Herbert Kroemer

Biography

Abstract

Herbert Kroemer is Professor of Electrical Engineering at University of California, Santa Barbara (1976-present). Other institutional affiliations include the University of Colorado, Boulder and Fairchild Semiconductor. His research interests include semiconductor heterostructures used in high-speed- and opto-electronics and instrumentation.

Important Dates

August 25, 1928Birth, Weimar (Germany : Landkreis).

1951Obtained Diplom, University of Göttingen (Universitat Göttingen), Göttingen (Germany).

1952Obtained PhD in Theoretical Physics, University of Göttingen (Universitat Göttingen), Göttingen (Germany).

1952 – 1954Deutsche Post, Research Scientist, Central Telecommunications Laboratory (Fernmeldetechnisches Zentralamt).

1954 – 1957Research Scientist, RCA Research Laboratories, Radio Corporation of America (RCA).

1957 – 1959Research Group Leader, Philips Communication Systems, Germany.

1959 – 1966Senior Scientist, Varian Associates, Palo Alto (Calif.).

1966 – 1968Head, New Phenomena Section, Semiconductor Research and Development Laboratory, Fairchild Semiconductor.

1968 – 1976Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder (Colo.).

1976 – presentProfessor of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara (Calif.).

2000Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics with Zhores I. Alferov "for developing semiconductor heterostructures used in high-speed- and opto-electronics".

2003Member, National Academy of Sciences.

March 8, 2024Death.

Occupation

Condensed matter physicist.

Places

Birth

Weimar (Germany : Landkreis)

Undergraduate Education

Göttingen (Germany)

Graduate Education

Göttingen (Germany)

Employment

Palo Alto (Calif.)

Boulder (Colo.)

Santa Barbara (Calif.)

Subjects

Condensed matter.

Molecular beam epitaxy.

Optoelectronics.

Semiconductors.

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Alferov, Zh. I.

Shared the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physics "for developing semiconductor heterostructures used in high-speed- and opto-electronics."

Becker, Richard, 1877-1955

PhD advisor at Universitat Göttingen, "Zur Theorie des Germaniumgleichrichters und des Transistors."

Hund, Friedrich, 1896-1997

Advisor while Research Assistant at Universitat Jena.

Kittel, Charles

Co-wrote Thermal Physics.

Colleagues

Gossard, A. C.

Both employed at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Additional

Kilby, Jack S. (Jack St. Clair), 1923-2005

Both won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2000 for separate projects.

Institutions

Major Positions

Fairchild (Firm)

Head, New Phenomena Section, Semiconductor Research and Development Laboratory.

Germany (West). Fernmeldetechnisches Zentralamt

Research Scientist, Deutsche Post.

Philips Communication Systems (Firm : Hilversum, Netherlands)

Philips Germany, Research Group Leader.

Radio Corporation of America. Laboratories Division

Research Scientist.

University of California, Santa Barbara. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Professor of Electrical Engineering.

University of Colorado Boulder. Department of Electrical Engineering

Professor.

Varian Associates

Senior Scientist.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

Universität Göttingen

Obtained Diplom and PhD (Theoretical Physics) in 1952.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Herbert Kroemer papers.

Library. Dept. of Special Collections

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA

Oral history interviews with Herbert Kroemer.

Library. Dept. of Special Collections

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA

Video Interviews with Nobel Prize Winners in Physics, 2004-2006.

Sussex Innovation Centre. Science Park Square

Vega Science Trust

Brighton BN1 9SB, England UK

Published Resources

Author

Nobel Prize Autobiography

Quantum mechanics : for engineering, materials science, and applied physics / Herbert Kroemer.

Thermal physics / Charles Kittel, Herbert Kroemer.