Robert Mills (physicist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Laurence Mills
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Robert Laurence Mills
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| Born | April 15, 1927 |
| Died | October 27, 1999 (aged 72) East Charleston, Vermont
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| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Known for | Yang–Mills theory |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Theoretical physics, quantum field theory |
Robert Laurence Mills (born April 15, 1927 – died October 27, 1999) was an American physicist. He was an expert in quantum field theory, which studies tiny particles and forces. He also worked on theories about alloys (mixtures of metals) and how many particles behave together.
In 1954, Robert Mills worked with another physicist, Chen-Ning Yang. They were sharing an office at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Together, they created a very important idea called the Yang–Mills theory. This theory helps us understand how tiny particles inside atoms interact with each other. It changed how scientists think about modern physics and mathematics.
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Early Life and Education
Robert Mills was born in Englewood, New Jersey. His parents were Dorothy C. and Frederick C. Mills. He finished high school at George School in Pennsylvania in 1944.
He then went to Columbia College from 1944 to 1948. During this time, he was also on leave from the Coast Guard. Robert showed how good he was at math early on. He became a "Putnam Fellow" in 1948, which is a special award for top math students. He also earned high honors in the "Tripos" exams at Cambridge.
Becoming a Physicist
Even though he was new to theoretical physics, Mills met Chen-Ning Yang. He helped Yang improve his ideas about "non-abelian gauge fields." These ideas later became the famous Yang-Mills Theory. This theory is now a core part of the Standard Model of modern physics. The Standard Model explains the basic building blocks of matter and forces.
Robert Mills continued to develop his skills as a theoretical physicist. He earned a master's degree from Cambridge. Later, he received his PhD in Physics from Columbia University in 1955. His advisor for his PhD was Norman Kroll.
Career and Achievements
After finishing his PhD, Robert Mills spent a year at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. In 1956, he became a physics professor at Ohio State University. He taught and researched there until he retired in 1995.
In 1980, Robert Mills and Chen-Ning Yang received an important award. They shared the Rumford Premium Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. They earned this prize for their work in 1954. The award recognized their "development of a generalized gauge invariant field theory." This refers to the Yang-Mills theory, which was a big step forward in physics.
Personal Life
Robert Mills married Elise Ackley in 1948. They had five children together: two sons named Edward and Jonathan, and three daughters named Katherine, Susan, and Dorothy.
The Mills family lived in Columbus, Ohio for many years. This was while Robert was a professor at Ohio State University. He was also an elder at Indianola Presbyterian Church. He was very involved in helping international students in Columbus.
The family also spent a lot of time at their property on Echo Lake in Charleston, Vermont. They would go there during summer and winter breaks. Robert Mills spent his final months at this peaceful place in Vermont.
See also
In Spanish: Robert Mills (físico) para niños
