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Biography
AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjectsRelationships
PeopleInstitutionsResources
Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorR. Serber
Dates
March 14, 1909 – June 1, 1997
Authorized Form of Name
Serber, R. (Robert)
Additional Forms of Names
Serber, R.
Serber, Robert, 1909-
Serber, Robert, 1909-1997
Biography
Abstract
Physicist (Nuclear physics). Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1934. University of California, Berkeley, 1934-38 and 1945-51; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1938-45; Manhattan Project, 1942-45; Columbia University, 1957-77; Emeritus Professor of physics, Columbia University 1977-1997.
Important Dates
March 14, 1909Birth, Philadelphia (Pa.).
1930Received B.S., Lehigh University, Bethleham (Pa.).
1934Received Ph.D. in physics on the optical properties of molecules, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison (Wis.).
1934 – 1938National Research Council (NRC) Fellow (1934-1946) and Research Associate (1936-1938), University of California, Berkeley.
1938 – 1945Assistant Professor and Associate Professor, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Champaign (Ill.).
1942 – 1945Researcher, Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory (1942-1943); Diffusion Theory Group Leader, Los Alamos National Laboratory (1943-1945); and Special Consultant at Tinian Island (1945), Manhattan Project. In September 1945 Serber went to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to survey the damage caused by the bombs.
1945 – 1951Professor of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).
1946 – 1951Consultant, Douglas Aircraft Company.
August 5, 1948Hearing before the Personnel Security Board into his character, associations, and loyalty, which he ultimately passed. Serber's career was often delayed because of security clearance issues.
1951 – 1997Professor of Physics (1951-1977); Chair, Department of Physics (1975-1976); and Emeritus Professor of Physics (1977-1997), Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).
1952Member, National Academy of Sciences.
1967 – 1972Member, Advisory Committee, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
1971President, American Physical Society (APS).
1972Awarded J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Prize, University of Miami.
1974 – 1981Member, Board of Trustees, Associated Universities, Inc.
1978 – 1982Member, Advisory Committee, Meson Physics Facility, Los Alamos National Laboratory.
June 1, 1997Death, New York (N.Y.).
Occupation
Nuclear physicist.
Places
Birth
Undergraduate Education
Graduate Education
Employment
Death
Subjects
Atomic bomb -- Japan -- Blast effect.
Nuclear energy -- Political aspects.
Physics -- Study and teaching.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Japan.
Relationships
People
Family
Leof, Charlotte
First wife, married in 1933. Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Serber, David
Father.
Serber, Rose Frankel
Mother.
Serber, William
Son.
St. Clair, Fiona
Second wife, married in 1979.
Advisors & Collaborators
Advised by Serber at University of California, Berkeley.
Cooper, Leon N. (Leon Neil), 1930-
Advised by Serber at Columbia University.
Collaborated on the discovery of quarks.
Kerst, Donald William, 1911-1993
Collaborated on early development of the betatron. Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Oppenheimer, J. Robert, 1904-1967
Co-wrote multiple articles. Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Van Vleck, J. H. (John Hasbrouck), 1899-1980
Ph.D. advisor at University of Wisconsin on the optical properties of molecules.
Colleagues
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Bethe, Hans A. (Hans Albrecht), 1906-2005
Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed on Project Alberta, Manhattan Project.
Birge, Raymond T. (Raymond Thayer), 1887-
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Brode, Robert B. (Robert Bigham), 1900-1986
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Compton, Arthur Holly, 1892-1962
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Doan, Richard Lloyd, 1898-
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Dunning, John R. (John Ray), 1907-1975
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project and Project Alberta, Manhattan Project.
Feynman, Richard P. (Richard Phillips), 1918-1988
Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Flanders, Donald
Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Foley, Henry Michael, 1917-1982
Both employed at Columbia University.
Frankel, S., 1919-
Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Friedman, Francis L. (Francis Lee), 1918-
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Frosch, Robert A. (Robert Alan), 1928-
Both employed at Columbia University.
Furry, W. H. (Wendell Hinkle), 1907-
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Hahn, E. L. (Erwin Louis), 1921-
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Haworth, Leland J. (Leland John), 1904-
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Helmholz, August Carl, 1915-2003
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Hirschfelder, Joseph Oakland, 1911-
Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Konopinski, Emil Jan, 1911-
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Kraichnan, Robert H., 1928-2008
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Lamb, Willis E. (Willis Eugene), 1913-2008
Both employed at Columbia University.
Lawrence, Ernest Orlando, 1901-1958
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Livingston, M. Stanley (Milton Stanley)
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Loeb, Leonard B. (Leonard Benedict), 1891-
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Loomis, F. W. (Francis Wheeler), 1889-1976
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
McMillan, Edwin M. (Edwin Mattison), 1907-
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Metropolis, N. (Nicholas), 1915-
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed on Project Alberta, Manhattan Project and University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Murray, Forest
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Nelson, Eldred C. (Eldred Carlyle), 1917-
Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Ohlinger, Leo
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Panofsky, Wolfgang K. H. (Wolfgang Kurt Hermann), 1919-2007
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Parsons, William Sterling, 1901-1953
Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory and on Project Alberta, Manhattan Project.
