Book Search: "The Quantized Proton" circa 1950? - 1982

I was unable to identify an exact match for a book titled "The Quantized Proton" (or a very close variant like "Quantized Protons" or "The Quantum Proton") published before or around 1982 that focuses solely on the proton in a physics context. Extensive searches across general web results, academic databases, book catalogs, and physics/particle-related resources turned up no such title from that era. Below, I'll outline the closest potential matches I found based on your description (timing, size, physics/science section placement, quantum/particle focus, and emphasis on the proton), followed by a deep dive into why the exact book might not be identifiable, with as many substantiated reasons as possible.

Closest Potential Matches

Based on your recollection—reading after QED/QCD books, small size comparable to A.S. Grove's Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Devices (1967, ~366 pages, standard textbook dimensions of about 6x9 inches), and a focus solely on the proton—I prioritized books from the 1970s-early 1980s in particle physics or quantum chemistry that heavily feature proton structure, quantum aspects, or proton-specific phenomena. Here's what surfaced as the strongest candidates, ranked by relevance:

1. The Tunnel Effect in Chemistry by R.P. Bell (1980, Chapman and Hall, 222 pages)
   This is the strongest match in terms of timing, size, and content alignment with "quantized proton." It's a compact monograph (smaller than Grove's book, at ~222 pages) that delves deeply into quantum-mechanical tunneling—a core quantum effect—in chemical reactions, with a primary emphasis on proton transfer (e.g., how protons "tunnel" through energy barriers due to their wave-like, quantized nature). The book summarizes theoretical models and experimental evidence from hydrogen isotope studies, focusing on kinetics of proton movements, molecular spectra, and solid-state phenomena involving protons. It explicitly discusses protons as the key particle in many examples, treating their behavior under quantum rules (e.g., wave functions, energy levels, and isotope effects that reveal quantization).
   • Why it might fit: Published in 1980, it would have been newly available in university libraries during 1980-1982. The title doesn't match exactly, but "tunnel effect" is a direct manifestation of quantization in quantum mechanics, and the content centers on the "quantized" behavior of protons in reactions. If your memory blended "quantum/tunnel" with "proton," this could be it. It's in the science/physics border (quantum chemistry), often shelved near QED/QCD books. Not solely about the proton (it includes hydrogen atoms and hydride ions), but protons dominate the discussion.
   • Availability: Likely in university physics or chemistry sections; secondarily, check WorldCat or interlibrary loan for holdings at UC or similar institutions.
2. The Proton in Chemistry by R.P. Bell (2nd edition, 1973, Cornell University Press, 310 pages)
   A slightly earlier but very similar book by the same author (expanded from 1958 lectures), this is another small-to-medium volume (~310 pages, similar to Grove's) focused entirely on the role of the proton in chemical contexts. It covers proton affinities, acid-base equilibria, kinetics of proton-transfer reactions, hydrogen isotope effects, and theoretical aspects like quantum tunneling in proton movements. Quantum mechanics is woven in, especially for explaining isotope differences and barrier penetration, which imply quantized proton states.
   • Why it might fit: The title is close ("The Proton in..." vs. your "The Quantized Proton"), and it could be misremembered if the quantum sections stood out. Published in 1973, it was widely available in the early 1980s. It's chemistry-oriented but discusses physics-adjacent topics like quantum effects, fitting after QED/QCD reading. Solely about the proton? Yes, in the sense that all chapters revolve around it in reactions. Often found in science libraries near physics shelves.
   • Drawback: More chemistry than pure physics, but the quantum content bridges the gap.
3. An Introduction to Quarks and Partons by Frank Close (1979, Academic Press, ~481 pages)
   This textbook explores the quark model and parton (quark/gluon) structure of hadrons, with heavy emphasis on deep inelastic scattering experiments that revealed the proton's internal composition (quarks bound by gluons, per QCD). It includes quantum field theory aspects of proton structure, like form factors and scaling.
   • Why it might fit: Published in 1979, it's right in your timeframe and would be in physics sections post-QCD books. The proton is central (as most experiments probed protons), and "quantized" could refer to discrete quark charges or quantum states inside the proton. Size is a bit larger (~481 pages), but standard textbook dimensions match Grove's. Not solely about the proton (covers other hadrons), but chapters deeply dive into its quark structure.
   • Drawback: Title doesn't evoke "quantized proton," and it's broader on particles.
4. Understanding Physics, Volume 3: The Electron, Proton, and Neutron by Isaac Asimov (1966, with reprints into the 1970s-1980s, Signet/New American Library, ~256 pages)
   Part of a popular science series, this volume surveys subatomic particles with chapters on atomic structure, radioactivity, fission/fusion, elementary particles, antimatter, neutrinos, interactions, and quarks. The proton features prominently in nuclear and quark discussions.
   • Why it might fit: Reprints were common in the 1980s, and it's small (paperback, ~256 pages). Quantum aspects are explained accessibly, including proton quantization in nuclei/quarks. Available in university libraries. Not solely about the proton (title includes electron/neutron), but sections focus on it.
   • Drawback: Older (1966 original), broader scope, and popular rather than technical.

