Herwig Schopper's life story spans a century of European history, offering a unique perspective as a witness to significant events. Born in Czechoslovakia in 1924, he has navigated a diverse career encompassing research, management, and diplomacy, with a strong influence from his work at CERN. This open access book intertwines personal memoir with biographical elements, highlighting his remarkable journey through pivotal moments in science and politics.
Herwig Schopper Book order






- 2024
- 2020
Particle Physics Reference Library
Volume 2: Detectors for Particles and Radiation
- 1084 pages
- 38 hours of reading
This second open access volume of the handbook series deals with detectors, large experimental facilities and data handling, both for accelerator and non-accelerator based experiments. It also covers applications in medicine and life sciences. A joint CERN-Springer initiative, the “Particle Physics Reference Library” provides revised and updated contributions based on previously published material in the well-known Landolt-Boernstein series on particle physics, accelerators and detectors (volumes 21A,B1,B2,C), which took stock of the field approximately one decade ago. Central to this new initiative is publication under full open access.
- 2020
This first open access volume of the handbook series contains articles on the standard model of particle physics, both from the theoretical and experimental perspective. It also covers related topics, such as heavy-ion physics, neutrino physics and searches for new physics beyond the standard model. A joint CERN-Springer initiative, the “Particle Physics Reference Library” provides revised and updated contributions based on previously published material in the well-known Landolt-Boernstein series on particle physics, accelerators and detectors (volumes 21A,B1,B2,C), which took stock of the field approximately one decade ago. Central to this new initiative is publication under full open access.
- 2020
This third volume of the handbook series deals with accelerator physics, design, technology and operations, as well as with beam optics, dynamics and diagnostics. A joint CERN-Springer initiative, the “Particle Physics Reference Library” provides revised and updated contributions based on previously published material in the well-known Landolt-Boernstein series on particle physics, accelerators and detectors (volumes 21A,B1,B2,C), which took stock of the field approximately one decade ago. Central to this new initiative is publication under full open access.
- 2016
LEP - The Lord of the Collider Rings at CERN 1980-2000
The Making, Operation and Legacy of the World's Largest Scientific Instrument
Housed by a 4 m diameter tunnel of 27 km circumference, the Large Electron-Positron Collider (LEP) was one of the most sophisticated scientific research instruments ever created. Located at CERN near Geneva, it was built between 1983 and 1989 and operated until 2000, corroborating the standard model of particle physics through high precision measurements. The author, who served as director-general of CERN during LEP's construction, vividly recounts the complex decision-making and technical processes involved, highlighting the challenging geo- and civil engineering required for the tunnel. He also reflects on the fruitful scientific research period that followed. The narrative culminates in the difficult decision to close LEP, just as the discovery of the Higgs boson appeared imminent. Dismantled in 2000, the tunnel was repurposed for the next generation machine, the more powerful Large Hadron Collider (LHC), initially envisioned as LEP3. This account was completed as the LHC became operational. Written by the key figure behind LEP, this is the definitive inside story of a remarkable machine and the thousands of scientists and engineers whose collective efforts contributed to its groundbreaking discoveries.
- 2012
Excited nuclear states
- 608 pages
- 22 hours of reading
Focuses on the properties of the excited states of all nuclei. In this title, the data presented are collected from all kinds of nuclear reactions, including measurements of reactions with neutrons and I-rays not yet fully considered in previous compilations. The nuclei considered also comprise nuclei far from the stability line.
- 2009
Housed by a 4 m diameter tunnel with a 27 km circumference, the Large Electron-Positron Collider (LEP) was one of the most sophisticated scientific instruments ever created. Located at CERN near Geneva, it was built between 1983 and 1989 and operated until 2000, providing high precision measurements that supported the standard model of particle physics. The author, who served as director-general of CERN during LEP's construction, vividly recounts the complex decision-making and technical challenges involved, particularly in constructing the tunnel, a significant geo- and civil engineering feat. He also reflects on the fruitful scientific research period that followed and the tough decision to close LEP when the discovery of the Higgs boson seemed imminent. Dismantled in 2000, the tunnel was repurposed for the next generation machine, the more powerful Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which was designed as an upgrade from LEP and became operational as this account was being finalized. This narrative offers an insider's perspective on the remarkable machine and the contributions of thousands of scientists and engineers worldwide, highlighting their collective efforts in advancing knowledge in particle physics.
- 1996
Knowledge of production cross sections for radionuclides and medium energies (10 MeV to 100 GeV) of the incident particles gains more and more importance, not only for nuclear physics, but also for applications in astrophysics, radiation protection, medicine, industry, etc.