Philosophy
Ed Gerjuoy, 93, is an emeritus professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh. He works in his campus office during the week and often returns to work on Saturdays and Sundays. “Sometimes I’m the only one there on weekends,” he says.
"Recollections of Oppenheimer and Schwinger", a talk given by Prof. Edward Gerjuoy, (University of Pittsburgh) at the Institute for Theoretical, Atomic and Molecular and Optical Physics, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge Massachusetts, November 3, 2009
The career of J. Robert Oppenheimer, who was born on April 22, 1904, was celebrated in a June, 2004 Los Alamos Symposium, wherein I recalled my experiences as a Ph.D. student of Oppenheimer's in Berkeley, California during the period August 1938 to January 1942. I shall recount some of these recollections, concentrating on conveying a portrait of Oppenheimer as creator and inspiration of probably the most important pre-war United States school of theoretical physics. During a portion of this period (the 1940 academic year) Julian Schwinger, who shared the 1965 Nobel Prize for the development of the modern formulation of quantum electrodynamics and deservedly has been termed a genius, was employed as what today would be termed Oppenheimer's post doc. Therefore, especially because Schwinger now seems almost forgotten, although he died only fifteen years ago (on July 16, 1994), I also will recall some of Schwinger's interactions with Oppenheimer and Oppenheimer's students including myself, in an attempt to convey some comprehension of Schwinger's astonishing theoretical physics talents.
"Recollections of Oppenheimer and Schwinger"
- Deceased--robert F. Christy
Robert F. Christy May 14th, 1916 to October 3rd, 2012 "Robert F. Christy, Atom Bomb Physicist, Dies at 96" by William J. Broad October 4th, 2012 The New York Times Robert F. Christy, who as a young Canadian-born physicist working on the Manhattan Project...
- "physics Today"...first Issue
The very first issue of Physics Today [American Institute of Physics] [May 1948] featuring the "pork pie" hat of J. Robert Oppenheimer. ...
- "pbs Science Programs" Poll
Do you watch PBS science programs? Yes...2 No...0 Sometimes...3 PBS is probably the most common source of science programs with free access. For the most part they are informative and thoughtful. Two recent good programs were "Absolute Zero" and "The...
- "the Trials Of J. Robert Oppenheimer"
Coming Monday, January 26th on PBS's American Experience..."The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer". PBS: The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer (2 hours) Robert Oppenheimer's life and legacy are inextricably linked to America's most famous top-secret...
- Deceased--willis Eugene Lamb, Jr.
Willis Eugene Lamb, Jr. July 12th, 1913 to May 15th, 2008 The New York Times May 20th, 2008 "Willis Lamb Jr., 94, Dies; Won Nobel for Work on Atom" by Kenneth Chang Willis E. Lamb Jr., who shared the 1955 Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of...
Philosophy
Academic life after retirement...way to go Ed Gerjuoy
Ed Gerjuoy, 93, is an emeritus professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh. He works in his campus office during the week and often returns to work on Saturdays and Sundays. “Sometimes I’m the only one there on weekends,” he says.
"Recollections of Oppenheimer and Schwinger", a talk given by Prof. Edward Gerjuoy, (University of Pittsburgh) at the Institute for Theoretical, Atomic and Molecular and Optical Physics, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge Massachusetts, November 3, 2009
The career of J. Robert Oppenheimer, who was born on April 22, 1904, was celebrated in a June, 2004 Los Alamos Symposium, wherein I recalled my experiences as a Ph.D. student of Oppenheimer's in Berkeley, California during the period August 1938 to January 1942. I shall recount some of these recollections, concentrating on conveying a portrait of Oppenheimer as creator and inspiration of probably the most important pre-war United States school of theoretical physics. During a portion of this period (the 1940 academic year) Julian Schwinger, who shared the 1965 Nobel Prize for the development of the modern formulation of quantum electrodynamics and deservedly has been termed a genius, was employed as what today would be termed Oppenheimer's post doc. Therefore, especially because Schwinger now seems almost forgotten, although he died only fifteen years ago (on July 16, 1994), I also will recall some of Schwinger's interactions with Oppenheimer and Oppenheimer's students including myself, in an attempt to convey some comprehension of Schwinger's astonishing theoretical physics talents.
"Recollections of Oppenheimer and Schwinger"
- Deceased--robert F. Christy
Robert F. Christy May 14th, 1916 to October 3rd, 2012 "Robert F. Christy, Atom Bomb Physicist, Dies at 96" by William J. Broad October 4th, 2012 The New York Times Robert F. Christy, who as a young Canadian-born physicist working on the Manhattan Project...
- "physics Today"...first Issue
The very first issue of Physics Today [American Institute of Physics] [May 1948] featuring the "pork pie" hat of J. Robert Oppenheimer. ...
- "pbs Science Programs" Poll
Do you watch PBS science programs? Yes...2 No...0 Sometimes...3 PBS is probably the most common source of science programs with free access. For the most part they are informative and thoughtful. Two recent good programs were "Absolute Zero" and "The...
- "the Trials Of J. Robert Oppenheimer"
Coming Monday, January 26th on PBS's American Experience..."The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer". PBS: The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer (2 hours) Robert Oppenheimer's life and legacy are inextricably linked to America's most famous top-secret...
- Deceased--willis Eugene Lamb, Jr.
Willis Eugene Lamb, Jr. July 12th, 1913 to May 15th, 2008 The New York Times May 20th, 2008 "Willis Lamb Jr., 94, Dies; Won Nobel for Work on Atom" by Kenneth Chang Willis E. Lamb Jr., who shared the 1955 Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of...