Interplay between Yukawa and Tomonaga in the Birth of Mesons

TL;DR

This paper explores the early development of Yukawa's meson theory, focusing on the interactions between Yukawa and Tomonaga in 1933, and discusses the historical context and recent revival of Heisenberg's nuclear force ideas.

Contribution

It provides a historical analysis of the interplay between Yukawa and Tomonaga and connects early meson theory with modern concepts of super strong nuclear forces.

Findings

Historical insight into Yukawa and Tomonaga's 1933 collaboration.

Review of the discovery of the muon in 1937.

Discussion of revived Heitler-London scheme for super strong nuclear force.

Abstract

Light is shed on the early stage in the birth of Yukawa's meson theory, particularly on the interplay between Yukawa and Tomonaga in 1933. The discovery of the muon by Nishina' group in 1937 is also reviewed. It is pointed out that Heisenberg's attempt to explain the nuclear force in terms of the Heitler-London scheme, overcome by Yukawa and abandoned since then, is now being revived as a mechanism for a super strong nuclear force caused by a migrating real Kbar meson.