhat more extensive analysis of this problem would have been appreciated. The level of presentation is above semi-popular, but the e x t r a work imposed upon the reader is rewarding. One is looking forward with high expectations to the future volumes of the series. C. NORDLING 183