Norris Bradbury

Biography

Abstract

Norris Bradbury served as Director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory for 25 years from 1945 to 1970. His research interests included the electrical conductivity of gases, the properties of ions, and the behavior of atmospheric electricity.

Important Dates

May 30, 1909Birth, Santa Barbara (Calif.).

1929Obtained AB in Chemistry, Pomona College, Claremont (Calif.).

1932Obtained PhD in Physics and Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1932 – 1934National Research Fellow in Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

1935 – 1951Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Physics (1935-1943) and Professor of Physics (1943-1951), Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

1941 – 1944Officer, United States Navy, Dahlgren Proving Ground, Virginia.

1944 – 1945Leader, Implosion Research and Assembly Groups, Manhattan Project, Los Alamos Laboratory, Los Alamos (N.M.).

1945 – 1970Director, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos (N.M.).

1951Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1951 – 1971Professor of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1955 – 1957Member, Science Advisory Committee, United States Office of Defense Mobilization.

1970Awarded Enrico Fermi Award, United States Atomic Energy Commission.

August 27, 1997Death, Los Alamos (N.M.).

Occupation

Nuclear physicist.

Places

Birth

Santa Barbara (Calif.)

Undergraduate Education

Claremont (Calif.)

Graduate Education

Berkeley (Calif.)

Employment

Stanford (Calif.)

Los Alamos (N.M.)

Berkeley (Calif.)

Death

Los Alamos (N.M.)

Subjects

Atomic bomb.

Ballistics.

Cavity resonators.

Cyclotrons.

Hydrogen bomb.

Klystrons.

Nuclear physics.

Science and state.

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Loeb, Leonard B. (Leonard Benedict), 1891-

Co-wrote multiple articles.

Colleagues

Ackerman, Jerome O.

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Agnew, Harold M.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Alvarez, Luis W., 1911-1988

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Appelbaum, J. A. (Joel A.)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Bainbridge, Kenneth T. (Kenneth Tompkins), 1904-1996

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project and Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Bardeen, James Maxwell, 1939-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Barish, B. C. (Barry Clark), 1936-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Baym, Gordon

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Birge, Raymond T. (Raymond Thayer), 1887-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Bloch, Felix, 1905-

Both employed at Stanford University.

Bohr, Niels, 1885-1962

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Brode, Robert B. (Robert Bigham), 1900-1986

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Carlson, R. W.

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Casten, R.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Chadwick, James, 1891-1974

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Chamberlain, O. (Owen)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Chew, Geoffrey F.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Church, Philemon Edwards

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Clarke, John, 1942-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Clauser, John F. (John Francis), 1942-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Cohen, Marvin L.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Commins, Eugene D.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Compton, K. T. (Karl Taylor), 1887-1954

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Dash, J. G., 1923-

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Davidson, Ronald C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Drell, Sidney D. (Sidney David), 1926-

Both employed at Stanford University.

Dryden, Hugh L. (Hugh Latimer), 1898-1965

Both worked at United States Office of Defense Mobilization.

DuBridge, Lee A. (Lee Alvin), 1901-1994

Both worked at United States Office of Defense Mobilization.

Duffield, Robert B.

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Falicov, L. M. (Leopoldo Maximo), 1933-1995

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Fermi, Enrico, 1901-1954

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Fitch, Val L., 1923-2015

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Freedman, Daniel Z.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Fussell, Lewis

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Glaser, D. A.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Glashow, Sheldon L.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Goldhaber, Gerson

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Greisen, Kenneth

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Gurinsky, David

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Hahn, E. L. (Erwin Louis), 1921-

Both employed at Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley.

Hansen, W. W. (William Webster), 1909-1949

Both employed at Stanford University.

Hecker, Siegfried S.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Heeger, Alan J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Helmholz, August Carl, 1915-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hempelmann, L. H.

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Henderson, Robert W. (Robert Wesley), 1914-

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Henley, Ernest M.

Both employed at Stanford University.

Hirschfelder, Joseph Oakland, 1911-

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Hoffman, Joseph G. (Joseph Gilbert), 1909-

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Hofstadter, Robert, 1915-1990

Both employed at Stanford University.

Hopfield, John J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hopper, J. D.

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Hubbard, Jack

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Jackson, John David, 1925-2016

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Jeffries, C. D., 1922-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Kerr, Donald M.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Kershaw, S.

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Keyworth, George A., II, 1939-

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Killian, T. J. (Thomas Joseph), 1905-

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Kirkpatrick, Paul

Both employed at Stanford University.

Kistiakowsky, George B. (George Bogdan), 1900-1982

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project and Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Kittel, Charles

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Knapp, Edward A.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Koski, Walter

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Lamb, Willis E. (Willis Eugene), 1913-2008

Both employed at Stanford University.

Lawrence, Ernest Orlando, 1901-1958

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Leet, L. Don (Lewis Don), 1901-1974

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Linschitz, Henry, 1919-

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Long, E. L.

