Domenico Pacini, the forgotten pioneer of the discovery of cosmic rays

Details Domenico Pacini, the forgotten pioneer of the discovery of cosmic rays Domenico Pacini, the forgotten pioneer of the discovery of cosmic rays

2010-02-15

arxiv.org/abs/1002.2888v2

Physics

History and Philosophy of Physics

Historical figures added

Scientific paper

About a century ago, cosmic rays were identified as being a source of radiation on Earth. The proof came from two independent experiments. The Italian physicist Domenico Pacini observed the radiation strength to decrease when going from the ground to a few meters underwater (both in a lake and in a sea). At about the same time, in a balloon flight, the Austrian Victor Hess found the ionization rate to increase with height. The present article attempts to give an unbiased historical account of the discovery of cosmic rays -- and in doing so it will duly account for Pacini's pioneering work, which involved a technique that was complementary to, and independent from, Hess'. Personal stories, and the pre- and post-war historical context, led Pacini's work to slip into oblivion.

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