Description:

Becquerel Antoine


Henri Becquerel, Discoverer of Radioactivity, Original Scientific Manuscript

 

2pp scientific notes inscribed overall by French physicist Antoine Henri Becquerel (1852-1908), including a drawing, itemized notes, formulas, and calculations. In ink and pencil on two side-by-side pages of watermarked cream blue-lined paper. Trimmed at top, else near fine, measuring 8.875" x 6.375". Stored in an elegant customized clamshell case complete with marbleized boards, gilt-embossed spine, and faux paginated textblock.

 

In this undated manuscript, Becquerel jots down some notes related to the molecular ionization of gas and x-rays, related to his work on radioactivity. The following terms are buried within the flurried handwriting: "Research on gas," "ionization for x-rays," "discharge saturation. Persistent effect," Hypothesis of the Ions," "electrolysis speed of changes," "hyper of ions," etc. Becquerel's notations "K1X and K2X" (line 5, second page) probably refer to light waves, while his "e/m" calculations (line 20, second page) refer to the ratio of electric charge to mass. Becquerel's handwriting suggests an impatience to record his findings. Should yield fascinating new discoveries when fully translated!

 

Becquerel's notes also contain references to two significant contemporary physicists:

 

- John Zeleny (1872-1951) referred to as "Zeleny" (line 4,  second page). Zeleny was a Czech-American physicist who earned his doctorate degree at the University of Minnesota in 1906. A few years after Becquerel's untimely death, Zeleny would invent the electroscope that bears his name (electroscopes detect and measure electrical charges on physical bodies.)

 

- John Sealy Townsend (1868-1957) is mentioned as "Townsend" (line 12, second page.) Townsend was an Irish physicist interested in the electrical conductivity of gases. An extremely prolific researcher, Townsend gave his name to "Townsend's collision theory" as well as "Townsend's discharge."

 

Henri Becquerel came from a family of well-respected French physicists. After holding a few government positions, Becquerel transitioned into research and academia. His early studies focused on light absorption and deflection, phosphorescence, magnetism, and gases. In 1896, Becquerel discovered natural or spontaneous radioactivity by conducting experiments with uranium salts. Becquerel rays were later named after him; they later became known as radioactivity (a term coined by Marie Curie.) In 1903, Becquerel was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Marie and Pierre Curie.

 

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