Ben R. Mottelson

Dates

July 9, 1926 – present

Authorized Form of Name

Mottelson, Ben R.

Additional Forms of Names

Mottelson, B. (Ben)

Mottelson, B. R. (Ben R.)

Mottelson, Ben R. (Benjamin Roy)

Mottelson, Ben R., 1926-

Mottelson, Ben Roy, 1926-

Biography

Abstract

Ben R. Mottelson was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1975, alongside Aage N. Bohr and James Rainwater "for the discovery of the connection between collective motion and particle motion in atomic nuclei and the development of the theory of the structure of the atomic nucleus based on this connection." His work on asymmetrical shapes of atomic nuclei changed our understanding of the structures of subatomic particles in all elements. He has held positions at Harvard University, the Institute for Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen, CERN, the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Atomic Physics, and University of California, Berkeley.

Important Dates

July 9, 1926Birth, Chicago (Ill.).

1947Obtained BSc degree, Purdue University, West Lafayette (Ind.).

1950Awarded Sheldon Travelling Fellowship, Harvard University.

1950Obtained PhD in Nuclear Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1950 – 1953Fellowship, Institute for Theoretical Physics (now called Niels Bohr Institute), Copenhagen (Denmark).

1951 – 1953Awarded 2 year Fellowship, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

1953Researcher, Theoretical Study Group, CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), Copenhagen (Denmark).

1957 – 1994Professor, Nordic Institute for Theoretical Atomic Physics (Nordisk institut for teoretisk atomfysik), Copenhagen (Denmark).

1959Visiting Professor, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1971Became naturalized Danish citizen.

1975Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics alongside Aage N. Bohr and James Rainwater "for the discovery of the connection between collective motion and particle motion in atomic nuclei and the development of the theory of the structure of the atomic nucleus based on this connection".

Occupation

Theoretical nuclear physicist.

Places

Subjects

Nuclear physics.

Theoretical physics.

Relationships

People

Family

Blum, Georgia Mottelson

Mother.

Mottelson, Daniel John

Son.

Mottelson, Goodman

Father.

Mottelson, Malcom Graham

Son.

Mottelson, Martha

Daughter.

Reno, Nancy Jane

Wife, married 1948-1975.

Siegumfeldt, Britta Marger

Wife, married 1983.

Advisors & Collaborators

Bohr, Aage

Shared 1975 Nobel Prize in Physics along with James Rainwater "for the discovery of the connection between collective motion and particle motion in atomic nuclei and the development of the theory of the structure of the atomic nucleus based on this connection."

Bohr, Niels, 1885-1962

PhD advisor at University of Copenhagen (Københavns universitet).

Hansen, Ole, 1934-

Advised by Mottelson, University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet).

Rainwater, L. James (Leo James), 1917-1986

Shared 1975 Nobel Prize in Physics along with Aage Bohr "for the discovery of the connection between collective motion and particle motion in atomic nuclei and the development of the theory of the structure of the atomic nucleus based on this connection."

Schwinger, Julian, 1918-1994

PhD advisor at Harvard University, "The Ground States of Lithium 6 and Lithium 7."

Niels Bohr institutet

Fellow.

Nordisk institut for teoretisk atomfysik

Professor.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics

Visiting Professor.