Herbert Lawrence Anderson

Biography

Abstract

Herbert Lawrence Anderson was an American nuclear physicist. He contributed to the Manhattan Project and the first demonstration of nuclear fission in the United States.

Important Dates

May 24, 1914Birth, New York (N.Y.).

1935 – 1936Obtained AB (1935) and BS in Electrical Engineering (1936), Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1940Obtained PhD in Physics, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1940 – 1942Assistant in Nuclear Chain Reaction Research, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1942 – 1944Researcher, Manhattan Project, Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory.

1944 – 1946Physicist, Manhattan Project, Los Alamos Laboratory, Los Alamos (N.M.).

1946 – 1988Assistant Professor of Physics (1946-1947); Associate Professor of Physics (1947-1950); Professor of Physics (1950-1977); Distinguished Service Professor of Physics (1977-1982); and Distinguished Service Emeritus Professor of Physics (1982-1988), University of Chicago, Chicago (Ill.).

1953 – 1954Consulting Physicist, Naval Ordnance Test Station, United States Navy.

1958 – 1962Director, University of Chicago, Enrico Fermi Institute for Nuclear Studies, Chicago (Ill.).

1960Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1972 – 1988Fellow and Staff Member (1972-1978), and Senior Fellow (1978-1988), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos (N.M.).

1982Awarded Enrico Fermi Award, United States Department of Energy.

July 16, 1988Death, Jacona (N.M.).

Occupation

Nuclear physicist.

Places

Birth

New York (N.Y.)

Undergraduate Education

New York (N.Y.)

Graduate Education

New York (N.Y.)

Employment

Chicago (Ill.)

Los Alamos (N.M.)

Death

Jacona (N.M.)

Subjects

Cyclotrons -- Design and construction.

Cyclotrons.

Mesons.

Nuclear fission.

Nuclear physics.

Physics -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Fermi, Enrico, 1901-1954

PhD advisor at University of Chicago and both employed at University of Chicago, Columbia University, Los Alamos Laboratory (Manhattan Project), and Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory (Manhattan Project).

Colleagues

Agnew, Harold M.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Allison, Samuel King, 1900-1965

Both employed at University of Chicago, the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project, and the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Alvarez, Luis W., 1911-1988

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Ashcroft, Neil W.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Barschall, H. H. (Henry Herman), 1915-1997

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Bederson, Benjamin

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Booth, Eugene

Both employed at Columbia University.

Bowman, J. D. (J. David)

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Bretscher, Egon, 1901-1973

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Browne, John C.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Campbell, David K.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Case, Kenneth M.

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Charney, Jule G.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Clogston, Albert McCavour

Both employed at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Cohen, Morrel H.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Creutz, E.

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Crewe, Albert V.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Cronin, James W., 1931-2016

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Daniels, Farrington, 1889-1972

Both employed at Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Davis, Bergen, 1869-1958

Both employed at Columbia University.

Dempster, Arthur Jeffrey

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Deutsch, Martin, 1917-2002

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Duffield, Robert B.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Dunning, John R. (John Ray), 1907-1975

Both employed at Columbia University.

Eckart, Carl, 1902-1973

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Edwards, David F. (David Franklin)

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

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

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Fano, Ugo

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Feigenbaum, Mitchell, 1944-2019

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Ference, Michael, 1911-

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Fisk, Zachary

Both employed at University of Chicago, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Fitch, Val L., 1923-2015

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Foote, Frank G. (Frank Gale), 1906-

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Franck, James, 1882-1964

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Freedman, Stuart J.

Both employed at University of Chicago, Enrico Fermi Institute.

Friedman, Jerome I. (Jerome Isaac), 1930-

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Fritzsche, Hellmut

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Garwin, Richard L.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Goldberger, Marvin L.

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project and University of Chicago.

Hartle, J. B. (James B.)

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Haxton, Wick C.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Hecker, Siegfried S.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Hilberry, Norman, 1899-

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Kadanoff, Leo P.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Kerr, Donald M.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Keyworth, George A., II, 1939-

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

King, L. D. Percival

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Knapp, Edward A.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Koshiba, Masatoshi, 1926-2020

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Kusch, Polykarp, 1911-1993

Both employed at Columbia University.

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

Both employed at Columbia University.

Libchaber, Albert J.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Manley, John Henry, 1907-

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Marshak, Robert E. (Robert Eugene), 1916-1992

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, the Manhattan Project.

Massey, Walter E.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Mayer, Maria Goeppert, 1906-1972

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, the Manhattan Project and University of Chicago.

Monk, George Spencer, 1884

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Morrison, Philip

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Moss, Joel M.

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Mulliken, Robert Sanderson

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Nagel, Sidney R.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Nambu, Yoichiro, 1921-2015

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Oppenheimer, J. Robert, 1904-1967

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, the Manhattan Project.

