Evening star., 1932-12-30
SAVANTS DEBATE
+. ON COSM|C RAYS
Compton and MiI|ikan Differ
in Explaining Results
of Studies.
~ the Associated Press

~ the Associated Press
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j.. December
10.-Two world-famed scientists debated
on the cosmic ray today and charted
new steps toward a pcs dble explans-
tion OF the future of the universe-a
secret that some believe the cosmic ray
may hold
Two DO, sib'e explanations Of the rays.
which rain unseen from cutter space and
shoot like arrows of light through every
living thing were advanced before the
American Association for the Advance
ment OF Science in general summing
up Of all available clues to the mystery
The rays are electrons, highly charged
particles of electricity, said DR.. Arthur
H. Compton of the University Of Chi
They are photons, or bullets Of
light" OF extremely short-wave length,
contended DR.. Robert A. Millikan. presi-
dent of the California Institute OF
Technology.
Scientists now know only that comic
rays are much like X-rays or radium
rays, but far more penetrating. They
will pierce 20 feet of lead and plunge
800 feet into the earth.
Two Theories Opposed.
When their origin is decided II ever,
It may hep reveal to man the ultimate
fate of the universe in which he lives.
Some scientists have held the CO mic
rays are extra energy" liberated as
atoms of new matter and are being
created somewhere among the stars,
replacing old worlds they grow cold
and die. This would upset Old-estab-
lished laws of science and indicate the
universe is Immortal" Others believe
the cosnic rays repreSent the ghosts OF
dead worlds, matter melted into radi-
alton. and that this Is the density OF
the whole universe.
DR.. Compton reported results OF his
world wide survey Of coSmic rays made
during the last year. when measure
ments of the rays were taken at 81
stations in the northern and southern
hemiSphereS, from sea level to heights
OF 10000 feet
His instruments recorded everywhere
a rain OF electrified particles. appar-
emily broken atoms, which were more
intense at high attitudes than at sea
level and more numerous near the
Poles than near the Equator. These
particles. he held, are probably the
coSmic rays.
DR.. Millikan said the particles are
only the secondary effect" of the rays
that is, atoms OF atmosphere smashed
and set flying by the real cosmic rays,
which he thinks are the bullets" of
light called photons.
He agreed with DR.. Compton that all
the instruments record only the par
ticles.
Tells of Plane Studies.
DR.. Millikan reported studies made
from airplanes flying at different
heights up to 2l 900 feet. They showed
no such differences in the intensity OF
the rays from the tropics toward the
Poles as Compton found from tests on
mountain peaks.
On the other hand. said DR.. Compton,
the photons that Millikan believes he
has detected may not be cosmic rays
at all. but only local photons," or par
ticles split off from atoms Of air a few
miles from the earth by the impact OF
the real cosmic rays in the form OF
electrons.
This actually could happen If the
cosmic rays are electrons. and as a re-
suit mixture of photons and electrons
would speed toward the earth. The
pnotons would have greater penetrating
power and this might explain tests that
seem to show cosmic rays penetrate
deep into lakes and the earth. Instead
of cosmic rays they might have been
really just these local" photonS from
the atmosphere.
Dr. Millikan holds that the cosrnic
rays scientists measure on the earth's
surface are not the actual rays them
selves, but secondary" rays. These he
thinks are sent flashing down from the
mt ~ h0
cosmic rays. only the most powerful of
which are believed to penetrate direct
to earth. The secondary rays are like
billiard balls. set to rolling by the i'm
pact Of other billiard balls, represented
by the coSmic rays.