No comments about Scattering Theory of Waves and Particles: Second Edition.

No comments about Sun in a Bottle: The Strange History of Fusion and the Science of Wishful Thinking.

2 comments about Scattering Theory: The Quantum Theory of Nonrelativistic Collisions (Dover Books on Engineering).

1. Ad the title says, the book covers non-relativistic scattering theory. It covers the expected topics of partial wave expansions, Born approximation, single and multi-channel scattering. I used this book when I was learning scattering theory during graduate school at U. of Colorado. It is a good introduction to scattering theory. My only reservation is that the book is general. People looking for scattering theory book specific to say, nuclear physics, might be better off with McCarthy's book (old one) or Feshbach's.



2. Scattering theory is a notoriously difficult area in quantum mechanics. After looking several classics, I borrowed a copy of this book, then out of print, and found immediately it was at the right level. The exposition is always to the point, never overloaded with side issues or minor details, yet very clear and precise, a pleasure to read. It leaves the nice feeling of understanding exactly everything the author explains.
   So I immediately photocopied the book, and I am very pleased of it being back in print thanks to Dover, and got already a new copy.
   Despite the book being over 30 years old, the presentation is still fresh, the hallmark of a classic. The only complain, is that me too would like more topics, and the coverage of some important progress, which is apparently available only in mathematical physics text, pretty hard for the average physicist. But this calls for a second volume, nothing to be changed on the present one.

2 comments about Reinventing Electric Utilities: Competition, Citizen Action, and Clean Power.

1. Reinventing Electric Utilities provides an excellent summation of the evolution of the electric utility industry and an easy to understand overview of energy deregulation. The authors explain the legal and technical aspects of deregulation in a format both understandable to the novice and with technical savvy fitting any professional. This book helps anyone understand the effects of deregulation on the future of energy and how all of us can promote clean power generation and transportation.



2. Smeloff is an avowed leftist from the SMUD board of directors. His main claim to fame is closing the commercial nuclear reactor pictured on his book cover. What nerve. After that he shepards in Freeman to run SMUD -- what a disaster. Ask ex-Governor Davis. California suffers from a lack of generation and Smeloff helped remove over 800MWe from the California grid in 1989. I would not spend five cents on this book.

1 comments about Handbook of Radiation Effects.

1. This text details nearly everything one need to know for a basic understanding of radiation effects on electronic components and systems. Lots of very useful tables and graphs that are needed nearly daily by the radiation experts as well as the beginners in the field. Andy & Len have done a great job putting all this information in a very understandable format. A must reference/test for everyone in the Space Radiation business. Dr. Michael K. Gauthier, ICS RADIATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

1 comments about Insurmountable Risks: The Dangers of Using Nuclear Power to Combat Global Climate Change.

1. 1. It is more expensive today than renewables when decommissioning costs and waste disposal are included.
   2. In the intermediate time frame, it is more expensive than LNG or (projected) coal gasification + CO2 sequestration.
   3. Yucca Mt is a flawed repository. For example, it is an oxidizing not reducing environment, which will speed corrosion. Waste encapsulating materials are "exotic" man-made alloys that have existed for less than 100 years. These are supposed to operate normally for 100,000+ years. The site is riddled with cracks and clear evidence of past volcanism.
   4. All reactor designs that could be deployed soon enough to even slightly mitigate climate change (Gen III+) generate copious amounts of waste that can be reprocessed to isolate and expedite to bomb-grade. "Just 1% of the enrichment capacity required by the global growth scenario's reference case would be enough to make between 175 and 310 nuclear weapons each year." (p. 114). If you think that the standoff with Iran over its NPT-rights are tricky, note that new reprocessing techniques are much less energy intensive and much more covert than centrifuges, heightening difficulties in detecting a parallel weapons program.
   5. The industry has a history of "normalizing deviance", only to be surprised when e.g. corroded reactor vessels are found. Reactors are being relicensed for 40 years, and there are discussions of going to 60 years or more without evidence of a skeptical and cautious mindset.
   
