Charles Kittel

Biography

Abstract

Charles Kittel is an Emeritus Professor of Physics at University of California, Berkeley (1978-present). Other institutional affiliations include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the United States Navy, and Bell Laboratories. He is well-known for writing the book entitled "Introduction to Solid State Physics."

Important Dates

July 18, 1916Birth, New York (N.Y.).

1934 – 1936Studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), no degree received, Cambridge (Mass.).

1938Obtained BA, Cambridge University, Cambridge (England).

1940 – 1945Research Physicist, Naval Ordnance Laboratory (1940-1942); Member, Operations Research Group (1942-1945); Head, Submarine Operations Research Group, Operations Research Group (1943-1945); and Member, Technical Section, U. S. Naval Attaché (1945), United States Navy, Washington (D.C.).

1941Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison (Wis.).

1945 – 1947Research Associate Physicist, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

1947 – 1951Research Physicist, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Murray Hill (N.J.).

1951 – presentProfessor of Physics (1951-1978) and Emeritus Professor of Physics (1978-present), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1957Awarded Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize, American Physical Society.

1957Member, National Academy of Sciences.

May 15, 2019Death.

Occupation

Solid state physicist.

Places

Birth

New York (N.Y.)

Undergraduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Cambridge (England)

Graduate Education

Madison (Wis.)

Employment

Washington (D.C.)

Murray Hill (N.J.)

Berkeley (Calif.)

Subjects

Quantum theory.

Solid state physics.

Statistical physics.

Statistical thermodynamics.

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Abrahams, Elihu

Advised by Kittel at University of California, Berkeley, ferromagnetic relaxation.

Breit, Gregory, 1899-1981

Ph.D. advisor at University of Wisconsin, Madison, "The Fine Structure of Nuclear Energy Levels on the Alpha Model."

Cohen, Morrel H.

Advised by Kittel at University of California, Berkeley, "On nuclear electric quadrupole interactions in crystals."

Dyson, Freeman J.

Collaborated on problems regarding ferromagnetism and spin wave theory.

Gennes, Pierre-Gilles de

Post-doc advised by Kittel at University of California, Berkeley.

Kroemer, Herbert, 1928-

Co-wrote Thermal Physics.

Overhauser, Albert Warner, 1925-

Advised by Kittel at University of California, Berkeley, "Studies in the Electron Theory of Metals."

Colleagues

Alvarez, Luis W., 1911-1988

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Anderson, P. W. (Philip W.), 1923-

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Arnowitt, Richard

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Bardeen, John

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Bialek, William S.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Bode, Hendrik W. (Hendrik Wade), 1905-1982

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Bradbury, Norris, 1909-1997

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Brattain, Walter H. (Walter Houser), 1902-1987

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Buckley, Oliver Ellsworth, 1887-1959

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

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.

Chu, Steven

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.

Clogston, Albert McCavour

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Cohen, Marvin L.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Commins, Eugene D.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Compton, K. T. (Karl Taylor), 1887-1954

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Conwell, Esther M. (Esther Marley), 1922-2014

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Cutler, Cassius Chapin

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Darlington, Sidney, 1906-1997

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

David, Edward E.

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Davidson, Ronald C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Davis, J. C. Séamus

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.

Fetter, Alexander L., 1937-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Fisk, James B. (James Brown), 1910-1981

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Fletcher, Harvey, 1884-1981

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Freedman, Daniel Z.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Freedman, Stuart J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Gaillard, Mary K.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Galt, John Kirtland, 1920-

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

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.

Hagstrum, Homer D.

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

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.

Helmholz, August Carl, 1915-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Herring, William Conyers, 1914-

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Holdren, John P.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hopfield, John J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Ives, Herbert Eugene, 1882-1953

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

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.

Kelly, Mervin Joe

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Kompfner, Rudolf, 1909-1977

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Kraichnan, Robert H., 1928-2008

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Kusch, Polykarp, 1911-1993

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Lander, James J., 1914-1996

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Lange, Andrew

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Langenberg, D. N., 1932-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Lawrence, Ernest Orlando, 1901-1958

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Lee, T. D., 1926-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Louie, Steven G., 1949-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Mandelstam, Stanley

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Matthias, Bernd T., 1918-1980

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

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.

Pearson, Gerald L. (Gerald Leondus)

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Perlmutter, Saul

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Pfann, William G.

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Price, Paul Buford

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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 and Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Ruderman, Malvin A.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Schawlow, Arthur L., 1921-1999

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Segrè, Emilio

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Shen, Y. R.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Shockley, William, 1910-1989

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Smoot, George

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Steiner, Herbert M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Stubbs, Christopher

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Suhl, Harry

Both employed at Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Teller, Edward, 1908-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Thomas, Gareth, 1932-2014

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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.

York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Zumino, B. (Bruno), 1923-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Additional

Ancker-Johnson, Betsy, 1929-

Darrow, Karl K. (Karl Kelchner), 1891-

Frauenfelder, Hans, 1922-

Kip, Arthur F.

Nix, Foster Cary, 1905-

Oppenheimer, Frank, 1912-1985

Portis, Alan M., 1926-

Seitz, Frederick, 1911-2008

Institutions

Major Positions

Bell Telephone Laboratories

Research Physicist.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research Laboratory of Electronics

Research Associate Physicist.

United States. Naval Ordnance Laboratory (Indian Head, Md.)

Research Physicist.

United States. Navy

Member, Operations Research Group; Head, Submarine Operations Research Group, Operations Research Group; and Member, Technical Section, U. S. Naval Attaché.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics

Professor of Physics and Emeritus Professor of Physics.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Physical Society

Received 1957 Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics

Undergraduate studies from 1934-1936, no degree received.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

University of Cambridge. Department of Physics

Obtained BA (1938).

University of Wisconsin--Madison. Department of Physics

Obtained PhD (1941).

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Charles Kittel autobiographical notes, 1982.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Charles Kittel papers, 1959-ongoing.

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA

Subject

Berkeley days: how great events shaped our careers, for Elihu Abrahams at his 80th birthday celebration, 2007.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, 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

John Bardeen papers, 1910-1991.

University Archives

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA

Karl Darrow correspondence relating to history of physics, 1943-1968.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Alan Holden, 1974 July 30 and 1976 June 21.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Alan M. Portis, 1982 June 15.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Albert Warner Overhauser, 1982 February 22.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Arthur Frederic Kip, 1982 June 16.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Betsy Ancker-Johnson, 2008 December 8.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Foster Cary Nix, 1975 June 27.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Frank Oppenheimer, 1973 February 9 and May 21.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Frederick Seitz, 1982 October 6 and 7.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Morrel H. Cohen, 1981 March 31 and June 5.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with P. W. Anderson, 1988 May 10.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Philip Anderson, 1999 March 30, May 30, November 23 and June 29, 2000.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with William Conyers Herring, 1974 July 23, 29, and 31 October.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

Berkeley physics course.

Elementary solid state physics : a short course / Charles Kittel.

Elementary statistical physics.

Instructor's manual for introduction to solid state physics. 6th ed. / Charles Kittel.

Introduction to solid state physics / Charles Kittel.

Mechanics [by] Charles Kittel, Walter D. Knight [and] Malvin A. Ruderman. Rev. by A. Carl Helmholz [and] Burton J. Moyer.

Quantum theory of solids.

Thermal physics / Charles Kittel.