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Turning points in physics
340
BOOK REVIEWS
Proceedings o/the Second United Nations International Con]erence on the Peace/ul Uses o/Atomic Energy. Vol. 19:The use of isotopes, Industrial use. United Nations, Geneva 1958. This "Geneva-58" volume comprises all aspects of t h e industrial use of radioisotopes. I t covers uses of g a m m a and beta rays for control of various properties and tracers in all fields of industry, such as metallurgy, c h e m i s t r y etc. and also applied radiation chemistry. The volume reflects the fact t h a t t h e field has grown very fast quantitatively. More t h a n 50 papers are published here, despite the short time after t h e UNESCO conference 1957 (although the latter h a d a s o m w e h a t different character). The surveys from USA (Libby) and USSR (Topchiev) and b y Spinks and Simnad give a concentrated view of t h e broadness of the field now and the e x t e n t of the applications. A t the same time the publications show the fact t h a t no c o u n t r y y e t fully utilizes the isotope. I t was questioned during the conference if the industrial
Turning Points in Physics. A series of lectures given a t Oxford University in Trinity T e r m 1958, North-Holland Publishing Co. 20 shilling This book contains t h e t e x t of six lectures given at Oxford University b y senior m e m b e r s of the University to an audience composed mainly b y philosophers and scientists. T h e lectures deal mainly with the philosophical aspects Of ph~sical science. A. C. Crombie has written a brief introduction. The six lectures are as follows: " T h e end of mechanistic philosophy and t h e rise of field physics" b y R. J. Blin-Stoyle, " T h e q u a n t u m n a t u r e of m a t t e r and radiation" by D. t e r Haar, "Probability enters p h y s i c s " b y K. Mendelssohn, " F r o m the relative to t h e absolute" b y G. Temple, " T h e decline and fall of causality" by F. W a i s m a n n and "Towards new concepts. E l e m e n t a r y particles" by D. H. Wilkinson. W i t h t h e exception of certain problems discussed b y Wilkinson there is nothing really new in this book. I t deals with questions t h a t have been subject to a great deal of discussion a m o n g philosophers and physicists during t h e last decades. B u t t h e authors h a v e added to their reviews of these problems, t h e special touch of t h e o u t s t a n d i n g expert's personal point of view. This m a k e s their lectures
Analytical Chemistry in Nuclear Reactor Technology. Instrumentation, Remote Control Techniques and Nucleonics (USAEC Report TID-7568 P t 2) This is a report containing papers presented a t t h e Second Conference on Nuclear Technology held a t Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on September 29 to October l, 1958. As is to be expected in a publication with this title, a majority of t h e contributions concern t h e application of ordinary physical and chemical analytical m e t h o d s to t h e special needs a n d conditions found in nuclear reactor work. I n t h e first section on i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n papers about potentiometric and coulometric titrations, analytical applications of radiofrequency techniques, polarography, oxide monitoring for sodium s y s t e m s and X - r a y diffraction are presented. This section also contains a paper by G. H.
