np30/intro.htm; S.A.Moszkowski, 2-18-99
In 1977, at the University of Minnesota, there was a Symposium "Nuclear Physics in Retrospect", which dealt with the beginning of modern nuclear physics in the 1930's. Many of the nuclear physicists from that era were at the symposium. The proceedings were edited by Roger H. Stuewer and published by the University of Minnesota in 1977. Unfortunately, this book has been out of print, but it still is in several libraries.
Two of the talks given at the symposium, by Bethe and by Peierls, are particularly noteworthy for the insight into the early days. I have taken the liberty of integrating some of what was said by Bethe and Peierls into the material below. However, I have also added some other remarks on how new developments after the 30's changed our thinking.
I would like to discuss several key topics in nuclear physics:
Independent Particle Shell Model vs. Liquid Drop Model
This is not a comprehensive list. I will say relatively little about nuclear reactions and about nuclear decays.
For some problems concerning two body binding
For an introduction to the three body problem by Macek and Fedorov