Nicolaas Bloembergen
Dutch–American physicist who made key contributions to nonlinear optics and laser spectroscopy.
Nicolaas Bloembergen was a Dutch–American physicist recognized for his work in developing driving principles behind nonlinear optics for laser spectroscopy. Bloembergen was specifically cited for his pioneering contributions to the development of laser spectroscopy, including key advances in nonlinear optics.
- born
- March 11, 1920, Dordrecht, Netherlands
- died
- September 5, 2017, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- nationality
- Dutch–American
- known_for
- Nonlinear optics, laser spectroscopy, NMR development
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Nicolaas Bloembergen was born on March 11, 1920, in Dordrecht, Netherlands, where his father was a chemical engineer and executive. During the German occupation, the university was closed and Bloembergen spent two years in hiding. in 1948. He retired from Harvard in 1990. He also served as a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley from 1964 to 1965, and later became a professor at the University of Arizona in 2001. He proposed to her in the Netherlands, and they married in 1950, becoming naturalized U.S. citizens in 1958, having three children. Bloembergen died on September 5, 2017, at an assisted living facility in Tucson, Arizona, of cardiorespiratory failure at the age of 97.
Reader's Guide
Nicolaas Bloembergen's significance lies in his foundational contributions to nonlinear optics and laser spectroscopy, which earned him a share of the 1981 Nobel Prize in Physics. By mixing two or more laser beams to produce light of different wavelengths, he broadened the laser spectroscopy frequency band, enabling precise observations of atomic structure. His earlier work on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) led to systems that are predecessors of modern MRI machines. Bloembergen's theoretical work on nonlinear optics, following the development of second-harmonic generation, revealed new structures of matter when bombarded with high-intensity photon beams. His legacy includes the first successful coherent control of a single atom's nucleus using electric fields, demonstrated in 2020 by researchers at the University of New South Wales, an idea he first proposed in 1961. His academic lineage traces back to J. J.
Did You Know?
- Bloembergen spent two years in hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands after Utrecht University was closed.
- He completed his doctoral thesis, Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation, at Harvard but had to return to Leiden University for the defense to receive his Ph.D. in 1948.
- Bloembergen became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1958, eight years after marrying Huberta Deliana 'Deli' Brink.
- He was a member of the board of sponsors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
- In 2020, researchers at the University of New South Wales demonstrated the first successful coherent control of a single atom's nucleus using electric fields, an idea Bloembergen first proposed in 1961.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nicolaas Bloembergen?
He was a Dutch–American physicist born in Dordrecht, Netherlands, in 1920 who became a leading figure in laser spectroscopy and nonlinear optics. He spent the bulk of his academic career at Stanford University in California.
What did Nicolaas Bloembergen contribute to physics?
Bloembergen is best known for establishing the driving principles behind nonlinear optics, which became essential to modern laser spectroscopy. His research also extended into early nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) development.
Why is Nicolaas Bloembergen important?
His pioneering work gave scientists entirely new tools to probe matter at the atomic and molecular level using laser light. Many of today's laser-based analytical, medical, and communication technologies trace their roots to his foundational research.
What Nobel Prize did Nicolaas Bloembergen win?
In 1981 he shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Arthur Schawlow and Kai Siegbahn. Bloembergen and Schawlow divided one half of the award for their laser spectroscopy contributions, while Siegbahn received the other half for high-resolution electron spectroscopy.
Where and when did Nicolaas Bloembergen live?
He was born on March 11, 1920, in Dordrecht, Netherlands, and later became a U.S. citizen. He died on September 5, 2017, in Tucson, Arizona, at the age of 97.
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