A Life in High-Energy Physics: Success Beyond Expectations

Abstract

The author describes in some technical detail his career in experimental particle physics. It began in 1955, when he joined Brookhaven National Laboratory, and ended in 1985, when he moved to the field of cosmic-ray physics. The author discusses not only his successes but also his failures and his bad judgments. This period was the golden age of particle physics, when the experimental possibilities were abundant and one could carry out experiments with a small team of colleagues and students.