Eugene D. Commins

Biography

Abstract

Eugene Commins is Professor Emeritus of Physics at University of California, Berkeley (2005-present). His research interests include the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the electron, optical pumping, supernovae, and laser spectroscopy. His other institutional affiliations include Swarthmore College and Columbia University.

Important Dates

July 1, 1932Birth, New York (N.Y.).

1953Obtained BA, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore (Pa.).

1958Obtained PhD in Physics, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1958 – 1960Instructor in Physics, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1960 – presentAssistant to Associate Professor of Physics (1960-1969); Professor of Physics (1969-2005); Chair, Department of Physics (1972-1974); and Professor Emeritus of Physics (2005-present), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1987Member, National Academy of Sciences.

Occupation

Atomic, molecular and optical physicist.

Places

Birth

New York (N.Y.)

Undergraduate Education

Swarthmore (Pa.)

Graduate Education

New York (N.Y.)

Employment

Berkeley (Calif.)

Subjects

Atomic and molecular physics.

Dipole moments.

Laser spectroscopy.

Magnetic resonance.

Optical pumping.

Weak interactions (Nuclear physics).

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Bucksbaum, Philip H.

Advised by Commins at University of California, Berkeley, "Measurement of the Parity Non-conserving Neutral Weak Interaction in Atomic Thallium."

Kusch, Polykarp, 1911-1993

PhD advisor at Columbia University, "Hyperfine structure of the metastable state of singly ionized Helium-3."

Colleagues

Alvarez, Luis W., 1911-1988

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Appelbaum, J. A. (Joel A.)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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.

Bialek, William S.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Birgeneau, Robert J. (Robert Joseph), 1942-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Booth, Eugene

Both employed at Columbia University.

Bradbury, Norris, 1909-1997

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Brillouin, Léon, 1889-1969

Both employed at Columbia University.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Chamberlain, O. (Owen)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Chemla, D. S.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Chew, Geoffrey F.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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.

Cummins, Herman Z., 1933-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Davidson, Ronald C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Davis, Bergen, 1869-1958

Both employed at Columbia University.

Davis, J. C. Séamus

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Devons, Samuel

Both employed at Columbia University.

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

Both employed at Columbia University.

Dynes, Robert C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Emery, V. J. (Victor J.)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Falcone, Roger W.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Feinberg, Gerald, 1933-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Fetter, Alexander L., 1937-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Foley, Henry Michael, 1917-1982

Both employed at Columbia University.

Freedman, Daniel Z.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Freedman, Stuart J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Frosch, Robert A. (Robert Alan), 1928-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Gaillard, Mary K.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Haxton, Wick C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Heeger, Alan J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hellman, Frances

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Helmholz, August Carl, 1915-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Holdren, John P.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hopfield, John J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Jacak, Barbara

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Jackson, John David, 1925-2016

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Jeffries, C. D., 1922-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Kahn, Steven Michael

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Kittel, Charles

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Kroll, Norman Myles, 1922-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Lange, Andrew

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Langenberg, D. N., 1932-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Lederman, Leon M.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Lee, T. D., 1926-

Both employed at Columbia University.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Louie, Steven G., 1949-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Luttinger, Joaquin M.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Mandelstam, Stanley

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

McKee, Christopher, 1942-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Moyer, Burton J., 1912-1973

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Murnane, Margaret

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Perlmutter, Saul

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Price, Paul Buford

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at Columbia University.

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

Both employed at Columbia University.

Randall, Lisa

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Reynolds, John Hamilton, 1923-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Richards, Paul L. (Paul Linford)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Riess, Adam, 1969-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Ruderman, Malvin A.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Sachs, Allan M. (Allan Maxwell), 1921-1989

Both employed at Columbia University.

Samios, Nicholas P.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Schwartz, Melvin, 1932-2006

Both employed at Columbia 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 Columbia University.

Shank, C. V. (Charles V.)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Shapiro, Marjorie

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Shen, Y. R.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Smoot, George

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Steinberger, J.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Steiner, Herbert M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Stubbs, Christopher

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Teller, Edward, 1908-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Thomas, Gareth, 1932-2014

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Thomas, Llewellyn Hilleth, 1903-1992

Both employed at Columbia University.

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.

Van Harlingen, Dale J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Watson, Kenneth M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Weinberg, Steven, 1933-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Wu, C. S. (Chien-shiung), 1912-1997

Both employed at Columbia University.

Zumino, B. (Bruno), 1923-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Institutions

Major Positions

Columbia University. Department of Physics

Obtained Ph.D. in 1958 and Instructor in Physics.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics

Assistant to Associate Professor of Physics; Professor of Physics; Chair, Department of Physics; and Professor Emeritus of Physics.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

American Physical Society

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

Swarthmore College

Obtained BA in 1953.

Resources

Archival Resources

Subject

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

Published Resources

Author

Art and symmetry in experimental physics : Festschrift for Eugene D. Commins : Berkeley, California, 20-21 May 2001 / editors, Dmitry Budker, Philip H. Bucksbaum, Stuart J. Freedman.

Weak interactions / Eugene D. Commins.