César Lattes: celebrating a century of particle physics discovery

WEB DESK: Google honoured the 100th birth anniversary of Brazilian physicist César Lattes with a special Google Doodle, celebrating his contributions to particle physics.

Lattes was born on July 11, 1924, in Curitiba, Brazil. He discovered the subatomic particle known as the pion, or pi meson. The breakthrough significantly advanced our understanding of cosmic rays and nuclear forces.

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Lattes started his physics journey at the University of São Paulo, studying under Italian physicist Giuseppe Occhialini. In his early twenties, Lattes became fascinated by cosmic rays, which are high-energy particles from outer space.

He proposed to enhance the visibility of these particles using boron-treated photographic plates. His innovative approach succeeded in 1947 when he ascended Bolivia’s Mount Chacaltaya and captured the first photographic evidence of the elusive pion, confirming theoretical predictions.

The pion proved crucial in understanding the strong nuclear force that binds atomic nuclei together. Although Lattes did not receive the Nobel Prize himself, his work along with Cecil Frank Powell and Giuseppe Occhialini contributed to Powell receiving the prestigious accolade in 1950.

After making his groundbreaking discovery, Lattes returned to Brazil and became a professor. He advocated for scientific funding and research, helping establish the Brazilian Center for Physics Research (CBPF), where he served as scientific director.

Lattes also mentored students and received accolades like the Einstein Award from the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.

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César Lattes passed away in 2005. He continues to inspire physicists worldwide with his contributions to understanding nature’s fundamental forces.