Description

 

Bohr, Niels (1885 – 1962)

Bohr on the origins of the term ‘nucleus’, and Rutherford’s ‘great discovery’

A fine typed letter signed by Niels Bohr in fountain pen ink. The scientist pens a letter to Professor Andrader on Universitetets Institut for Teoretisk Fysik’ headed paper, 14th April 1955.

Bohr opens by thanking his correspondent for his letter ‘with the question of the origin of the use of the word “nucleus” to characterize Rutherford’s great discovery. Looking up my own writings I find that this word is freely used in my paper on the stopping of swift electric particles by matter, which appeared in Philosophical Magazine, January 1913, bus it dated Manchester August 1912.’ He goes on, ‘It may, however, be difficult to ascertain how the use of the word “atomic nucleus” arose and was accepted during the vivid discussions in Manchester in that period, with reference to which in the introduction to my Faraday Lecture… I spoke of “the enthusiasm with which the new prospects for the whole of physical and chemical science, opened by the discovery of the atomic nucleus, were discussed in the spring of 1912 among the pupils of Rutherford”. On that occasion, I had not least my many discussions with [George] Hevesy in mind, and it may perhaps interest you to look up the account of his reminiscence, given in a short article in Die Naturwissenschaftern…’ Bohr concludes, ‘I am sorry not to be able to answer your question better, and it would certainly be very interesting to know what other members of the Manchester group might remember.’ A couple of tiny tears to the right edge, otherwise in fine condition.

It was under the supervision of Ernest Rutherford that the young Niels Bohr carried out his postdoctoral research on the atom between March and July 1912. Letters by Bohr that relate to his scientific work are rare and desirable.