Charles P. Slichter

Biography

Abstract

Charles Slichter was Professor Emeritus of Physics and Chemistry at University of Illinoia, Urbana-Champaign (1997-2018). His research interests included condensed matter physics, nuclear magnetic resonance, and superconductivity.

Important Dates

January 21, 1924Birth, Ithaca (N.Y.).

1943 – 1946Research Associate, Underwater Explosives Research Laboratory, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

1946Obtained AB in Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1947Obtained AM in Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1949Obtained PhD in Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1949 – presentInstructor in Physics (1949-1951); Assistant Professor of Physics (1951-1954); Associate Professor of Physics (1954-1955); Professor of Physics (1955-1997); Professor of Chemistry (1986-1997); Member, Center for Advanced Study (1988-1997); and Professor Emeritus of Physics and Chemistry (1997-present), University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, Urbana (Ill.).

1964 – 1969Member, President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

1967Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1969Awarded Irving Langmuir Prize in Chemical Physics, American Physical Society.

1969Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

1970 – 1995Member, Harvard Corporation, Harvard University.

1975 – 1984Member, National Science Board.

1975 – 1997Member, Board of Directors, Polaroid Corporation.

1996Awarded Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize, American Physical Society.

2007Awarded National Medal of Science.

February 19, 2018Death, Boulder (Colo.).

Occupation

Condensed matter physicist.

Places

Birth

Ithaca (N.Y.)

Undergraduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Graduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Employment

Urbana (Ill.)

Subjects

Condensed matter.

Magnetic resonance.

Nuclear magnetic resonance.

Superconductivity.

Relationships

People

Family

Fitzgerald, Anne, 1949-

Second Wife, married 1980. Co-edited "Solid state physics in the People's Republic of China."

Slichter, Charles Sumner, 1864-1946

Grandfather.

Slichter, Louis B. (Louis Byrne), 1896-1978

Uncle.

Slichter, Mary Louise Byrne

Grandmother.

Advisors & Collaborators

Mansfield, P.

Advised by Slichter at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Norberg, Richard E.

Advised by Slichter at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, "Nuclear magnetic resonance in hydrogen-mental systems."

Purcell, Edward M.

PhD advisor at Harvard University, "A study of microwave absorption in paramagnetic solids," and both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Van Vleck, J. H. (John Hasbrouck), 1899-1980

Research advisor at Harvard University.

Colleagues

Abrahams, Elihu

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Almy, Gerald Marks, 1904-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Anderson, A. C. (Ansel Cochran), 1933-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Baldeschwieler, John D., 1933-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Bardeen, John

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Baym, Gordon

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Bennett, Ivan L., Jr.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Branscomb, Lewis M., 1926-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Brooks, Harvey

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Calvin, Melvin, 1911-1997

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Campbell, David K.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Ceperley, David

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Chew, Geoffrey F.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Cooper, Leon N. (Leon Neil), 1930-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

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

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and President's Science Advisory Committee.

Drickamer, H. G. (Harry George), 1918-2002

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

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

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee.

Duke, Charles B.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Everhart, Thomas E.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Feibelman, Peter J.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Ference, Michael, 1911-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee.

Fletcher, James Chipman, 1919-1991

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee.

Frauenfelder, Hans, 1922-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Garwin, Richard L.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee.

Gell-Mann, Murray

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee.

Gilliland, Edwin Richard, 1909-1973

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Ginsberg, Donald M.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Goldberger, Marvin L.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Goldenfeld, Nigel

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Goldhaber, Gertrude S. -1998

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Goldhaber, Maurice, 1911-2011

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Greene, Laura H.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Gutowsky, Herbert Sander, 1919-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Haggerty, Patrick E.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

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

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Handler, Paul

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Hewlett, William R.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Holt, R. J. (Roy J.)

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Hornig, Donald F., 1920-2013

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Jackson, John David, 1925-2016

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Kadanoff, Leo P.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Kerst, Donald William, 1911-1993

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Klein, Miles V., 1933-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Lauterbur, Paul C., 1929-2007

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Lazarus, David, 1921-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Leggett, A. J. (Anthony J.)

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Lieb, Elliott H.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Long, Franklin A., 1910-1999

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Loomis, F. W. (Francis Wheeler), 1889-1976

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Low, Francis E. (Francis Eugene), 1921-2007

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

MacDonald, Gordon J. (Gordon James), 1929-2002

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

MacLeod, Colin M. (Colin Munro), 1909-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Massey, Walter E.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

McElroy, William David, 1917-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

McMillan, William L.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Novick, Robert

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Overhauser, Albert Warner, 1925-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Pake, G. E. (George Edward)

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Pandharipande, V. R.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

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

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Pierce, John R. (John Robinson), 1910-2002

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Pines, David, 1924-2018

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Pitzer, Kenneth S. (Kenneth Sanborn), 1914-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Press, Frank, 1924-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Schrieffer, J. R. (John Robert), 1931-

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Seitz, Frederick, 1911-2008

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Simmons, Ralph Oliver

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Simon, Herbert A. (Herbert Alexander), 1916-2001

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Sullivan, Jeremiah D.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Tape, Gerald Frederick, 1915-2005

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC) and at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Townes, Charles H.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Van Harlingen, Dale J.

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Wheatley, John Charles

Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Wiesner, Jerome B. (Jerome Bert), 1915-1994

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Wood, Harland G. (Harland Goff), 1907-1991

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank)

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Zacharias, Jerrold Reinach, 1905-1986

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Additional

Hoddeson, Lillian

Vacquier, Victor

Institutions

Major Positions

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Department of Chemistry

Professor of Chemistry and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Department of Physics

Instructor in Physics; Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; Professor of Physics; and Professor Emeritus of Physics.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Research Associate, Underwater Explosives Research Laboratory.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Fellow.

American Physical Society

Received 1969 Irving Langmuir Prize in Chemical Physics and 1996 Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize.

Harvard Corporation.

Member.

Harvard University. Department of Physics

Obtained AB (1946), AM (1947), and PhD (1949).

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

National Science Board (U.S.)

Member.

Polaroid Corporation

Member, Board of Directors.

United States. President's Science Advisory Committee

Member.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Center for Advanced Study

Member.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

50th anniversary of Physical Review Letters [audiorecording], March 2008.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

J. H. Van Vleck: quantum theory and magnetism [sound recording], 2011 March 22.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Lillian Hoddeson papers, 1904-2001.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Charles P. Slichter, 1977 April 29.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Charles Pence Slichter, 1982 January 29.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Charles Slichter, 2005 March 26.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

Color Centers in Alkali Halides Symposium records, 1965 October 11-13.

University Archives

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA

Hans Frauenfelder response to survey on the impact of immigration on U.S. physics, 1999.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with David Pines, 1981 April 13 and 16.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Erwin Louis Hahn, 1986 August 21.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with John Robert Schrieffer, 1974 September 26 and 1976 January 19.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Victor Vacquier, 1988 February 17 and 1989 January 24.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Selected talks from Corporate Associates Meetings [videorecording] : 1983-1987.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

"Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and the BCS Theory," in BCS: 50 Years, ed. Leon N. Cooper and Dmitri Feldman (Singapore: World Scientific: 2011), 57-84

Principles of magnetic resonance, with examples from solid state physics.

Solid state physics in the People's Republic of China : a trip report of the American Solid State Physics Delegation : submitted to the Committee on Scholarly Communication with the People's Republic of China / edited by Anne Fitzgerald and Charles P. Slichter.

Subject

Charles Slichter University of Illinois College of Engineering obituary.