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Via Panisperna boys

February 15, 2024

Via Panisperna boys (Italian: I ragazzi di Via Panisperna) is the name given to a group of young Italian scientists led by Enrico Fermi, who worked at the Royal Physics Institute of the University of Rome La Sapienza. In 1934 they made the famous discovery of slow neutrons, which later made possible the nuclear reactor and then the construction of the first atomic bomb.

Enrico Fermi with four of the Via Panisperna boys in the courtyard of Rome University's Physics Institute in Via Panisperna, about 1934. From left to right: Oscar D'Agostino, Emilio Segrè, Edoardo Amaldi, Franco Rasetti and Enrico Fermi

The nickname of the group comes from the address of the Institute, located in a street of Rione Monti in the city centre, which got its name from a nearby monastery, San Lorenzo in Panisperna.

The other members of the group were Edoardo Amaldi, Oscar D'Agostino, Ettore Majorana, Bruno Pontecorvo, Franco Rasetti and Emilio Segrè. All were physicists, except for D'Agostino, who was a chemist.

The growth of the group edit

 
Commemorative plaque
 
The Via Panisperna in 2021; the plaque hangs to the left of the traffic sign; it refers to an entrance to the building seen side-on; behind the wall lay the Institute's garden

The group grew under the supervision of the physicist, minister, senator and director of the Institute of Physics Orso Mario Corbino. Corbino recognized the qualities of Enrico Fermi and led the commission which appointed him in 1926 to one of the first three professorships in Theoretical Physics in Italy.[1] From 1929, Fermi and Corbino dedicated themselves to the transformation of the institute into a modern research centre.

Rasetti and Fermi were contemporaries, who had met as undergraduates at Pisa, and worked together in Florence.[2]: 24, 43  The first of the Boys to join them was Segrè, who had been studying engineering. Segrè had got to know Rasetti through mountaineering and then been drawn into physics by their gatecrashing the first Volta Conference on Lake Como together.[2]: 66  Amaldi as a schoolboy already knew Fermi through his father, a mathematician; the families had hiked together in the Dolomites. Later Corbino encouraged Amaldi as a young engineering student to switch to physics.[2]: 67  Majorana had also been an engineering student; he switched to physics after his mathematical ability was recognised by Segrè, leading to an interview with Fermi.[2]: 69  D'Agostino became involved because he was a chemist; he had been the assistant to Giulio Trabacchi, with whom the group collaborated because he had a supply of radium.[2]: 95,97  Pontecorvo joined the group later (1934); he came to Rome as a postgraduate to work with Rasetti, a family friend.[2]: 102 .

Research edit

The first version of their research laboratory was mainly dedicated to atomic and molecular spectroscopy; afterwards, they moved towards experimental studies of the atomic nucleus. Research included the bombarding of various elements with neutrons, generated by irradiating beryllium with alpha particles emitted by the radioactive gas radon, obtained from radium.[3] The neutrons induced reactions in the target's nuclei resulting in the generation of other elements, often radioactive isotopes. A key discovery, partly by chance, was that neutrons slowed down by hydrogen nuclei were far more likely to be captured by the nuclei.[2]: 103  Five of the Boys patented this idea, which was crucial in harnessing nuclear power, but the long-delayed financial reward was only modest.[2]: 104, 286  On the theoretical side, the work of Ettore Majorana and Fermi advanced the understanding of the structure of the atomic nucleus and the forces acting within it.[4] In 1933 and 1934 they published the fundamental theory of beta decay.

The work on neutron-induced radioactivity involved a degree of cooperation unusual at the time, and the later papers had five authors. The roles were not strictly delineated, but D'Agostino was the specialist chemist, Amaldi was responsible for the electronics, and Segrè obtained the elements to be irradiated.[2]: 97  The working atmosphere involved a camaraderie and playfulness exemplified by the nicknames bestowed on one another. Fermi was "Il Papa" (the Pope), because of his infallibility. Rasetti, his right-hand man, was "Cardinal Vicario". Even higher in this ecclesiastical hierarchy, the nickname of Corbino was "Padreterno" (God Almighty), for his ability to miraculously generate funds and positions. Majorana was "Il Gran Inquisitore" (The Grand Inquisitor), because of his critical manner. Segrè's judgemental disposition earned him the nickname "Basilisco" after the legendary Basilisk. Amaldi was "Fanciulletto" (young boy) because of his cherubic face. Pontecorvo was "Cucciolo" (puppy dog).[2]: 68, 102  Another key component of the collaborative atmosphere was the masterful impromptu talks that Fermi delivered every afternoon on topics of interest to their research.[2]: 67 

