Robert Hofstadter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Hofstadter
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Robert Hofstadter (1961, Nobel Foundation photo)
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| Born | February 5, 1915 New York City
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| Died | November 17, 1990 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | City College of New York (BS) Princeton University (MS, PhD) |
| Occupation | Nuclear Physicist, Astrophysicist, University Professor |
| Known for | Electron scattering Atomic nuclei Sodium iodide scintillator |
| Spouse(s) | Nancy (Givan) Hofstadter (1920–2007) (3 children including Douglas Hofstadter) |
| Awards | Nobel Prize in Physics (1961) National Medal of Science (1986) Dirac Medal (1987) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | Stanford University University of Pennsylvania |
| Doctoral students | Carol Jo Crannell |
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Robert Hofstadter (born February 5, 1915 – died November 17, 1990) was an American scientist who studied physics. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1961. He shared this award with another scientist, Rudolf Mössbauer. Robert Hofstadter won for his important work on how electrons scatter off the tiny centers of atoms, called atomic nuclei. His discoveries helped us understand what nucleons (parts of the nucleus) are made of.
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Robert Hofstadter's Life Story
Robert Hofstadter was born in New York City on February 5, 1915. His parents, Louis and Henrietta, had moved from Poland. He went to school in New York City.
He later attended the City College of New York. He earned his first degree in 1935 when he was 20 years old. He was very good at math and physics. He then went to Princeton University for his advanced degrees. He earned his Master's and PhD degrees by age 23.
After his studies, Hofstadter worked at the University of Pennsylvania. He also taught at Princeton before joining Stanford University. He was a professor at Stanford from 1950 until 1985.
In 1942, he married Nancy Givan. They had three children: Laura, Molly, and Pulitzer Prize-winner Douglas Hofstadter.
Robert Hofstadter's Scientific Work
Discovering Gamma Ray Detectors
In 1948, Robert Hofstadter created something very useful. He invented a special crystal that could find ionizing radiation. This crystal was made of thallium-activated sodium iodide.
Today, these special detectors are still widely used. They help scientists find gamma rays.
The Fermi Unit and Nobel Prize
Robert Hofstadter created the word "fermi" in 1956. This word is now a unit of measurement. Its symbol is fm.
He named it after Enrico Fermi, a famous Italian physicist. Fermi was one of the first scientists to study nuclear physics. The "fermi" unit is used by scientists who study the nucleus of atoms and tiny particles.
When Hofstadter won the Nobel Prize in 1961, he talked about the "fermi" in his speech. His speech was titled "The electron-scattering method and its application to the structure of nuclei and nucleons."
Exploring Space with Telescopes
Later in his life, Hofstadter became very interested in astrophysics. This is the study of stars and space. He used his knowledge of special crystals, called scintillators, to help design a telescope.
This telescope was called the EGRET. It was part of a bigger space observatory. This observatory was named the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. It was named after another Nobel Prize winner, Arthur Compton.
Scientists at Stanford University say that Hofstadter was a key scientist. He helped create the Compton Observatory.
Awards and Special Honors
Robert Hofstadter received many awards for his important work:
- In 1958, he was chosen to be part of the National Academy of Sciences.
- In 1961, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics. He shared it with Rudolf Mössbauer. He won for his studies on how electrons scatter off atomic nuclei. This helped us learn about the structure of nucleons.
- Stanford University has special talks each year named after him. They are called the Robert Hofstadter Memorial Lectures. There are two talks: one for everyone and one for scientists.
- In 1970, he became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- In 1984, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
- In 1986, he was chosen to be part of the American Philosophical Society.
See also
- Fermi (unit)
- The TV show The Big Bang Theory supposedly named one of its main characters, Leonard Hofstadter, after Robert Hofstadter.
