Weak interactions from 1950-1960: a quantitative bibliometric study of the formation of a field
A quantitative technique is illustrated which uses publication statistics from a bibliography of citations in the area of weak interactions to provide a view of trends and patterns in the development of the field during the period from 1950 to 1960. An overview is given of what the physicists working in weak interactions during this period were doing as indicated by an analysis of the subjects of their papers. The dominant problems and concerns are discussed. Focus is then turned to the events surrounding the emergence of the tau/theta particle puzzle, the discovery of parity nonconservation, and the resolution offered by the V-A theory. Displaying the data from the citation index in unusual ways highlights dominant issues of the period, especially the close relationship between theory and experiment in the latter half of the decade. 64 refs., 14 figs. (LEW)
- Research Organization:
- Carleton Coll., Northfield, MN (USA); Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- OSTI ID:
- 5934436
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-37761; CONF-8505176-4; ON: DE86009427
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Symposium on particle physics in the 1950's, Chicago, IL, USA, 1 May 1985; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
WEAK INTERACTIONS
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
P INVARIANCE
SYMMETRY BREAKING
TAU PARTICLES
V-A THEORY
BASIC INTERACTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HEAVY LEPTONS
INTERACTIONS
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
LEPTONS
POSTULATED PARTICLES
659000* - Communication
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645102 - High Energy Physics- Particle Interactions & Properties-Experimental- Weak Interactions & Properties
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