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RefNoPB/2/7/5
Previous numbersB.136-B.138
LevelSubSeries
TitleCorrespondence following paper by Blackett and JG Wilson, 'The energy loss of cosmic ray particles in metal planes'.
Date1937
DescriptionIn April 1937 Blackett communicated for publication in 'Proceedings of the Royal Society', A, an experimental paper by himself and JG Wilson on 'The energy loss of cosmic ray particles in metal planes'. He then wrote a theoretical paper which he circulated in draft form to Rutherford, Dirac and Peierls for comment. (Blackett may have distributed it more widely but this is not apparent from the surviving correspondence).

In his letter to Rutherford of 26 May 1937, Blackett wrote: 'I am awaiting your comments on my paper with great hope that you will think there is something in it! Heisenberg has written expressing great interest in our experimental paper and saying that the results are extremely important for the further development of the theory. As our experimental paper is out, I think I had better publish the theoretical paper quickly - if it is considered not too unreasonable. For others will surely be getting on to the same points'.

In the event, Blackett did not publish this theoretical paper, but did communicate another paper in December 1937 ('The nature of the penetrating component of cosmic rays', 'Proceedings of the Royal Society', A, 165, 11) which accepted the conclusions of Neddermeyer and Anderson that two types of particles existed.
AccessStatusOpen
RelatedMaterialSee Bernard Lovell, 'P.M.S. Blackett: A Biographical Memoir', Royal Society: 1976, pp26-29 for full discussion of the Bhabba-Heitler theory and Blackett's response to it.
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