1932: Phonon - The book of science

Phonon
Scientific work
Together
Commentary

Phonon

Igor Tamm
proposed
that an excited
state
of interacting
particles
in a solid
or liquid
would form
a quasiparticle
and vibrate
at a common
frequency.

Scientific work

Igor Tamm proposed
the concept of surface states,
electronic states
found only near surfaces,
and the idea that protons
interact with neutrons
by exchanging massive particles
later called mesons.
He worked with Ilya Frank
to explain Cherenkov radiation
using Einstein’s
special theory of relativity.
He led the Soviet’s
effort to build a hydrogen bomb
in the secret city
of Sarov,
and with Andrei Sakharov
he proposed the tokamak
for magnetic confinement
of thermonuclear fusion.

Together

Get close
vibrate together
act as one
makes sound
makes heat
makes love and fury

For a hydrogen bomb to achieve its explosive chain reaction, a critical mass of deuterium and tritium atoms must be forced into close proximity. Not all cases of close proximity result in harmonious action.