Pegram, George Braxton, 1876-1958
Both employed at Columbia University.
Peierls, Rudolf E. (Rudolf Ernst), 1907-1995
Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Penney, William George Penney, Baron, 1909-1991
Both employed on Project Alberta, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Placzek, G. (George), 1905-1955
Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Plass, Gilbert N.
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Rabi, I. I. (Isidor Isaac), 1898-1988
Both employed at Columbia University.
Rainwater, L. James (Leo James), 1917-1986
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed on Project Alberta, Manhattan Project and at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Reynolds, John Hamilton, 1923-2000
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Sachs, Allan M. (Allan Maxwell), 1921-1989
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Columbia University and University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory and Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Thomas, Llewellyn Hilleth, 1903-1992
Both employed at Columbia University.
Ting, S. C. C. (Samuel Chao-chung), 1936-
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Waldman, Bernard, 1913-1986
Both employed on Project Alberta, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Weinberg, Alvin Martin, 1915-2006
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Weisskopf, Victor Frederick, 1908-2002
Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Wheeler, John Archibald, 1911-2008
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University.
Wigner, Eugene Paul, 1902-1995
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Wu, C. S. (Chien-shiung), 1912-1997
Both employed at Columbia University.
York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank)
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Young, Gale Jay
Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.
Additional
Crease, Robert P.
Darrow, Karl K. (Karl Kelchner), 1891-
Herb, R. G. (Raymond George), 1908-1996
Lauritsen, Charles Christian, 1892-1968
Mayer, Maria Goeppert, 1906-1972
Oppenheimer, Katherine P. (Katherine Puening), 1910?-1972
Oppenheimer, Katherine, 1944-
Peters, B. (Bernard), 1910-
Piore, Emanuel Ruben, 1908-2000
Smith, Herbert W.
Tolman, Richard C. (Richard Chace), 1881-1948
Institutions
Major Positions
Columbia University. Department of Physics
Professor of Physics; Chair, Department of Physics; and Emeritus Professor of Physics.
Douglas Aircraft Company
Consultant.
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
Diffusion Theory Group Leader, Manhattan Project.
Manhattan Project (U.S.)
Researcher, Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory; Diffusion Theory Group Leader, Los Alamos National Laboratory; and Special Consultant, Tinian Island.
National Research Council (U.S.)
Fellow.
United States. Office of Scientific Research and Development. Metallurgical Laboratory
Researcher, Manhattan Project.
University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics
National Research Council (NRC) Fellow; Research Associate; and Professor of Physics.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Department of Physics
Assistant Professor and Associate Professor.
Professional Activities & Affiliations
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
President.
Associated Universities, Inc.
Member, Board of Trustees.
Brookhaven National Laboratory
California Institute of Technology. Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Explorers Club
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Member, Advisory Committee.
Lehigh University
Received BS.
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Member, Advisory Committee, Meson Physics Facility.
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
University of Chicago. Department of Physics
University of Wisconsin--Madison. Department of Physics
Received PhD in Physics (1934).
Resources
Archival Resources
Author
Joint ceremonial session of the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers [sound recording], 1972 February 1.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Kip Thorne interviews conducted for his book "Black Holes and Time Warps," 1980-1989.
Institute Archives
California Institute of Technology
1201 East California Blvd. (Mail Code 015A-74), Pasadena, CA 91125, 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
Oppenheimer memorial session [sound recording] : American Physical Society Meeting, 1967 April 24.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Robert Serber, 1967 February 10.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Robert Serber, 1974 May 13.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Robert Serber, 1983 December 19.
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
Subject
Bernard Peters papers, 1947-1992.
Niels Bohr Archive
Blegdamsvej 17, Copenhagen, Denmark
Donald W. Kerst papers, 1937-1959.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
F. W. Loomis papers, 1920-1976.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Fritz Rohrlich notes from the Pocono Conference on Physics, 1948.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
History of physics and educational topics [sound recording], 2012 April 1.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Keith Brueckner manuscript biography, 1986.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
LBL Office of the Director records of Edwin M. McMillan [microfilm], 1907-1991.
Archives and Records Office
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
One Cyclotron Road, Bldg. 69-107, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
LBL Office of the Director records of Edwin M. McMillan, 1907-1991.
Pacific Sierra Region
National Archives and Records Administration
1000 Commodore Drive, San Bruno, CA 94066, 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 Emanuel Ruben Piore, 1977 March 7.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Emil Jan Konopinski, 1982.
Office of University Archives and Records Management
Indiana University
Bryan Hall 201, 107 South Indiana Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 1975 September 9 and 1976 May 13.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 1975 September 9 and 1976 May 13.
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA
Oral history interview with Herbert Smith, 1974 August 1.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Luis Alvarez, 1967 February 14 and 15.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Norman Ramsey, 1960 July 19 to August 4.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Wolfgang Kurt Hermann Panofsky, 1973 May 15 and 1974 March 6 and June 3.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Published Resources
Author
Meson theory lectures / R. Serber ; notes prepared by E.J. Kelly [and] G.A. Snow.
Oppenheimer / I. I. Rabi ... [et al. ]
Serber says : about high energy processes and nuclear forces / R. Serber.