November Revolution in Physics

The world of physics was dazzled in November 1974 when two separate experiments at SLAC and at Brookhaven independently discovered the first of a new set of particle states, the J/Psi particle. 

The SLAC experiment was SLAC-SP-017 at SPEAR, which generated 42 publications. Burton Richter, of the SLAC-LBL collaboration, and Sam Ting, of the Brookhaven group, received the 1976 Nobel Prize in Physics "for their pioneering work in the discovery of a heavy elementary particle of a new kind." 

Sources

Archival material

• SP-17 proposal summary
• SP-17 proposal "An Experimental Survey of Positron-Electron Annihilation into Multiparticle Final States in the s Range 27 to 74 GeV²"
• Experiment logbook pages from 10 Nov 1974 (p. 24-25)
• Experiment logbook pages from 21 Nov 1974 (p. 94-95)

Personal narratives 

• Burton Richter. "Discovery of the Psi Particles: A Personal Perspective," SLAC Beam Line. Vol. 7, No. 11. 11/1976
• Burton Richter. "Inaugural Talk, November 14, 1984: Where Are We Going At SLAC?" SLAC Beam Line. Vol.15, No.11 & 12. 11-12/1984.
• Burton Richter on occasion of 25th Anniversary of Colliding Beams at SPEAR and photos
• Fred Gilman. "The November Revolution," SLAC Beam Line. Vol. 16, No. 1. 1/1985.
• James D. Bjorken. "The November Revolution -- A Theorist Reminisces," SLAC Beam Line. Special Issue No. 8. 7/1985.

General audience publications 

• SLAC virtual visitors center explanation of discovery
• Theory of Charm: The 4th Quark, SLAC virtual visitors center explanation
• Page from the logbook in "logbook: J/Ψ particle," symmetry, Vol.2, No.7, September 2005

Photo Gallery

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