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Surface crystallography. An introduction to low energy diffraction
now been made good by the publication of Pacific Research Centres, a complement to Longman’s existing European Research Centres, Industrial Research in the United Kingdom, and Agricultural Research Centres. This new work lists some 3000 industrial, university, and government institutions within the area which conduct or support scientific research. A qualification for entry is a minimum annual research budget of X50 000: this may seem low, but ensures that significant university laboratories are not excluded. Each entry includes full name (with English translation and acronym where appropriate) and address, together with telephone and telex numbers; names of directors and heads of sections; number of research staff and budget; brief indication of principal activities and publications; and affiliations with other bodies. There is a 23-page subject index and a index of institutions comprehensive arranged alphabetically by title. The 21 countries here catalogued are very disparate, ranging in size from Vanuatu with a single entry and New Caledonia and Kirabati with two each, to China with 274, Australia with 784, and Japan with 1070. While institutions have a fair degree of permanence their staff and research programmes can change quite quickly: it is, therefore, satisfactory to note that updated editions will be produced regularly. Trevor I. Williams Atlas of Historical Eclipse Maps. East Asia 1500 BC-AD 1900. By F. R. Stephenson and M. A. Houlden. Pp. 431. Cambridge University Press. 1986. f40.00 ($79.50).
This is not the first Atlas concerned with eclipses of the Sun. As early as 1887 Theodor von Oppolzer prepared his Canon der Finsternisse, and more recently Jean Meeus and colleagues have prepared tables of superior accuracy. But this new specialised Atlas has specific advantages as far as precision is concerned. In particular, Stephenson and Houlden have taken account of changes in the Earths rotation due to tidal friction and other causes, and the consequent changes in the Moon’s distance which, of course, alters its orbital acceleration. And though these changes are slight, when one goes back far into the past their effects can be significant. Indeed in 1500 BC, the date at which this Atlas begins, neglect of the tidal effects would amount to 12 hours, giving eclipse tracks on the opposite side of the Earth. Because East Asian records of eclipses, both total and annular, are of considerable value for historical and astronomical research, this highly accurate Atlas with its 862 computer-drawn charts full of pertinent
218
information, all large enough to be useful, to say nothing of its excellent introduction, is an important and useful work. It should surely have a place in many reference libraries. Colin Ronan
Story of the W and 2. By Peter Watkins. Pp. 240. Cambridge University Press. 1986. Hardback f25.00 ($44.501, Paperback f7.95 ($13.95)
cosmic rays uncovered a host of other, equally ‘elementary’, particles and how the development, of high-energy accelerators transformed particle physicists from ‘hunters’ to ‘farmers’. The most recent developments are confined to the final 40 pages. The book is clearly written but is obviously aimed at the serious reader. It would be unsuitable for those with no scientific background and will demand concentration and perseverance from those whose background is limited to high-school physics. The overall impression is that of a good undergraduate textbook from which the equations have been deleted and to which a number of anecdotes (mainly in the form of marginal comments) have been added
Peter Watkins was one of a large group of experimentalists who used the world’s highest energy particle accelerator in the successful search for the W and Z, massive particles predicted by a theory that unifies the weak and electromagnetic forces. The R. Lambourne aim of the book is to give a personal account of this project accessible to scientifically educated laymen. This presents problems because of the specialized nature ,John Ray: Naturalist. By C. E. Raven. Pp. of the subject. The first quarter of the book 506. Cambridge University Press. 1986. is an introduction to particle physics which Paperback f 15.00 ($24.95). helps the reader understand much that First published in 1942, reprinted in 1950, follows but cannot really explain the nature this reissue with an introduction by S. M. of the W and Z. Next it describes Walters of one of the great works in the developments in accelerators and detectors history of science is greatly to be welcomed. to explain the hardware needed for the Canon Raven’s mastery of Latin and experiment. The difficulty with the experi- standing as’naturalist and theologian admirment itself is that it. is hard to give a ably suited him to write the life of John Ray first-hand account of the work of two (1627-1705). Though ordained, Ray refused hundred people all having their own failures to subscribe to the Act of Uniformity, and and minor triumphs. Perhaps more discus- had to relinquish his fellowship at Trinity sion of working with the group spokesman, College, Cambridge, and thereafter devoted the incredible Carlo Rubbia, would have himself to natural history. Described by added some human interest. The book is a Haller as the greatest botanist in the full description of a major scientific discov- memory of man and whose works according ery and also provides a review of the current to Cuvier provided the basis for modern state of particle physics (but it’s no zoology, Raven’s massive biography rescued substitute for Dallas!). Ray from undeserved neglect. Ray thanked T. McMahon God that he had been born into the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century which, as Raven shows, completely The Particle Hunters. By Yuval Ne’fman shaped Ray’s work. and Yoram Kirsh. Pp. 272. CambridGe Some letters, unknown to Raven, from University Press. 7986. Hardback f25.00 Ray to Peter Courthope that give insight ($49.501, Paperback f 7.95 ($13.95). into Ray’s early botanical and ormthological This book is a welcome addition to the body researches have recently been published. of literature aimed at explaining the physics (R. Thomson. Some newly discovered of elementary particles to a non-specialist letters of John Ray. J. Sot. Biblphy nut audience. Unlike many of its competitors, Hist, 7, 111, 1974). Work on some of Ray’s which tend to concentrate on recent de- predecessors and contemporaries suggest velopments such as Grand Unification and slight modifications to Raven’s assessment Supersymmetry, it provides an impressively of their intluence on Ray but a better complete description of the historical evolu- biography of Ray is unlikely ever to be tion of particle physics, augmented with produced. appropriate background material where Helen Brock necessary. Despite its title, The Particle Hunters is An Introduction more concerned with discoveries than dis- Surface Crystallography. coverers. After describing the way which to Low Energy Diffraction. By L. J. research carried out prior to 1933 revealed Clarke. Pp. 329. Wiley, Chichester. 1985. the existence of the electron, proton, and Please note the correct price for this book is neutron the authors explain how studies of 03.70. (Endeavour, 10 2,102,1986).
