著者
安孫子 誠也
出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.46, no.244, pp.231-240, 2007 (Released:2021-08-09)

The role of interchange between physicists and philosophers in advancing Japanese physics of the late-Meiji and Taisho era is explored. Their cooperation brought forth their common objective and motivation of activities: "modernization of Japan in its true meaning of the words. " Topics treated are the brotherhood relationship between physicist Ayao Kuwaki and philosopher Gennyoku Kuwaki, the controversy between Ayao Kuwaki and philosopher Hajime Tanabe, the colleague relationship between physicist Jun Ishiwara and Tanabe, and influence of these people upon philosopher Kitaro Nishida, who proposed inviting Einstein to Japan and asked him famous Kyoto address "How I Created the Theory of Relativity. " Also, are pointed out, the role played by the above philosophers in bringing forth the Taisho-democracy movement, which made Einstein's visit possible, and the relationship between the theory of relativity and the ideology of democracy.
著者
日野川 静枝
出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.46, no.244, pp.241-252, 2007 (Released:2021-08-09)

Harvard University's first cyclotron, constructed in the 1930s, was dismantled and moved from its original location in Boston to Los Alamos, New Mexico, which was the center for atomic bomb assembly. This cyclotron has never been analyzed in depth. This paper elucidates and analyzes the process through which Harvard's cyclotron was developed. It aims to clarify the distinctive features of cyclotron development at Harvard. Specifically, it describes the role of Harvard University President James B. Conant in the decision to construct a cyclotron; the role of private enterprise in achieving cyclotron technology; and the difficulties encountered in securing funds. The following conclusions are drawn: 1) To promote nuclear physics research, in which the university was lagging behind, Conant took direct initiative for building a cyclotron. Without his initiative, arousing opinion within the university and obtaining support from military and business sources would probably have been impossible; 2) The free loan of a radio transmitter from the Department of the. Navy was a major factor in the decision to construct a cyclotron. At the same time, it created new difficulties in actually achieving cyclotron technology. These difficulties were overcome through cyclotron technology accumulated by enterprises and research institutions in the United States and, more directly, by the spread of cyclotron technology through exchanges among cyclotron engineers; 3) University funds financed the cyclotron's construction, but support for its operation and maintenance were requested from outside sources.

1 0 0 0 OA 紹介

出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.46, no.244, pp.268-269, 2007 (Released:2021-08-09)
著者
小山 俊士
出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.46, no.243, pp.155-166, 2007 (Released:2021-08-09)

This article outlines research and development using the electron beam lithography system conducted by Eiichi Goto and his colleagues at the Information Science Laboratory in the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN). Because the system can be used for production of very large-scale integrated circuits (VLSI), leading Japanese computer manufacturers organized the "VLSI Technology Research Association. " Supported by the government, the association worked diligently to develop the system. Meanwhile, the developments were also worked on by IBM, the Bell Telephone Laboratories and other companies. In this severe competition, Goto and his colleagues' contribution was notable. In particular, they were the first to invent the "variable shaped beam forming technique, " which was a very effective method for LSI pattern generation. Subsequently, they collaborated with the Japan Electron Optics Laboratory Co., and produced apparatuses with variable shaped beam lithography. They succeeded in this challenge, not because they were experts on semi-conductor devices, but because their approaches were original. As physicists, they researched electron optics, the basis of electron beam systems, and resolved difficulties concerning electron beam aberrations. Because they were familiar with computer systems which manipulated figures and algebraic formulas, they could program and use computer-aided design systems to design electrodes for the system. Their research did not just end up by the completion of the device. They also advanced improvements in the computer systems used as tools for development.

1 0 0 0 OA 紹介

出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.46, no.243, pp.201-205, 2007 (Released:2021-08-09)