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Mack, Julian Ellis, 1903-1966

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Mandelstam, Stanley

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Manley, John Henry, 1907-

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

McMillan, Edwin M. (Edwin Mattison), 1907-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Meyerhof, Walter E. (Walter Ernst), 1922-

Both employed at Stanford University.

Moon, Philip Burton

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Morse, Philip M. (Philip McCord), 1903-1985

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Moyer, Burton J., 1912-1973

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Oppenheimer, J. Robert, 1904-1967

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Panofsky, Wolfgang K. H. (Wolfgang Kurt Hermann), 1919-2007

Both employed at Stanford University.

Penney, William George Penney, Baron, 1909-1991

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Phillips, J. C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Price, Paul Buford

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Reines, Frederick, 1918-1998

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Reynolds, John Hamilton, 1923-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Richards, Paul L. (Paul Linford)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Robinson, C. Paul

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Rosenbluth, M. N.

Both employed at Stanford University and Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Ruderman, Malvin A.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Schaffer, W. F.

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Schiff, Leonard I. (Leonard Isaac), 1915-1971

Both employed at Stanford University.

Seaborg, Glenn T. (Glenn Theodore), 1912-1999

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Segrè, Emilio

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Serber, R. (Robert)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Shen, Y. R.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Slater, John C. (John Clarke), 1900-1976

Both employed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Steiner, Herbert M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Stratton, Julius Adams, 1901-1994

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Teller, Edward, 1908-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Tenney, Gerold

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Thomas, Gareth, 1932-2014

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Tinkham, Michael

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Townes, Charles H.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Trilling, George H.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Ulam, Stanislaw M.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Waldman, Bernard, 1913-1986

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Waterman, Alan Tower, 1892-1967

Both worked at United States Office of Defense Mobilization.

Watson, Kenneth M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Webster, David Locke, 1888-1976

Both employed at Stanford University.

Weinberg, Steven, 1933-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Weisskopf, Victor Frederick, 1908-2002

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

Williams, John H. (John Harry), 1908-

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Wilson, Robert R., 1914-2000

Both employed on Project Trinity, Manhattan Project.

York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Zacharias, Jerrold Reinach, 1905-1986

Both worked at United States Office of Defense Mobilization.

Additional

Brady, James Joseph, 1904-

Fisher, Leon H. (Leon Harold), 1918-

Froman, Darol K. (Darol Kenneth), 1906-1997

Garwin, Richard L.

Schreiber, R. E.

Shane, Charles Donald, 1895-1983

Smith, Cyril Stanley, 1903-1992

Taylor, Theodore B., 1925-

Varney, Robert N.

Institutions

Major Positions

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory

Director; Leader, Implosion Research and Assembly Groups, Manhattan Project.

Manhattan Project (U.S.)

Leader, Implosion Research and Assembly Groups, Los Alamos Laboratory.

Stanford University. Department of Physics

Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Physics and Professor of Physics.

United States. Navy

Officer, Dahlgren Proving Ground, Virginia.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics

Obtained PhD (Physics and Mathematics) in 1932 and Professor of Physics.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Argonne National Laboratory

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Lawrence Radiation Laboratory

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics

National Research Fellow in Physics.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Pomona College (Claremont, Calif.)

Obtained AB (Chemistry ) in 1929.

U.S. Atomic Energy Commission

Received 1970 Enrico Fermi Award.

United States. Science Advisory Committee

Member.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Mathematics

Obtained PhD (Physics and Mathematics) in 1932.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory : transcript, 1976.

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA

Manhattan Project videohistory collection [videorecording], 1987-1990.

Archives

Smithsonian Institution

Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024-2520, USA

Oral history interview with Norris Edwin Bradbury, 1976 February 11.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Reminiscences of Los Alamos [sound recording] : a lecture series at the University of California, Santa Barbara, 1975.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Reminiscences of wartime Los Alamos [sound recording], 1975.

Library. Dept. of Special Collections

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA

Subject

James Joseph Brady response to early 1930s Ph.D.s Survey, 1980.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Charles Donald Shane, 1978 July 14.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Cyril Stanley Smith, 1976 September 23.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Cyril Stanley Smith, 1976 September 23. Metallurgy and atomic energy policy: typescript (photocopy), 1980.

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA

Oral history interview with Darol Kenneth Froman, 1976 June 7.

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA

Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 2008 April 24.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with John Henry Manley, 1976 July 9 and 11.

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA

Oral history interview with Leon H. Fisher and Robert N. Varney, 2008 July 26.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Raemer Edgar Schreiber, 1976 February 13.

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA

Oral history interview with Richard Garwin, 2012 December 20.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Robert Serber, 1996 November 26.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Ted Taylor, 1995 February 13.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Theodore Brewster Taylor, 1989 April 12.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Stanislaw Ulam papers, 1916-1984.

Library

American Philosophical Society

105 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

Published Resources

Subject

Norris Edwin Bradbury Physics Today obituary.