Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core MicroscopyPioneers Pioneers in Optics: Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov and John Frederick William Herschel . IP address: Michael W. Davidson National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306 170.106.202.8
[email protected] , on Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov possible by the fact that light travels more slowly through a 29 Sep 2021 at 21:32:40 (1904–1990) transparent medium than it does in a vacuum, so that in air, The son of Russian peasants, Pavel Cherenkov faced a water, and certain other substances, elementary particles may significant amount of adversity in his life, but he persevered surpass the velocity of light in that medium. admirably. He was born in the village of Novaya Chigla in the Although early on Cherenkov’s devoted study to the Vornezh province and optical effect and special form of electromagnetic radiation grew up in a tumultuous that now bear his name was derided by some of his colleagues , subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at time when Russia was who believed it to be a pointless endeavor, in time the utility engaged in war and of the strange bluish glow would become apparent. Today, revolution. At the age of the Cherenkov effect is considered invaluable to the field two, Cherenkov lost his of spectroscopy, as well as to the study of cosmic rays and mother, and his father other high-speed particles. Cherenkov counters, which are soon remarried, consign- specialized instruments that can measure particle velocity by ing much of his and his using the light emitted by Cherenkov radiation, have garnered sister’s upbringing to a widespread use by experimental scientists studying particle and stepmother.