2002/01/12 by Alberto De Gregorio
Physics and Astronomy · #physics.hist-ph
published as Giornale di Fisica, 42,4 (2001) 195-208 · 20 pages
arxiv created 2002/01/12 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
In October 1934 Fermi discovered that neutrons became particularly effective in rendering the elements radioactive after being slowed down by hydrogenous substances. His was described as an absolutely unpredictable scientific discovery. In this paper I report and discuss the knowledge about neutrons properties already available the previous year, which throws a new light onto a discovery too often depicted as "accidental".