Robert Coleman Richardson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Coleman Richardson
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| Born | June 26, 1937 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Died | February 19, 2013 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | United States |
| Alma mater | Virginia Tech (B.S., M.S.) Duke University (Ph.D.) |
| Known for | Discovering superfluidity in helium-3 |
| Awards | Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize (1981) Nobel Prize in Physics (1996) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | Cornell University |
| Doctoral advisor | Horst Meyer |
Robert Coleman Richardson (June 26, 1937 – February 19, 2013) was an American experimental physicist. He was known for studying very cold temperatures, especially with a substance called helium-3. In 1996, Richardson, along with David Lee and Douglas Osheroff, won the Nobel Prize in Physics. They received this award for their discovery in 1972 of a special property called superfluidity in helium-3. They made this important discovery at Cornell University.
Early Life and Education
Robert Richardson was born in Washington, D.C., in the United States. He went to high school at Washington-Lee in Arlington, Virginia. He later said that the science classes he took in high school were "very old-fashioned" for that time. He started learning calculus when he was in his second year of college.
Richardson attended Virginia Tech. He earned his first degree (Bachelor of Science) in 1958. He then received his Master of Science degree in 1960. Later, he earned his PhD from Duke University in 1965.
Amazing Discoveries in Physics
Robert Richardson was a professor of physics at Cornell University. His work focused on using a method called Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). He used NMR to study how liquids and solids behave at extremely cold temperatures. These temperatures were so low that they were almost at absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature.
His most famous work was discovering superfluidity in helium-3. Superfluidity is a strange state of matter where a liquid flows without any friction or resistance. It can even climb up the sides of a container! This discovery helped scientists understand more about how matter behaves at its most basic level.
Richardson was also an Eagle Scout when he was younger. He even mentioned his Scouting experiences in the story he wrote for the Nobel Foundation.
Awards and Honors
Robert Richardson received several important awards for his scientific work:
- Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize (1981)
- Nobel Prize in Physics (1996)
- Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement (1997)
See also
In Spanish: Robert Coleman Richardson para niños
