Discovery of the Proton and Its Intrinsic Powers

Following the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen during the late nineteenth century, the field of radiation physics experienced a rush of scientific discovery. During this period, Ernest Rutherford identified α-particles, whereas Geiger and Marsden observed that an α-particle deflects at an angle of more than 90° when it strikes a thin gold foil. Several years later, Rutherford considered that his new atomic structure could explain this deflection and determined the “proton” to be a constituent of the atomic nucleus. In 1946, Robert R. Wilson proposed that protons could be therapeutically used in the medical field and introduced “Particle Beam Therapy.” The proton’s intrinsic powers now enable the treatment of deep-seated cancers, such as liver cancers. Image-guided proton therapy was used as early as 1988 for the essential treatment of deep-seated cancers.