Burton Richter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Burton Richter
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | March 22, 1931 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
|
| Died | July 18, 2018 (aged 87) Stanford, California, U.S.
|
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | MIT |
| Known for | J/ψ meson |
| Spouse(s) | Laurose Becker (m. 1960; 2 children) |
| Awards | E. O. Lawrence Award (1975) Nobel Prize in Physics (1976) Enrico Fermi Award (2012) National Medal of Science (2012 ) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Stanford University Stanford Linear Accelerator Center |
| Doctoral advisor | Bernard T. Feld |
Burton Richter (born March 22, 1931 – died July 18, 2018) was an American scientist who studied physics. He led a team at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). In 1974, his team helped discover a special tiny particle called the J/ψ meson. Another team, led by Samuel Ting at Brookhaven National Laboratory, found the same particle at the same time.
This discovery was a big deal in the world of particle physics. Because of their important work, Richter and Ting shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1976. Burton Richter also served as the director of SLAC from 1984 to 1999.
Early Life and Education
Burton Richter was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and grew up in Far Rockaway, Queens. His parents were Fanny and Abraham Richter. He went to Far Rockaway High School, which was also attended by other famous scientists like Richard Feynman.
After high school, he studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He earned his first degree in 1952 and then his PhD in 1956. After finishing his studies, he joined the teaching staff at Stanford University. He became a full professor there in 1967.
Discovering the J/ψ Meson
As a professor at Stanford, Richter helped design a special machine called a particle accelerator. This machine was named SPEAR, which stands for Stanford Positron-Electron Asymmetric Ring. He worked with another Stanford physics professor, David Ritson, on this project.
Once they had the necessary funding, Richter led the team that built SPEAR. Using this powerful machine, his team discovered a new subatomic particle. Richter called this particle ψ (pronounced "psi").
At the same time, a team led by Samuel C. C. Ting at another lab also found this particle. Ting called it J. To honor both discoveries, the particle became known as the J/ψ meson. This discovery was a major breakthrough in understanding the basic building blocks of the universe.
For their groundbreaking work, Richter and Ting were jointly awarded the 1976 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Later Career and Contributions
In 1975, Richter spent a year working at CERN, a large research organization in Europe. There, he worked on an experiment called ISR.
Burton Richter was also involved in important groups that advised the U.S. government on science. He was a member of the JASON advisory group. He also served on the board of Scientists and Engineers for America. These groups worked to make sure that scientific knowledge was used to help guide decisions in the American government.
In 2008, Richter joined 19 other American Nobel Prize winners in physics. They signed a letter to President George W. Bush. The letter asked for more funding for important science research groups. These included the Department of Energy’s Office of Science and the National Science Foundation.
In 2012, President Barack Obama announced that Burton Richter would receive the Enrico Fermi Award. This is one of the oldest and most respected awards given by the U.S. government for scientific achievement.
In 2014, President Obama also gave Richter the 2012 National Medal of Science. This award recognized his important work in developing particle accelerators. It also honored his discoveries in particle physics and his ideas about energy policy.
Burton Richter passed away on July 18, 2018, in Stanford, California, at the age of 87.
See also
In Spanish: Burton Richter para niños
- List of Jewish Nobel laureates
- List of independent discoveries