   This book is very impressive in its documentation and attempt at balance, and is remarkably cheap but well made with relatively few typos. It is a detailed and comprehensive summary, and should be read by anyone trying to assess our energy options and who cares about the world we are leaving for our children. With oil supplies set to decline from their current peak within the next 5 years, Mexican oil production crashing, natural gas supplies in North America no longer growing, all without official recognition of clear trends, we have few routes forward. Can wind and solar fill the gap as nuclear plants reach the point where they become recurring maintenance nightmares?
   
   This book is best read with Megawatts and Megatons: The Future of Nuclear Power and (see my review), which examines some Gen IV concepts. Perhaps we can return to nuclear power in a few decades after more work on those designs, which rethink the problems while keeping sustainability and stewardship at the forefront. Perhaps a thorium based approach, with transmutation and other tricks? But this book made clear to this physicist that Gen III+ plants should not go forward in any number that would have a significant effect on net power generation or global climate change.

2 comments about Introduction to Nuclear And Particle Physics.

1. I used this book for a 3rd year university course in subatomic physics. What I particularly liked was the two chapters on symmetries, which were thorough compared to what i have seen in comparable textbooks. I also found the chapters on nuclear physics quite good, as they gave a very compact presentation of the most important aspects of this subject. The weakest part of the book in my opinion is the chapter on the standard model.

   If you don't know math and quantum mechanics you shouldn't buy this book as it is somewhat mathematical in style and uses fewer words than many comparable textbooks. Readers who want a historical treatment of the subject matter should look elsewhere too, as this book tells little about the experiments that were instrumental in developing subatomic physics.




2. The ad conveniently hides the fact that this is a solutions manual for the author's text and does not link to the text book. What a rip off.

1 comments about Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection, 2nd Edition.

1. This book was most useful to me in calculating dose, it has a good breadth of the subject matter and will purchase my own copy...currently using advisor's copy.

No comments about Scientists and the Development of Nuclear Weapons: From Fission to the Limited Test Ban Treaty 1939-1963 (Control of Nature).

5 comments about The Killing of Karen Silkwood: The Story Behind the Kerr-McGee Plutonium Case, Second Edition.

1. I have yet to encounter a non- fiction piece so captivating and hard to put down as The Killing of Karen Silkwood. This book goes far beyond her life as depicted in the movie, and the story behind all the people who believed in her and sacrificed tremendous amounts of time and energy at great personal danger to themselves after her death is phenomenal. What really amazed me was the sheer number of government agencies that were involved in spying on and covering up evidence as revealed through depositions, leaks, and court ordered documents. So many that no one seemed to be able to link them together (not even among themselves) except Silkwood's legal and investigative team. I had no idea so many police type agencies existed. It really is unsettling. The research this author did feels exhausting it is so through. The story goes on for over 10 years after her death, and it is well worth reading. It is alot more than just a private citizen (survivors) suing a private corporation. This book is reprinted after many years since it's original publication with several follow-up chapters added. The added chapters really tease you especially where the author indicated that a confidential inside source revealed that they saw a file that documented that the FBI knew very clearly who killed Karen Silkwood.



2. I became interested in Karen Silkwood after watching the 1983 movie "Silkwood". The film seemed to suggest that Silkwood was murdered, but a number of reviews I subsequently read dismissed "Silkwood" as an irresponsible docudrama that was based on sensationalism rather than fact.

   After reading Richard Rashke's "The Killing of Karen Silkwood", I'd have to say that the film didn't take its allegations far enough. Based on thousands of pages of court documents, including depositions, sworn statements, internal memos, and federal records, Rashke makes a convincing case for the following:

   Silkwood was deliberately contaminated with plutonium by someone at Kerr-McGee, perhaps on several occasions. Had she lived, Silkwood had a good likelihood of developing cancer because of the significant exposure she experienced.

   Silkwood was most likely carrying important documents the night she was murdered; among other things, she had proof that 42.5 pounds of plutonium was missing from K-M's Cimarron plant, which is enough to make three or four nuclear bombs.

   Security at the Cimarron plant was dangerously lax, as were safety measures. Workers received little education in regards to nuclear energy or the safety risks that accompany it, and consequently contamination was not taken seriously by employees.

   Union members' (and particularly Karen Silkwood's) rights were repeatedly violated by K-M officials, who continually interfered in union activities and even began to spy on Silkwood.

