Rustad-Ruby experiment

The He6 angular correlation experiment of Brice Rustad and Stanley Ruby performed at the Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor in November-December 1952 was considered to be conclusive for the tensor interaction in Gamow-Teller beta decay. But later results and the evolving V–A theory of weak interactions later proved the result was wrong. Chien-Shiung Wu, who had advised Rustad and Ruby in the experiment, conducted an investigation that identified the error. 

Selected Image Date Publication Author(s) Citation title Comments
 
February 15, 1953 Physical Review Brice M. Rustad and Stanley L. Ruby Correlation Between Electron and Recoil Nucleus in He6 Decay

First publication of Rustad-Ruby results. Together with Allen-Jentschke, seen as definitive determination of Tensor coupling in GT interactions
 
September 18, 1954 Nature Bellamy and Moorhouse Report by Bellamy and Moorhouse on Nuclear and Meson Physics International Conference in Glasgow

Report by Bellamy and Moorhouse on Nuclear and Meson Physics International Conference in Glasgow includes summary of Wu’s talk on the interaction in beta decay
 
September 22, 1957 Proc. of the Conference on Mesons and Newly-Discovered Particles, Padua-Venice E. C. G. Sudarshan and R. E. Marshak The Nature of the Four-Fermion Interaction

Marshak gives Sudarshan’s experimental review at Padua conference, calling for the He6 experiment to be redone. This paper is the basis for Sudarshan and Marshak's claim of priority over Feynman and Gell-Mann for the V–A theory.
 
January 1, 1958 Physical Review R. P. Feynman and M. Gell-Mann Theory of the Fermi Interaction

Feynman calls for He6 experiment to be reviewed
Classic VA paper beat Marshak-Sudarshan to publication.
1958 The Neutrino James Smith Allen "CHAPTER 5. Electron-Neutrino Angular Correlation Experiments
 
January 28, 1958 American Physical Society meeting B. M. Rustad and S. L. Ruby Post-deadline paper by Rustad and Ruby

Text and abstract not recorded. 
Franklin summarizes as “mea culpa”
. Other papers cite as acknowledgement of error. Image is not from the Rustad-Ruby session.
 
March 1, 1958 Physical Review E. C. G. Sudarshan and R. E. Marshak Chirality Invariance and the Universal Fermi Interaction

Sudarshan-Marshak cite private communication with Wu
 
April 21, 1958 Unpublished C. S. Wu and A. Schwarzschild A Critical Examination of the He6 Recoil Experiment of Rustad and Ruby

Wu repudiates Rustad-Ruby experiment in unpublished CU-173 Columbia University report. Franklin says letter from Wu to Cavanaugh suggests reexamination was done in November.
1984 Physik und Erkenntnistheorie Pauli On the Earlier and More Recent History of the Neutrino

Wolfgang Pauli weighs in on the He6 situation
. Republication of original lecture from 1/21/1957
 
1985 Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman Richard P. Feynman The 7 Percent Solution

pp. 226-234. 
Feynman’s aha moment was when he saw the figure in Rustad-Ruby
 
July 25, 1992 Current Science R. E. Marshak The Pain and Joy of a Major Scientific Discovery

Extensive excerpts are published because of their relevance to Rustad-Ruby experiment. Marshak reports that Wu remains strongly supportive of RR three months after her parity experiment.
October 5, 1998 Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Allan Franklin Appendix 8: The Articulation of Theory: Weak Interactions

Appendix of Franklin's encyclopedia article Experiment in Physics that reviews the historical context and circumstances of the Rustad-Ruby experiment. Succinct version of his longer history in Experiment Right or Wrong. This is the article from which I first learned of RR.
2009 Journal of Physics: Conference Series Ashok Das V-A theory: a view from the outside
November 2009 Journal of Physics Conference Series Sandip Pakvasa 50 Years of V-A (Living Dangerously)

Historical review of Sudarshan-Marshak VA story
2013 Oral History Project Interviewed by Sara Lippincott Oral History: Murray Gell-Mann (b. 1929)

Gell-Mann discusses the role that challenges to the RR experiment played in the priority dispute over first publication of the universal V–A theory.
2013 Oral History Project Interviewed by Sara Lippincott Oral History: Murray Gell-Mann (b. 1929)

Gell-Mann discusses the role that challenges to the RR experiment played in the priority dispute over first publication of the universal V–A theory.
December 30, 2018 arXiv: History and Philosophy of Physics Ludmil Hadjiivanov Neutrino, parity violation, V-A: a historical survey

Good historical detail on the importance of the reversal of the RR experiment to the development of VA theory, the key step on the road to the standard model. 
May 12, 2020 American Institute of Physics Oral History Archive Interviewed by: David Zierler Allan Franklin Oral History

Focus on Franklin’s early career and highlights of his later writings. Includes anecdotes about his undergraduate experience working with Gene Commins on RR-related experiment. There is one great quote but not enough depth about experimental error.