Word: positrons
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Normal matter is organized into tight little worlds-atoms-with positive protons in their nuclei and negative electrons revolving around them. There is also a homeless waif, the positron (positive electron), that seems to have no place in this orderly scheme. Born in atomic catastrophes, it lives only until it hits a normal electron. Then the two "annihilate" one another, turning into gamma rays...
...Energy Commission physicists, Frederick L. Reines and Clyde Cowan Jr., gathered an erudite task force at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and went hunting neutrinos. Theory told them that if a neutrino hits a proton, as may happen on very rare occasions, the reaction should yield a neutron and a positron (positive electron). If this happens in a liquid that scintillates in the proper manner, both particles will give flashes of light...
...even create negative protons, which would be really sensational. Ordinary protons are positively charged. Combined with one or more negative electrons, they form the familiar atoms of ordinary matter. But scientists have already created positive electrons (positrons). This suggests that it may be possible to create negative protons (not yet named nega-tons). Combined with positrons, these should form "reversed matter." An atom of "anti-hydrogen," for instance, would have a negative proton as its nucleus, with a positron instead of an electron revolving around...
...physicists agree that negative protons are possible, but some like to speculate on the properties of reversed matter. It may turn into energy as soon as it encounters atoms of normal matter (when a positron hits an electron, they annihilate each other, leaving gamma rays as an X to mark the spot. All such possibilities, says Auger, are on "the frontiers of science." Only the 30 billion-volt cosmotron can test their reality...
Sweet and Dr. Manucher Javid, Research Fellow in Surgery, explained that the "positron" technique is one of diagnosis while the use of boron may possibly be found of advantage for therapy following surgical operations in which brain tumors have been partially or totally removed...