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This '''experiment''' by [[John Cockcroft]] and [[Ernest Walton]] is generally seen as the first confirmation  of [[Albert Einstein]]'s famous formula ''[[E=mc&sup2;]]''.<ref>[http://cerncourier.com/cws/article/cern/31864 Mike Poole ''Cockcroft's subatomic legacy: splitting the atom''], Cern Courier, Nov 20, 2007</ref>

This '''experiment''' by [[John Cockcroft]] and [[Ernest Walton]] is generally seen as the first confirmation  of [[Albert Einstein]]'s famous formula ''[[E=mc&sup2;]]''.<ref>[http://cerncourier.com/cws/article/cern/31864 Mike Poole ''Cockcroft's subatomic legacy: splitting the atom''], Cern Courier, Nov 20, 2007</ref>

Conducted in April 1932 at the [[University of Cambridge]]'s [[Cavendish Laboratory]] in England,  the physicists Cockroft and Walton successfully split [[lithium]] atom [[nucleus|nuclei]] by colliding them with artificially accelerated protons. This experiment is general hailed as being the first [[transmutation]] of an element using artificially accelerated particles, for which they were honored with the [[Nobel Prize]] in 1951.<ref>[http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1951/  ''The Nobel Prize in Physics 1951''], Nobelprize.org, 23 Jan 2013</ref>

Conducted in more than 80 years ago with primitive technology in April 1932 at the [[University of Cambridge]]'s [[Cavendish Laboratory]] in England,  the physicists Cockroft and Walton successfully split [[lithium]] atom [[nucleus|nuclei]] by colliding them with artificially accelerated protons. This experiment is general hailed as being the first [[transmutation]] of an element using artificially accelerated particles, for which they were honored with the [[Nobel Prize]] in 1951.<ref>[http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1951/  ''The Nobel Prize in Physics 1951''], Nobelprize.org, 23 Jan 2013</ref>

Critics maintain that such verification is impossible, due to a misunderstanding about the nature of the universe.

Critics maintain that such verification is impossible, due to a misunderstanding about the nature of the universe.

The gain in energy in the reaction is 16.97&times;10^{<small>6</small>} e-volts, an energy equivalent to 0.0182 mass units on the O^{<small>16</small>} scale if &Delta;E =C²&Delta;m. Taking Aston's values for the mass of helium and hydrogen and the author's value, 7.0146&#0177;0.0006 for Li^{<small>7</small>}, the mass change is 0.0181 &#0177; 0.0006 in the reaction which may be represented as Li^{<small>7</small>} + p &rarr; 2&alpha;. Within the probable error of the measurements the equivalence of mass and energy is satisfied.'' --Kenneth Bainbridge

The gain in energy in the reaction is 16.97&times;10^{<small>6</small>} e-volts, an energy equivalent to 0.0182 mass units on the O^{<small>16</small>} scale if &Delta;E =C²&Delta;m. Taking Aston's values for the mass of helium and hydrogen and the author's value, 7.0146&#0177;0.0006 for Li^{<small>7</small>}, the mass change is 0.0181 &#0177; 0.0006 in the reaction which may be represented as Li^{<small>7</small>} + p &rarr; 2&alpha;. Within the probable error of the measurements the equivalence of mass and energy is satisfied.'' --Kenneth Bainbridge

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Neither the Nobel Prize committee nor the prize recipients made the claim that their experiment verified of [[Albert Einstein]]'s famous ''[[E=mc&sup2;]]'' formula.<ref>[http://www.aip.org/history/einstein/emc1.htm The Center for History of Physics: ''Einstein: Image and Impact], © 1996-2004 - American Institute of Physics</ref><ref>[http://homepage.eircom.net/~louiseboylan/Pages/Cockroft_walton.htm Louise Boylan:] ''Cockroft and Walton Experiment: Converting Mass into Energy''</ref>

 

The claims of mass-energy equivalence have not been replicated with more advanced modern technology.

== References ==

== References ==