California Institute of Technology Cal Tech - Big T Yearbook (Pasadena, CA)

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RESEARCH Dr. Seeley G. Mudd Professor Pompenkoe The important ratio of electric charge permass of electrons tEyMy has been determined independently by two methods. DR. WILLIAM V. HOUSTON, working both theoretically and experimentally, has determined this ratio by spectroscopic means, and DR. FRANK G. DUNNINGTON has made a very accurate determina- tion by high-frequency methods. SHORT WAVES FOR MANY years PROFESSOR GEN- NADYW. POTAPENKOE has been work- ing with ultra short radio waves. He has built equipment producing pure monochromatic waves With good sta- bility. Much research has been done in the behavior of iron, nickel, and cobalt in the high-frequency electro- magnetic fleld. Along with the metallic research absorption and dis- persion of ultra short waves, the di- electrics have been studied. To study these phenomena, a more precise measuring apparatus was needed. Completed this year, it was found to be accurate to one micron in measur- ing wave lengths. X-RAY TREATMENT OF CANCER THE treatment of cancer With the mil- 24 lion-volt x-ray tube is very closely connected with the work and prog- ress of the physics department. DOC- TORS SEELEY G. MUDD and CLYDE K. EMERY have been in charge of this work studying the physiological effects of the powerful x-ray. The million-volt x-ray tube, built by HOR- ACE R. CRANE and CHARLES C. LAU- RITSEN, and operated by them, has been used With very valuable results. Several patients have been under daily treatment by the rays of the giant tube. Work in this fleld is as yet only started NUCLEAR PHYSICS DEVELOPMENTS in the field of nu- clear physics have been extremely rapid during the past year. Under the direction of DOCTORS CHARLES

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RESEARCH WORK CARRIED ON DURIN G THE YEAR HAS MADE SCIENTIFIC HISTORY. PHYSICS RESEARCH in physics has been in six fields and four specialized problems. Financed by the cosmic ray fund, a great deal of research has been done recently on these interesting radia- tions and kindred phenomena. The most recent results were ob- tained during the Settle balloon ascension and during a two and one- half monthsi voyage Which led inves- tigators to South America. Additional data have been obtained through sev- eral high altitude airplane flights in the mountains of South America. This interesting and important re- search has been under the direction of DOCTORS ROBERT A. MILLIKAN, IRA S. BOWEN, CARL D. ANDERSON, and HENRY V. NEHER, aided by DR. FRITZ ZWICKY 0n the theoretical aspects. LOW TEMPERATURES MUCH experimental work has been done by DR. ALEXANDER GOETZ in the investigation of properties of met- als and crystals at extremely low tem- peratures. In the cryogenic labora- tory liquid helium has been obtained and temperatures as low as two de- grees absolute produced. Using this. extensive liquefying equipment, in- vestigation has been started on metal crystals and super-conductivity at low temperatures. X-RAY DR. JESSE DUMOND has been in charge of a group of x-ray problems being investigated. His work during the past year has been largely that of designing a new thirty-kilowatt x-ray tube which will be used for pure re- search only. The two most impor- tant features which distinguish this tube are the intensity of x-rays pro- duced and the revolving 0f the target or anode. The purpose of the tube is to provide a large quantity of rays in order to determine certain proper- ties of matter which are too faint for measurement in the rays of weaker tubes. y SPECTROSCOPIC PROBLEMS A NUMBER of effects have been studied recently by spectroscopic means. DR. IRA S. BOWEN has been studying the x-rays of longer wave lengths. DR. WILLIAM R. SMYTHE has used the mass spectograph in the separation of the isotoPes of several elements, particular work being done on the separation of the radio active isotope of potassium. 23 RESEARCH Dm. DuMomi, Goetz, Langer

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C. LAURITSEN, CARL D. ANDERSON, and SETH H. NIEDDERMEYER and HORACE R. CRANE, neutrons, posi- trons and deutons have been pro- duced and the effects of their bom- bardment on common substance studied. Atomic bullets, heavy hydro- gen particles made from the so-called uheavy water, have been used as a means of creating new radio-active substances, bringing about a marked advance in the scientific held by the introduction for the first time of a purely artificial technique and ma- terial. By bombarding, various light- er elements have been changed into heavier elements with strong radio- active properties. This radio-active energy is given OH in the form of the newly discovered positrons, or posi- tive electrons, and gamma rays. Carbon, under bombardment, changed to radiO-active nitrogen, and boron was changed to carbon. The positrons ejected by these newly cre- ated elements are being studied by DR. CARL D. ANDERSON, their dis- coverer. CHEMISTRY THE research work of the chemistry department has been of unusual in- terest this past year. Not greatly spectacular, it is of a sort which must go on over a period of years. Strangely enough, one of the most important pieces of chemical research has been carried in the astro-physics building. This has been the electron diffraction research under the direc- tion or DR. LAWRENCE O. BROCK- WAY. For some time x-rays have been used in the study of crystal struc- tures, and now the molecular struc- ture of gases may be determined by the use of electrons to replace the x-rays. DR. ARNOLD O. BECKMAN and his assistants have been working with a magneto-optic apparatus in an at- tempt to discover the fundamental phenomenon involved. Very short waves have been investigated by DR. BECKMAN as a possible reason for its operation. Fluorine, the strongest chemical oxidizing agent, has been the subject of research by DR. DON M. YOST. Special technique and apparatus were developed by him. 25 RESEARCH Dr. Lauritxen zmd Richard Crane McCullough and Dr. Beckmzm