Structure of Matter

From the Preface This book deals comprehensively with our present-day knowledge of the structure of matter from elementary particles to solids. It has been written for students of physics chemistry biology and engineering in fact for all who wish to keep abreast with the rapid progress being made in this important field. The authors aim has been to provide the reader with the grounding essential to a true understanding of this vast sphere of science which during the past few decades has led to so great a change of our fundamental concepts of nature and which has found such amazingly manifold application. Accordingly first place is given to the interpretation of experiments and theories and to the interrelationship of such seemingly divergent fields as atomic molecular nuclear and solid-state physics. Mathematical or experimental details take second place and are treated only to the extent believed necessary for proper understanding of the subject matter. The author has nevertheless endeavored to take the reader right into the front line of atomic research and to impart to him the knowledge essential to an apprecation of the far-reching problems involved and the implications at stake.