   However, the conspiracy surrounding Silkwood's death became even more heinous and inconceivable as Silkwood's side investigated in preparation for trial. Though the truth will probably never be known, Rashke lays out a compelling - though sketchy - account, involving the FBI, the CIA, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the National Security Agency (NSA), the Justice Department, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), and a shadowy network of Iranians, Russians, and Israelis. Rashke hints at an international plutonium smuggling ring, and supplies evidence that the FBI was responsible for illegally and covertly spying on a number of organizations as late as the mid-1970s, including various labor unions and their members - and Silkwood was one of their targets.

   Rashke's story might sound unbelievable, but most of it is based on public court documents. His interviews with the assorted players in the case may be less trustworthy; yet, many statements are corroborated by court papers. Also lending credence to the Silkwood camp's version of the story is the fact that several significant witnesses died, disappeared, or were threatened during the investigation and ensuing court case. Additionally, the Silkwood lawyers and investigator received death threats and were followed and even assaulted - one must wonder why, if the Silkwood case was wholly without merit. Especially appalling is the federal government's role in the affair, and their failure to cooperate with the civil case.

   "Who Killed Karen Silkwood" reads like a novel - it's a compelling book that's hard to put down. Indeed, I expect that I won't soon be able to forget about Silkwood's story and its larger implications. I'm far from what you'd call a conspiracy nut (though I love the X-Files, I identify with Scully as opposed to Mulder!) - yet, the evidence in this case is as convincing as it is frightening. The final two pages will simply blow you away.

   My only gripe - Rashke's update to the 2nd edition of the book (released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Silkwood's death) was sorely lacking. He made no mention of what's become of those involved in the case; of any information, either directly or indirectly related to the case, that's been discovered since the end of the investigation; or of the movie, which was a critical and box-office success. Rashke coins the newest section "The Legacy", but he doesn't discuss Silkwood's legacy even briefly. The new chapters focus on the court battles since May 1979 and K-M's troubles with and termination of their nuclear program, but speak little of Silkwood.




3. Here is a story that has probably been largely forgotten, of a young woman who fought a powerful corporation and an inept government (and very likely died for her efforts), and the idealistic and courageous people who came together to discover the truth.
   
   If you were alive in the 70s you might remember Karen Silkwood, her mysterious death, and the court case that went on for years. At least two movies were made about her, but movies scripts can seldom tell the whole story or portray history with accuracy because of the demands of drama and story arc. So while I thought that I had a fairly good understanding of the events of Karen Silkwood's death, I have learned from reading this book that there was so very much more to the story. Not only was Silkwood incredibly brave, but the lawyers who took on her case were equally so. In more than one instance, Dan Sheehan, the lead attorney, must tell his investigator, "You're about to be killed. I've been contacted by the White House..."
   
   From rural Oklahoma and an undereducated young working class woman whose cause was simply to improve the working conditions for the employees in a Kerr-McGee plutonium plant, arose what was possibly a conspiracy that could rival any international spy network: FBI, CIA, NSA, the White House, double agents, foreign powers, death threats, and more. How could such a simple woman as Karen Silkwood become involved in this level of intrigue? Richard Rashke did a masterful job of research, presenting the evidence in such a way that the reader can evaluate the evidence himself.
   
   If Silkwood's story were not true, this book would stand as spirited fiction and would make better reading than many a spy novel; but Silkwood's story is true and this book exposes the depth of corruption, greed, cover-ups, and abuse of power that our government practiced in the 60s and 70s, and probably still practices today. The difference then though, is that exposing the government's actions led to reform-today, no one seems to care.



4. This book is not easy but it is readable if you pay attention to details about the nuclear industry. I suspect Karen's death was murder because she was getting too involved in trying to protect her colleagues and herself from getting cancer. Although the movie version changes the relationship between she and her housemate, this book explains so much more. It is a must have book involving a conspiracy that has never truly gone away. Kerr-McGee is still alive and well and thriving but Karen Gay Silkwood was an important and tragic heroine who died risking her life. She may not have been mother of the year to her three children but her contributions and searh for the truth about nuclear contamination is admirable. I know more about her and I like her. Of course, she is not flawless but human like the rest of us.



5. 
   When reality passes fantasy!
   
   The only book I've purchased twice.