Robert Hofstadter
American physicist, Nobel laureate for electron scattering studies.
Robert Hofstadter was an American physicist who shared the 1961 Nobel Prize in Physics with Rudolf Mössbauer for his pioneering studies of electron scattering in atomic nuclei and his consequent discoveries concerning the structure of nucleons. He is also known for inventing the thallium-activated sodium iodide gamma ray detector and for coining the term 'fermi' as a unit of length.
- born
- February 5, 1915
- died
- November 17, 1990
- field
- Physics
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Pioneering studies of electron scattering in atomic nuclei, discoveries concerni
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Lore & Background
degree magna cum laude in 1935 and earned his M.S. and Ph.D. from Princeton University at age 23. His doctoral dissertation was on infrared absorption by light and heavy formic and acetic acids. He did post-doctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania and was an assistant professor at Princeton before joining Stanford University, where he taught from 1950 to 1985. In 1948 Hofstadter filed a patent for a thallium-activated sodium iodide gamma ray detector, which remains widely used. Stanford University credits him as one of the principal scientists who developed the observatory.
Reader's Guide
Robert Hofstadter's significance lies in his foundational contributions to nuclear and particle physics through electron scattering experiments, which revealed the structure of nucleons (protons and neutrons) and earned him the 1961 Nobel Prize. His invention of the thallium-activated sodium iodide detector revolutionized gamma ray detection and remains a standard tool. By coining the fermi unit, he provided a convenient scale for nuclear dimensions. Hofstadter's work bridged experimental technique and fundamental discovery, influencing generations of physicists.
Did You Know?
- Robert Hofstadter shared the 1961 Nobel Prize in Physics with Rudolf Mössbauer.
- He coined the term 'fermi' (symbol fm) in a 1956 paper, in honor of Enrico Fermi.
- Hofstadter filed a patent for a thallium-activated sodium iodide gamma ray detector in 1948.
- His son Douglas Hofstadter won a Pulitzer Prize.
- He contributed to the design of the EGRET gamma-ray telescope of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Robert Hofstadter?
Robert Hofstadter was an American physicist best known for his groundbreaking work on electron scattering to probe the internal structure of atomic nuclei. He shared the 1961 Nobel Prize in Physics with Rudolf Mössbauer for those contributions.
What did Robert Hofstadter win the 1961 Nobel Prize for?
The Nobel committee recognized him for his pioneering electron-scattering experiments that revealed how nucleons (protons and neutrons) are structured inside the nucleus. His findings opened a new window into subnuclear matter that had previously been difficult to access.
What is the 'fermi' unit and who coined it?
The fermi is a unit of length equal to one femtometer (10⁻¹⁵ m), commonly used to express nuclear-scale distances. Hofstadter is credited with coining the term in honor of Enrico Fermi.
What detector did Robert Hofstadter invent?
He developed a thallium-activated sodium iodide crystal detector for measuring gamma rays. This scintillation detector became a widely used tool in nuclear and particle physics experiments throughout the mid-20th century.
When was Robert Hofstadter born and when did he die?
Hofstadter was born on February 5, 1915, and passed away on November 17, 1990. He spent the bulk of his career at Stanford University, where he conducted most of his Nobel-winning research.
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