John David Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John David Jackson
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![]() Jackson autographing a copy of his classical electrodynamics textbook
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Born | |
Died | May 20, 2016 (age 91) |
Nationality | American; naturalized, 1988 |
Alma mater | University of Western Ontario MIT |
Awards | Hon. D.Sc., University of Western Ontario, 1989 |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Physicist |
Institutions | MIT McGill University University of Illinois University of California, Berkeley Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory |
Doctoral advisor | Victor Frederick Weisskopf |
Doctoral students | Gordon L. Kane Chris Quigg |
John David Jackson (January 19, 1925 – May 20, 2016) was a brilliant Canadian-American physicist. He was known for his work in theoretical physics. He taught at the University of California, Berkeley. He also worked as a senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Contents
Who Was John David Jackson?
John David Jackson was born in London, Ontario, Canada, in 1925. He later became an American citizen. He was a very important scientist. He spent many years studying and teaching physics. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 91.
A Brilliant Theoretical Physicist
John David Jackson was a theoretical physicist. This means he used math and ideas to understand how the universe works. He did not usually do experiments himself. Instead, he developed theories and models. These models helped explain things like how tiny particles behave.
He was especially famous for his work in nuclear physics and particle physics. Nuclear physics studies the center of atoms. Particle physics looks at the smallest pieces of matter. His research helped scientists understand these tiny worlds better.
The Famous Electromagnetism Textbook
One of John David Jackson's biggest contributions was his textbook. It was called "Classical Electrodynamics." This book is used by university students all over the world. It teaches about electromagnetism. Electromagnetism is the force behind electricity, magnets, and light.
His book is known for being very detailed and clear. Many students and professors consider it a classic. It has helped countless future scientists learn about this important area of physics. He also gave many lectures at summer schools. These lectures helped share his knowledge with others.
Joining the National Academy of Sciences
John David Jackson was a member of the National Academy of Sciences. This is a very special group in the United States. Scientists are chosen for their outstanding achievements. Being a member means you are one of the top scientists in your field. This shows how respected his work was.