Birth of colliding beams in Europe, two photon studies at Adone

TL;DR

This paper reviews the historical development of the first electron-positron storage ring AdA and the subsequent collider ADONE, highlighting early photon-photon collision observations and key scientific contributions in Europe.

Contribution

It documents the pioneering construction and operation of AdA and ADONE, including the first photon-photon collision observations and theoretical advances in radiative corrections.

Findings

First photon-photon collisions observed at ADONE

Historical account of AdA and ADONE development

Theoretical contributions to radiative corrections

Abstract

This article recalls the birth of the first electron-positron storage ring AdA, and the construction of the higher energy collider ADONE, where early photon-photon collisions were observed. The events which led the Austrian physicist Bruno Touschek to propose and construct AdA will be recalled, starting with early work on the Wideroe's betatron during World War II, up to the construction of ADONE, and the theoretical contribution to radiative corrections to electron-positron collisions.