The group disperses edit

By 1935 the group had dispersed with only Fermi and Amaldi continuing work together: Rasetti was away for a year in the U.S.; Segrè had a professorship in Palermo, D'Agostino had a job elsewhere in Rome, Pontecorvo was in Paris.[2]: 107,108  Majorana had become reclusive and in 1938 would disappear in unexplained circumstances.[2]: 117 

Subsequently, the Italian racial laws caused further emigration. (Segrè and Pontecorvo were Jewish, as was Fermi's wife.) On 6 December 1938, Fermi left Rome with his family for Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize, and from there they emigrated permanently to the U.S.[2]: 122  D'Agostino and Amaldi were the only ones who remained in Italy. After the war, Fermi's and Segrè's involvement in the development of the atomic bomb may have caused some strain in their relations with Rasetti, who had refused to participate.[2]: 248  It also made it awkward to discuss nuclear physics with their former colleagues when the new discoveries often remained classified.[2]: 280 

In the media edit

The film director Gianni Amelio has told their story in a TV movie which became a film, I ragazzi di via Panisperna (1989).

The building in Via Panisperna, lying on the Viminale hill, is located in the complex of the Ministry of the Interior. The edifice is planned to host a centre for research and a museum of physics named after Enrico Fermi.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Segrè, Emilio (1970). Enrico Fermi, Physicist. University of Chicago Press. p. 45. ISBN 0-226-74473-6.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Segrè, G.; Hoerlin, B. (2016). The pope of physics: Enrico Fermi and the birth of the atomic age. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 9781627790055.
  3. ^ "Radon-beryllium neutron source used by E. Fermi & associates, 1933-34". Smithsonian. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  4. ^ Brink, David (5 March 2007). "The story of Majorana's exchange force". Proceedings of Science. 37 (2): 002. doi:10.22323/1.037.0002.
  5. ^ "The Istituto Fisico on Via Panisperna: the new Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche "Enrico Fermi" di Roma". CERN. High Energy Physics Libraries Webzine. Retrieved 8 May 2012.

Further reading edit

  • La scienza. Molecole, atomi, particelle. Vol. 12. La biblioteca di Repubblica. Rome, La Repubblica-UTET, 2005.