Parker, E. N. (Eugene Newman), 1927-

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Pegram, George Braxton, 1876-1958

Both employed at Columbia University.

Phillips, J. C.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Rabi, I. I. (Isidor Isaac), 1898-1988

Both employed at Columbia University.

Robertson, R. G. Hamish, 1943-

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Robinson, C. Paul

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Sachs, Robert Green, 1916-

Both employed at University of Chicago.

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

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

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

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Schwinger, Julian, 1918-1994

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

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

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Shochet, Melvyn J.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Simpson, John A. (John Alexander), 1916-2000

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Snell, Arthur H.

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Stearns, Joyce C.

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Szilard, Leo

Both employed at University of Chicago; Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project; and Columbia University.

Telegdi, Val, 1922-2006

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Teller, Edward, 1908-2003

Both employed at University of Chicago and Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Treiman, Sam B.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Tsui, D. C. (Daniel Chee), 1939-

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Turkevich, Anthony, 1916-2002

Both employed at Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory and Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Wald, Robert M.

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Weinberg, Alvin Martin, 1915-2006

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Wentzel, Gregor, 1898-1978

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Wheatley, John Charles

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Whitaker, Martin Dewey

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Wigner, Eugene Paul, 1902-1995

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Will, Clifford M., 1946-

Both employed at University of Chicago, Enrico Fermi Institute.

Wilson, Robert R., 1914-2000

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Wilson, V. C.

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Winstein, Bruce

Both employed at University of Chicago, Enrico Fermi Institute.

Wiringa, Robert Bruce

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.

Yang, Chen Ning, 1922-

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Zacharias, Jerrold Reinach, 1905-1986

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, the Manhattan Project.

Zener, Clarence, 1905-

Both employed at University of Chicago.

Zinn, Walter H. (Walter Henry), 1906-2000

Both employed at the Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Zweig, George

Both employed at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Additional

Amaldi, Edoardo

Glashow, Sheldon L.

Groueff, Stephane

Hoddeson, Lillian

Huntley, Chet, 1911-1974

Ramsey, Norman, 1915-2011

Institutions

Major Positions

Columbia University. Department of Physics

Obtained Ph.D. in Physics (1940) and assistant in Nuclear Chain Reaction Research.

Enrico Fermi Institute

Director.

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Senior Fellow.

Manhattan Project (U.S.)

Researcher, Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory and Physicist, Los Alamos Laboratory.

Naval Ordnance Test Station (Inyokern, Calif.)

Consulting Physicist.

United States. Office of Scientific Research and Development. Metallurgical Laboratory

Researcher, Manhattan Project.

University of Chicago. Department of Physics

Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; Professor of Physics; Distinguished Service Professor of Physics; and Distinguished Service Emeritus Professor of Physics.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Columbia University. Department of Electrical Engineering

Obtained AB in 1935 and BS in Electrical Engineering in 1936.

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory

Physicist (Manhattan Project); Fellow and Staff Member; and Senior Fellow.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

United States. Department of Energy

Received 1982 Enrico Fermi Award.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Fermi Memorial Session [sound recording] / American Physical Society spring meeting, 1955 April 30.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Herbert L. Anderson lectures on meson physics, 1953.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Herbert L. Anderson papers, 1911-1988.

The Joseph Regenstein Library. Department of Special Collections

University of Chicago

1100 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA

Invited papers on the history of fission physics [sound recording], 1967 April 27.

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 Herbert Anderson, 1981 January 13 and 16.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

Atomic year 25 [sound recording] : : the story of CP-1 / produced by the Atomic Energy Commission's Argonne National Laboratory.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Century of the atom [sound recording] : ...told through the voices of the scientists who created the nuclear age / a presentation of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission ; narrated by Chet Huntley and Glenn T. Seaborg.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Edoardo Amaldi, 1969 April 9 and 10.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Norman Ramsey, 1978 December 19, 1979 January 5 and 18.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Outtakes and candid footage from the production of : The world of Enrico Fermi, circa 1930-1968.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Stephane Groueff papers, 1955-1975

Mugar Library Special Collections

Boston University

771 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Text materials for documentary film: The world of Enrico Fermi, circa 1930-1968.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

The Italian navigator has landed...a half century of nuclear energy [videorecording] / Argonne National Laboratory, producer ; U. S. Dept. of Energy ; Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute ; Power Reactor and Nuclear Development Corporation-Japan, sponsors ; Peter Graves, narrator, 1992.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

The world of Enrico Fermi [motion picture].

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

A physicist's desk reference / Herbert L. Anderson, editor in chief.

Physics vade mecum : AIP 50th anniversary / Herbert L. Anderson, editor in chief.

Subject

Herbert L. Anderson Physics Today obituary