Bryce DeWitt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bryce DeWitt
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Bryce (right) and Cécile (left)
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| Born |
Carl Bryce Seligman
January 8, 1923 |
| Died | September 23, 2004 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Known for | DeWitt notation Wheeler–DeWitt equation Canonical quantum gravity Effective action Numerical relativity |
| Spouse(s) | Cécile DeWitt-Morette |
| Awards | Dirac Prize (1987) Pomeranchuk Prize (2002) Einstein Prize (2005) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Theoretical physicist |
| Institutions | Institute for Advanced Study University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Texas at Austin |
| Doctoral advisor | Julian Schwinger |
| Doctoral students | Donald Marolf Larry Smarr |
Bryce Seligman DeWitt (born January 8, 1923 – died September 23, 2004) was an American physicist. He was known for his important work on gravity and quantum field theory. This field of physics studies the smallest particles and forces in the universe.
Life of Bryce DeWitt
Bryce DeWitt was born Carl Bryce Seligman in Dinuba, California. In 1950, he and his three brothers changed their last name to "DeWitt." This name came from their mother's side of the family. One of his brothers was Hugh Hamilton DeWitt, a famous expert on fish.
Bryce DeWitt served in World War II as a pilot in the Navy. Later, he became a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He then moved to the University of Texas at Austin. He worked there with his wife, Cécile DeWitt-Morette, who was also a physicist.
DeWitt passed away on September 23, 2004, at the age of 81. He is buried in France. He was survived by his wife and four daughters.
Bryce DeWitt's Work in Physics
Bryce DeWitt made big steps in understanding how general relativity and quantum mechanics fit together. General relativity is Albert Einstein's theory about gravity and how it shapes space and time. Quantum mechanics describes how tiny particles behave.
DeWitt helped create a field called canonical quantum gravity. This area of physics tries to combine gravity with quantum mechanics. He also worked with John Archibald Wheeler to create the Wheeler–DeWitt equation. This equation describes the "wave function of the universe." It's a way to think about the entire universe using quantum ideas.
He also helped develop the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. This idea suggests that every time a quantum event happens, the universe splits into many different versions.
With his student Larry Smarr, DeWitt started the field of numerical relativity. This uses powerful computers to solve complex problems about gravity, like what happens when black holes collide.
Education and Awards
Bryce DeWitt studied at Harvard University. He earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees there. His Ph.D. supervisor was Julian Schwinger, another famous physicist.
After his studies, DeWitt worked at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He also worked at the Lawrence Livermore Lab.
He received many important awards for his work:
- The Dirac Prize in 1987.
- The Pomeranchuk Prize in 2002.
- The Einstein Prize in 2005 (given after he passed away).
He was also a member of the National Academy of Sciences. This is a group of top scientists in the United States.
Images for kids
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Discussion in the main lecture hall at the École de Physique des Houches (Les Houches Physics School), 1972. From left, Yuval Ne'eman, Bryce DeWitt, Kip Thorne.
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Bryce S. DeWitt (center) with Grigori A. Vilkovisky (left) and Andrei O. Barvinsky (right) at the 5th Seminar on Quantum Gravity, Moscow, May 28 – June 1, 1990
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