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Address:
National Taiwan University Library, 1 Roosevelt Rd. Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Contact:
ichunlin@ntu.edu.tw
Phone: 02-33662362
Fax: 02-23629860
Links:
Heritage Hall of Physics
National Taiwan University
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Description:
NTU Nuclear Physics Heritage Hall is located in the original Nuclear Physics Laboratory in Building No.2. On display is Asia's very early Cockcroft-Walton Linear Accelerator, which played an instrumental role in advancing Taiwan's science education.
In 1932, J.D. Cockcroft and E. T. Walton of Britain's Cavendish Laboratory developed the linear accelerator, that made charged particles go fast enough to penetrate atomic nucleus and generate huge dynamic energy. Gamow's tunneling theory and Einstein's theory of special relativity were confirmed by this invention.
The NTU first accelerator was built by Arakatsu Bunsaku, a science professor at then Taihoku Imperial University, NTU's predecessor during the Japanese regime. The exhibit was rebuilt after Second World War. The team improved on the existing equipment, manufactured their own heavy water for obtaining necessary high-energy neutrons, and used alpha particles form Hokutolite as energy reference while continuing to finetune the experimental setup. The Arakatu team completed the first acceleration experiment in 1934 - the first time in Asia.
After the Second World War and under the leadership of Professor Tai Yuin-Kwei, the remaining members of Arakatsu team – Professor Ota Yoritsune, Assistant Hsu Yuin-Chi, Mr. Lin Song-Yung, Mr. Chou Muh-Chuen and Mr. Hsu Yi-Chuan rebuilt the accelerator that had been neglected during war time. In 1948, the team once again successfully demonstrated the phenomena predicted by theory.
The accelerator was dismantled after Professor Hsu Yuin-Chi retired in 1985, but the parts were stowed away for safekeeping by technicians. In 2004 the Physics Department decided to reassemble the accelerator. Despite numerous difficulties, the task was successfully carried out by members of Professor Hsu’s team with the cooperation of younger generation. NTU Nuclear Physics Heritage Hall was opened to the public on November 21st, 2005. It is hoped that the display of the accelerator and other equipment will enhance the public's knowledge and understanding of the important milestones in the country's scientific development.
(Information from the Website)
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