Nuclear radiation detection

BOOK REVIEWS NUCLEAR RADIATION DETECTION, by William J. Price. 382 pages, diagrams, 6 X 9 in. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1958. Price, $9.00. The era during which users of nuclear radiation detectors designed and constructed their own equipment has passed on. Generally speaking, commercial sources now supply most of the required instruments, and, indeed, one is likely to become confused by the large variety of detectors which are now available. This book presents, in a most intelligible manner, basic scientific information which should enable even a novice to determine which type of instrument best fulfills his particular requirements. On the other hand, the experienced research physicist who is already thoroughly conversant with the principles of operation and properties of the various detection devices covered will welcome this extremely well-organized collection of basic material which has heretofore been difficult to extricate from the very extensive and widely-scattered literature on the many aspects of the subject. Furthermore, fundamental considerations which are important in the interpretation of the measurements obtained with the various types of detector are discussed; this is a m a t t e r of obvious importance to all who design or use radiation detection equipment, or who are dependent upon measurements made by others. Chapter I deals with the properties of nuclear radiation, specifically with respect to interactions with matter. A brief survey of detection methods, followed by a discussion of the statistical nature of detecting systems, introduces chapters dealing with ionization chambers, Geiger-MuUer counters, proportional counters, scintillation detectors, photographic emulsions and other detection methods ( t h a t is, cloud chambers, crystal counters, Cerenkov detectors, chemical dosimeters, calorimeters). A separate chapter is then devoted to neutron detection methods, and finally there is a detailed t r e a t m e n t of the principles of operation of some of the electronic circuits associated with nuclear radiation detectors. The book is well-written and illustrated, 24o

contains an ample bibliography, and is logically organized. It will undoubtedly prove of great value in the training of students of nuclear science and technology, and would serve admirably as a text for a course in nucleonics instrumentation. There are numerous illustrative examples with solutions interspersed throughout the text, as well as a collection of problems at the conclusion of each chapter. In the opinion of the reviewer (who is admittedly biased) the omission of a chapter on cosmic-ray detectors, which would have been most timely, is unfortunate. There are only occasional references to the application of some of the techniques to cosmic-ray experiments, but no consistent policy is evident. Nevertheless, Nuclear Radiation Detection is an excellent book which certainly serves the purposes for which it was written. M. A. POMERANTZ Bartol Research Foundation THE GYROSCOPE--THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, by James B. Scarborough. 257 pages, diagrams, 6 X 9 in. New York and London, Interscience Publishers, 1958. Price, $6.50. While the dynamics of the gyroscope are .included in most books on mechanics, we also find special treatises, such as Klein and Sommerfeld's "Theorie des Kreisels," Gray's "Gyrostatics and Rotational Motion," Gramreel's " D e r Kreisel" and Greenhill's "Gyroscopic Theory," all of an advanced nature. A t the other extreme, there are numerous elementary books of a popular nature. In the intermediate class we have Crabtree's "Spinning Tops and Gyroscopic Motion" and "Mechanics of the Gyroscope," by Deimel. Prof. Scarborough's book is a welcome text adding to this latter group, with a good analytical and vector treatment, with m a n y practical applications on i m p o r t a n t engineering problems. The theory of the gyroscope well illustrates the principle of the space rate of change in angular momentum ; and the reactions set up are the moments or torques required to cause these changes. In the more complicated problems we have couplings between the