This is not the first Atlas concerned with eclipses of the Sun. As early as 1887 Theodor von Oppolzer prepared his Canon der Finsternisse, and more recently Jean Meeus and colleagues have prepared tables of superior accuracy. But this new specialised Atlas has specific advantages as far as precision is concerned. In particular, Stephenson and Houlden have taken account of changes in the Earths rotation due to tidal friction and other causes, and the consequent changes in the Moon’s distance which, of course, alters its orbital acceleration. And though these changes are slight, when one goes back far into the past their effects can be significant. Indeed in 1500 BC, the date at which this Atlas begins, neglect of the tidal effects would amount to 12 hours, giving eclipse tracks on the opposite side of the Earth. Because East Asian records of eclipses, both total and annular, are of considerable value for historical and astronomical research, this highly accurate Atlas with its 862 computer-drawn charts full of pertinent
218
information, all large enough to be useful, to say nothing of its excellent introduction, is an important and useful work. It should surely have a place in many reference libraries. Colin Ronan
Story of the W and 2. By Peter Watkins. Pp. 240. Cambridge University Press. 1986. Hardback f25.00 ($44.501, Paperback f7.95 ($13.95)
cosmic rays uncovered a host of other, equally ‘elementary’, particles and how the development, of high-energy accelerators transformed particle physicists from ‘hunters’ to ‘farmers’. The most recent developments are confined to the final 40 pages. The book is clearly written but is obviously aimed at the serious reader. It would be unsuitable for those with no scientific background and will demand concentration and perseverance from those whose background is limited to high-school physics. The overall impression is that of a good undergraduate textbook from which the equations have been deleted and to which a number of anecdotes (mainly in the form of marginal comments) have been added
Peter Watkins was one of a large group of experimentalists who used the world’s highest energy particle accelerator in the successful search for the W and Z, massive particles predicted by a theory that unifies the weak and electromagnetic forces. The R. Lambourne aim of the book is to give a personal account of this project accessible to scientifically educated laymen. This presents problems because of the specialized nature ,John Ray: Naturalist. By C. E. Raven. Pp. of the subject. The first quarter of the book 506. Cambridge University Press. 1986. is an introduction to particle physics which Paperback f 15.00 ($24.95). helps the reader understand much that First published in 1942, reprinted in 1950, follows but cannot really explain the nature this reissue with an introduction by S. M. of the W and Z. Next it describes Walters of one of the great works in the developments in accelerators and detectors history of science is greatly to be welcomed. to explain the hardware needed for the Canon Raven’s mastery of Latin and experiment. The difficulty with the experi- standing as’naturalist and theologian admirment itself is that it. is hard to give a ably suited him to write the life of John Ray first-hand account of the work of two (1627-1705). Though ordained, Ray refused hundred people all having their own failures to subscribe to the Act of Uniformity, and and minor triumphs. Perhaps more discus- had to relinquish his fellowship at Trinity sion of working with the group spokesman, College, Cambridge, and thereafter devoted the incredible Carlo Rubbia, would have himself to natural history. Described by added some human interest. The book is a Haller as the greatest botanist in the full description of a major scientific discov- memory of man and whose works according ery and also provides a review of the current to Cuvier provided the basis for modern state of particle physics (but it’s no zoology, Raven’s massive biography rescued substitute for Dallas!). Ray from undeserved neglect. Ray thanked T. McMahon God that he had been born into the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century which, as Raven shows, completely The Particle Hunters. By Yuval Ne’fman shaped Ray’s work. and Yoram Kirsh. Pp. 272. CambridGe Some letters, unknown to Raven, from University Press. 7986. Hardback f25.00 Ray to Peter Courthope that give insight ($49.501, Paperback f 7.95 ($13.95). into Ray’s early botanical and ormthological This book is a welcome addition to the body researches have recently been published. of literature aimed at explaining the physics (R. Thomson. Some newly discovered of elementary particles to a non-specialist letters of John Ray. J. Sot. Biblphy nut audience. Unlike many of its competitors, Hist, 7, 111, 1974). Work on some of Ray’s which tend to concentrate on recent de- predecessors and contemporaries suggest velopments such as Grand Unification and slight modifications to Raven’s assessment Supersymmetry, it provides an impressively of their intluence on Ray but a better complete description of the historical evolu- biography of Ray is unlikely ever to be tion of particle physics, augmented with produced. appropriate background material where Helen Brock necessary. Despite its title, The Particle Hunters is An Introduction more concerned with discoveries than dis- Surface Crystallography. coverers. After describing the way which to Low Energy Diffraction. By L. J. research carried out prior to 1933 revealed Clarke. Pp. 329. Wiley, Chichester. 1985. the existence of the electron, proton, and Please note the correct price for this book is neutron the authors explain how studies of 03.70. (Endeavour, 10 2,102,1986).