isotope field is still original enough. The reading of t h i s volume shows according to the reviewer, t h a t behind t h e impression of broadness there is still an apparently u n interrupted flow of methodological news which show how m a n y variants t h a t exist of t h e old principles found by H e r e s y and others. To m e n t i o n j u s t a few examples: t h e catalysis b y KrS~-radiation of reactions between organic molecules (Turton), t h e extension of the flow rate m e a s u r i n g m e t h o d s (Hull), the beautiful studies of weldings (Brook et al.), t h e impact of tracers on technical electrochemistry (Saito, Boz6ky). No one interested in t h e isotopic field, he m a y be a n isotope specialist or an industrial user of isotopes can neglect this volume. I t will take a long time for the interested reader to digest e v e r y t h i n g useful. The great n u m b e r of references in m a n y papers gives it a key function to s o m e of the literature which is difficult to trace normally. TORBJ 6Rl~ WESTERMARK
very stimulating and the book can therefore be r e c o m m e n ded to all those who take an interest in the f u n d a m e n t a l aspects of physical science. I t is wellknown t h a t discoveries in physics always have had a great impact on philosophy. To w h a t e x t e n t p h y s i c s can contribute to the solution of philosophical problems is a delicate question to answer. Mistakes have been m a d e in t h e past. We do not know w h a t physics of tomorrow will look like. B u t it will very probably be quite different from our present d a y concepts. I t therefore seems wise t o exercise a great deal of care when trying to draw m o r e general conclusion of epistemological or logical n a t u r e from our present day picture of t h e physical world around us. W h e n reading F. W a i s m a n n ' s lecture on causality a n d determinism the reviewer can not avoid feeling t h a t a s o m e w h a t less dogmatic a t t i t u d e eventually m a y t u r n o u t to h a v e been wiser. However, one m u s t a d m i t t h a t Walsm a n n ' s point of view agrees with w h a t seems to be t h e generally accepted a t t i t u d e a m o n g the majority of modern physicists. D. H. Wilkinson has given an excellent and stimulating review of our present d a y knowledge of the elementary particles and he calls t h e a t t e n t i o n to some of the challenging problems these particles present, r . R . GERHOLM
Rieck et al. a b o u t an a u t o m a t i c analysing monitor for reactor waste using combination of ~-spectroscopy and radiochemical separations. R e m o t e control techniques are treated in papers about the general design and operation of remote control chemical laboratories b y G. A. H u r t et aL, R. P. Larson et al. and U. Koskela et aL In other contributions special operations, as optical spectroscopy, titration etc. are described. I n t h e last section, with t h e title nucleonics, a b o u t half of the contributions describe the use of y-spectroscopy in combination with radiochemical separations for routine analysis of radioactive materials, the r e m a i n d e r is a b o u t such t h i n g s as determination of U 2as by neutron activation and of boron in graphite b y reactivity m e a s u r e m e n t s . K. EDVARSON
BOOK REVIEWS
Proceedings o/the Second United Nations International Con]erence on the Peace/ul Uses o/Atomic Energy. Vol. 19:The use of isotopes, Industrial use. United Nations, Geneva 1958. This "Geneva-58" volume comprises all aspects of t h e industrial use of radioisotopes. I t covers uses of g a m m a and beta rays for control of various properties and tracers in all fields of industry, such as metallurgy, c h e m i s t r y etc. and also applied radiation chemistry. The volume reflects the fact t h a t t h e field has grown very fast quantitatively. More t h a n 50 papers are published here, despite the short time after t h e UNESCO conference 1957 (although the latter h a d a s o m w e h a t different character). The surveys from USA (Libby) and USSR (Topchiev) and b y Spinks and Simnad give a concentrated view of t h e broadness of the field now and the e x t e n t of the applications. A t the same time the publications show the fact t h a t no c o u n t r y y e t fully utilizes the isotope. I t was questioned during the conference if the industrial
Turning Points in Physics. A series of lectures given a t Oxford University in Trinity T e r m 1958, North-Holland Publishing Co. 20 shilling This book contains t h e t e x t of six lectures given at Oxford University b y senior m e m b e r s of the University to an audience composed mainly b y philosophers and scientists. T h e lectures deal mainly with the philosophical aspects Of ph~sical science. A. C. Crombie has written a brief introduction. The six lectures are as follows: " T h e end of mechanistic philosophy and t h e rise of field physics" b y R. J. Blin-Stoyle, " T h e q u a n t u m n a t u r e of m a t t e r and radiation" by D. t e r Haar, "Probability enters p h y s i c s " b y K. Mendelssohn, " F r o m the relative to t h e absolute" b y G. Temple, " T h e decline and fall of causality" by F. W a i s m a n n and "Towards new concepts. E l e m e n t a r y particles" by D. H. Wilkinson. W i t h t h e exception of certain problems discussed b y Wilkinson there is nothing really new in this book. I t deals with questions t h a t have been subject to a great deal of discussion a m o n g philosophers and physicists during t h e last decades. B u t t h e authors h a v e added to their reviews of these problems, t h e special touch of t h e o u t s t a n d i n g expert's personal point of view. This m a k e s their lectures
Analytical Chemistry in Nuclear Reactor Technology. Instrumentation, Remote Control Techniques and Nucleonics (USAEC Report TID-7568 P t 2) This is a report containing papers presented a t t h e Second Conference on Nuclear Technology held a t Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on September 29 to October l, 1958. As is to be expected in a publication with this title, a majority of t h e contributions concern t h e application of ordinary physical and chemical analytical m e t h o d s to t h e special needs a n d conditions found in nuclear reactor work. I n t h e first section on i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n papers about potentiometric and coulometric titrations, analytical applications of radiofrequency techniques, polarography, oxide monitoring for sodium s y s t e m s and X - r a y diffraction are presented. This section also contains a paper by G. H.