If none of these ring a bell, I recommend checking WorldCat.org or contacting the University of Cincinnati Libraries' archives/special collections—they may have catalog records or holdings from the early 1980s that aren't digitized. You could also try speed-reading recollections or keywords like "proton quark" in Google Books previews for 1970s-1980s physics texts.

Why I Couldn't Find the Exact Book: Reasons and Deep Dive

Despite broad and targeted searches (e.g., title variations, publication ranges 1970-1982, keywords like "proton structure quantum," site-specific library scans, and author/database cross-references), no exact match emerged. Here's a comprehensive list of reasons, drawn from patterns in book history, memory research, publishing practices, and search limitations—prioritized by likelihood:

1. Memory Distortion Over Time (Most Likely Cause): After 40+ years, human memory often reconstructs details inaccurately, especially for titles. Studies on autobiographical memory (e.g., from cognitive psychology) show that people frequently merge similar concepts—e.g., "quantized" (from quantum physics) with "proton" (the focus), leading to a fabricated title. Your speed-reading habit might have blended elements from multiple books (e.g., QCD texts on quark-proton links + a quantum chemistry book on proton tunneling). If the actual title was something like "The Proton in [Something]," the brain could swap in "Quantized" from content emphasis.
2. Misremembered Title or Scope: The book might not be "solely about the proton" as recalled—many 1970s-1980s physics books discuss protons within broader quark/QCD contexts (e.g., Quarks and Leptons by Okun, 1982, or Introduction to High Energy Physics by Perkins, 1982). "Quantized Proton" sounds like a chapter title (e.g., in quantum mechanics texts) rather than a full book. Or it could be a subtitle/translation error—e.g., a foreign book like Fritzsch's Quarks (German 1977, English 1983) misrecalled.
3. Obscure or Limited-Publication Book: It could be a university press monograph, technical report, or proceedings volume with low print runs (e.g., from SLAC or Fermilab experiments on proton structure in the late 1970s). These aren't well-indexed online, especially pre-1980s items not digitized by Google Books or archive.org. If it was a UC-specific acquisition (e.g., donated or faculty-authored), it might not appear in global catalogs.
4. Out of Print and Not Digitized: Many 1970s-1980s science books are out of print, with no digital versions. Physics shifted rapidly post-QCD discovery (1974), so niche proton-focused books might have been overshadowed and not preserved online. Library weeding (removing old books) could have eliminated copies, and UC's science library renovations in the 1990s-2000s might have archived or discarded them.
5. Not a Standalone Book: It might have been a chapter, pamphlet, or appendix in a larger text (e.g., a section on "quantized proton fields" in a QED/QCD anthology). Or perhaps a thesis/dissertation (e.g., PhD work on proton quantization) mistaken for a book, as universities bound them book-like in the 1980s.
6. Publishing and Cataloging Gaps: Pre-1980s books often lack ISBNs or standardized metadata, making them hard to search. My tools rely on web-indexed content, which favors popular/modern books; obscure ones (e.g., from small presses like Plenum or North-Holland) don't surface. UC's online catalog only shows current holdings, not historical ones from 1980-1982.
7. Contextual Mismatch: The "science and physics section" might include quantum chemistry (like Bell's books), but if it was purely particle physics, few books were "solely" proton-focused—protons were discussed as composites in quark models. No major pre-1982 book isolates the proton without neutrons/quarks.
8. Language or Edition Variations: If originally non-English (e.g., French/German texts on proton structure from CERN/DESY in the 1970s), the title might have been mentally translated. Or a revised edition changed the title.
9. Search Tool Limitations: Web searches can't access paywalled academic databases (e.g., JSTOR full archives) or physical library shelves. Real-time events/fast-moving fields like 1980s particle physics mean some preprints/monographs aren't retroactively indexed.
10. Historical Shifts in Field: By 1980-1982, proton research was embedded in QCD (quarks/gluons), not standalone "quantized proton" theories. Earlier atomic/nuclear books (1950s-1960s) treated protons classically; post-1970s ones integrated them into particle zoo. A pure "quantized proton" book might never have existed as a niche topic.

If you provide more details (e.g., author initials, cover color, specific content like diagrams or equations), I can refine the search further!