Learning about How to Produce Neutrons from the Time of the Discovery of the Neutron

Abstract

We review the production of neutrons at the time of their discovery from the contemporary point of view. At that time, the nuclear reaction,⁴₂He (α-particle) + ⁹₄Be → ¹²₆C + n, was commonly used to obtain neutrons. The emitted radiation was initially considered to be γ-rays for the first time. However, it showed anomalous behavior and was sometimes called “beryllium radiation”. Using the neutron source and other, at the time, new equipment, the properties of the radiation were investigated by the pioneering researchers. There are a lot of things to learn from their ideas on the experimental apparatus and their attitude toward the research.