World of Scientific Discovery on Charles Glover Barkla
Charles Barkla was one of the first scientists to help reveal the true nature of X-rays and, through later applications of his findings, the nature of the atom. He was born and educated in Liverpool, England, and received his bachelor's in physics from the University of Liverpool in 1898. From there he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he researched under Joseph J. Thomson, who had done significant work with cathode rays. Although Thomson would have tremendous influence on the direction of his work, Barkla remained at Cambridge solely for the chance to sing in its prestigious choir (he was a talented baritone and a popular soloist). In 1902 he transferred back to Liverpool, completing his doctoral studies in 1904.
During his college years, Barkla became interested in the phenomenon of X-rays, discovered by Wilhelm Röntgen. At the time, scientists were uncertain about the nature of these rays: were they particles, like cathode rays, or transverse waves, like light rays? Thomson had developed a series of equations supporting the " ether pulse" theory proposed by George Gabriel Stokes (1819-1903). One of Barkla's first projects upon receiving his Ph.D. was to test the ether pulse theory. It stated that X-rays should behave in a manner similar to the transverse electromagnetic waves in visible light. Barkla knew that visible light, when passed through certain substances, could be easily polarized; thus, if X-rays could also be polarized, they, too, must be transverse in nature. It took two years for him to assemble the proper equipment and obtain a clear result, at the end of which he succeeded in polarizing scattered X-rays.
While striving to verify the ether-pulse theory, however, Barkla stumbled upon a much more important discovery. While using various samples of gases to scatter his X-rays, he noticed that different gases affected the intensity of the rays differently, and that the intensity of change was proportional to the gas's position on the periodic table of elements (and, thus, proportional to its atomic weight). Until this time, little was known about the properties of elements or the significance of their atomic numbers; Barkla 's findings became the cornerstone upon which a greater understanding of atomic structure was built. Barkla's later research also served as a starting point for Niels Bohr and Arnold Sommerfeld's quantum atomic model.
In 1917, Barkla was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics for his discovery of the relationship between X-rays and atomic structure. Unfortunately, his later life was spent in almost total academic isolation. Always known as a great physicist but a weak theorist, Barkla began to ignore the groundbreaking work of other scientists. He rejected the quantum theory introduced by Albert Einstein and Max Planck, preferring to base his lectures strictly upon his own past research. In the end, he devoted his time to the pursuit of a mythical "J phenomenon" in radiation. Still, Barkla is recognized as a pioneer in X-ray experimentation.
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