External links edit

February 15, 2024
panisperna, boys, italian, ragazzi, panisperna, name, given, group, young, italian, scientists, enrico, fermi, worked, royal, physics, institute, university, rome, sapienza, 1934, they, made, famous, discovery, slow, neutrons, which, later, made, possible, nuc. Via Panisperna boys Italian I ragazzi di Via Panisperna is the name given to a group of young Italian scientists led by Enrico Fermi who worked at the Royal Physics Institute of the University of Rome La Sapienza In 1934 they made the famous discovery of slow neutrons which later made possible the nuclear reactor and then the construction of the first atomic bomb Enrico Fermi with four of the Via Panisperna boys in the courtyard of Rome University s Physics Institute in Via Panisperna about 1934 From left to right Oscar D Agostino Emilio Segre Edoardo Amaldi Franco Rasetti and Enrico FermiThe nickname of the group comes from the address of the Institute located in a street of Rione Monti in the city centre which got its name from a nearby monastery San Lorenzo in Panisperna The other members of the group were Edoardo Amaldi Oscar D Agostino Ettore Majorana Bruno Pontecorvo Franco Rasetti and Emilio Segre All were physicists except for D Agostino who was a chemist Contents 1 The growth of the group 2 Research 3 The group disperses 4 In the media 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksThe growth of the group edit nbsp Commemorative plaque nbsp The Via Panisperna in 2021 the plaque hangs to the left of the traffic sign it refers to an entrance to the building seen side on behind the wall lay the Institute s gardenThe group grew under the supervision of the physicist minister senator and director of the Institute of Physics Orso Mario Corbino Corbino recognized the qualities of Enrico Fermi and led the commission which appointed him in 1926 to one of the first three professorships in Theoretical Physics in Italy 1 From 1929 Fermi and Corbino dedicated themselves to the transformation of the institute into a modern research centre Rasetti and Fermi were contemporaries who had met as undergraduates at Pisa and worked together in Florence 2 24 43 The first of the Boys to join them was Segre who had been studying engineering Segre had got to know Rasetti through mountaineering and then been drawn into physics by their gatecrashing the first Volta Conference on Lake Como together 2 66 Amaldi as a schoolboy already knew Fermi through his father a mathematician the families had hiked together in the Dolomites Later Corbino encouraged Amaldi as a young engineering student to switch to physics 2 67 Majorana had also been an engineering student he switched to physics after his mathematical ability was recognised by Segre leading to an interview with Fermi 2 69 D Agostino became involved because he was a chemist he had been the assistant to Giulio Trabacchi with whom the group collaborated because he had a supply of radium 2 95 97 Pontecorvo joined the group later 1934 he came to Rome as a postgraduate to work with Rasetti a family friend 2 102 Research editThe first version of their research laboratory was mainly dedicated to atomic and molecular spectroscopy afterwards they moved towards experimental studies of the atomic nucleus Research included the bombarding of various elements with neutrons generated by irradiating beryllium with alpha particles emitted by the radioactive gas radon obtained from radium 3 The neutrons induced reactions in the target s nuclei resulting in the generation of other elements often radioactive isotopes A key discovery partly by chance was that neutrons slowed down by hydrogen nuclei were far more likely to be captured by the nuclei 2 103 Five of the Boys patented this idea which was crucial in harnessing nuclear power but the long delayed financial reward was only modest 2 104 286 On the theoretical side the work of Ettore Majorana and Fermi advanced the understanding of the structure of the atomic nucleus and the forces acting within it 4 In 1933 and 1934 they published the fundamental theory of beta decay The work on neutron induced radioactivity involved a degree of cooperation unusual at the time and the later papers had five authors The roles were not strictly delineated but D Agostino was the specialist chemist Amaldi was responsible for the electronics and Segre obtained the elements to be irradiated 2 97 The working atmosphere involved a camaraderie and playfulness exemplified by the nicknames bestowed on one another Fermi was Il Papa the Pope because of his infallibility Rasetti his right hand man was Cardinal Vicario Even higher in this ecclesiastical hierarchy the nickname of Corbino was Padreterno God Almighty for his ability to miraculously generate funds and positions Majorana was Il Gran Inquisitore The Grand Inquisitor because of his critical manner Segre s judgemental disposition earned him the nickname Basilisco after the legendary Basilisk Amaldi was Fanciulletto young boy because of his cherubic face Pontecorvo was Cucciolo puppy dog 2 68 102 Another key component of the collaborative atmosphere was the masterful impromptu talks that Fermi delivered every afternoon on topics of interest to their research 2 67 The group disperses editBy 1935 the group had dispersed with only Fermi and Amaldi continuing work together Rasetti was away for a year in the U S Segre had a professorship in Palermo D Agostino had a job elsewhere in Rome Pontecorvo was in Paris 2 107 108 Majorana had become reclusive and in 1938 would disappear in unexplained circumstances 2 117 Subsequently the Italian racial laws caused further emigration Segre and Pontecorvo were Jewish as was Fermi s wife On 6 December 1938 Fermi left Rome with his family for Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize and from there they emigrated permanently to the U S 2 122 D Agostino and Amaldi were the only ones who remained in Italy After the war Fermi s and Segre s involvement in the development of the atomic bomb may have caused some strain in their relations with Rasetti who had refused to participate 2 248 It also made it awkward to discuss nuclear physics with their former colleagues when the new discoveries often remained classified 2 280 In the media editThe film director Gianni Amelio has told their story in a TV movie which became a film I ragazzi di via Panisperna 1989 The building in Via Panisperna lying on the Viminale hill is located in the complex of the Ministry of the Interior The edifice is planned to host a centre for research and a museum of physics named after Enrico Fermi 5 References edit Segre Emilio 1970 Enrico Fermi Physicist University of Chicago Press p 45 ISBN 0 226 74473 6 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Segre G Hoerlin B 2016 The pope of physics Enrico Fermi and the birth of the atomic age New York Henry Holt ISBN 9781627790055 Radon beryllium neutron source used by E Fermi amp associates 1933 34 Smithsonian Retrieved 15 June 2022 Brink David 5 March 2007 The story of Majorana s exchange force Proceedings of Science 37 2 002 doi 10 22323 1 037 0002 The Istituto Fisico on Via Panisperna the new Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche Enrico Fermi di Roma CERN High Energy Physics Libraries Webzine Retrieved 8 May 2012 Further reading editLa scienza Molecole atomi particelle Vol 12 La biblioteca di Repubblica Rome La Repubblica UTET 2005 External links edit in Italian Enrico Fermi and the Via Panisperna Boys from the Museum of Physics of La Sapienza University in Rome Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Via Panisperna boys amp oldid 1189467985, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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