Molecular beam measurements of nuclear moments before magnetic resonance. Part I: I. I. Rabi and deflecting magnets to 1938

Summary

Investigation of the origin and function of three magnets from I. I. Rabi's laboratory at Columbia University leads to a closer inquiry into the early history of molecular beam evaluations of the angular momenta and magnetic moments of atomic nuclei than has been undertaken heretofore. The resulting insights into the background and the course of Rabi's research programme would probably not have occurred without the orientation enforced by these artifacts.