isotope field is still original enough. The reading of t h i s volume shows according to the reviewer, t h a t behind t h e impression of broadness there is still an apparently u n interrupted flow of methodological news which show how m a n y variants t h a t exist of t h e old principles found by H e r e s y and others. To m e n t i o n j u s t a few examples: t h e catalysis b y KrS~-radiation of reactions between organic molecules (Turton), t h e extension of the flow rate m e a s u r i n g m e t h o d s (Hull), the beautiful studies of weldings (Brook et al.), t h e impact of tracers on technical electrochemistry (Saito, Boz6ky). No one interested in t h e isotopic field, he m a y be a n isotope specialist or an industrial user of isotopes can neglect this volume. I t will take a long time for the interested reader to digest e v e r y t h i n g useful. The great n u m b e r of references in m a n y papers gives it a key function to s o m e of the literature which is difficult to trace normally. TORBJ 6Rl~ WESTERMARK
very stimulating and the book can therefore be r e c o m m e n ded to all those who take an interest in the f u n d a m e n t a l aspects of physical science. I t is wellknown t h a t discoveries in physics always have had a great impact on philosophy. To w h a t e x t e n t p h y s i c s can contribute to the solution of philosophical problems is a delicate question to answer. Mistakes have been m a d e in t h e past. We do not know w h a t physics of tomorrow will look like. B u t it will very probably be quite different from our present d a y concepts. I t therefore seems wise t o exercise a great deal of care when trying to draw m o r e general conclusion of epistemological or logical n a t u r e from our present day picture of t h e physical world around us. W h e n reading F. W a i s m a n n ' s lecture on causality a n d determinism the reviewer can not avoid feeling t h a t a s o m e w h a t less dogmatic a t t i t u d e eventually m a y t u r n o u t to h a v e been wiser. However, one m u s t a d m i t t h a t Walsm a n n ' s point of view agrees with w h a t seems to be t h e generally accepted a t t i t u d e a m o n g the majority of modern physicists. D. H. Wilkinson has given an excellent and stimulating review of our present d a y knowledge of the elementary particles and he calls t h e a t t e n t i o n to some of the challenging problems these particles present, r . R . GERHOLM
Rieck et al. a b o u t an a u t o m a t i c analysing monitor for reactor waste using combination of ~-spectroscopy and radiochemical separations. R e m o t e control techniques are treated in papers about the general design and operation of remote control chemical laboratories b y G. A. H u r t et aL, R. P. Larson et al. and U. Koskela et aL In other contributions special operations, as optical spectroscopy, titration etc. are described. I n t h e last section, with t h e title nucleonics, a b o u t half of the contributions describe the use of y-spectroscopy in combination with radiochemical separations for routine analysis of radioactive materials, the r e m a i n d e r is a b o u t such t h i n g s as determination of U 2as by neutron activation and of boron in graphite b y reactivity m e a s u r e m e n t s . K. EDVARSON