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Table of Contents

Biography

AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjects

Relationships

PeopleInstitutions

David E. Pritchard

Photo

Dates

October 15, 1941 – present

Authorized Form of Name

Pritchard, David E. (David Edward), 1941-

Additional Forms of Names

Pritchard, D. E. (David E.), 1941-

Biography

Abstract

David Pritchard is Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics at the Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (2001-present). His research interests are in the field of atom optics, which he has applied to basic studies of quantum theory, to new methods for studying the properties of atoms, and to the creation of devices such as the atom interferometer and atom wave gyroscope.

Important Dates

October 15, 1941Birth, New York (N.Y.).

1962Obtained BS, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (Calif.).

1968Obtained PhD in Physics, Harvard University.

1968 – presentStaff Member (1968); Instructor to Associate Professor (1968-1980); Professor of Physics (1980-2001); Head, MIT Physics Industrial Forum (1981-1984); Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics (2001-present); and Associate Director (2003-2006), Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge (Mass.).

1969 – 1973Member, Board of Directors, Interbuild Corporation.

1991Awarded Herbert P. Broida Prize, American Physical Society.

1996 – 2000Member, Board of Directors, Optical Society of America.

1999Member, National Academy of Sciences.

2003Awarded Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Sciences, American Physical Society.

Occupation

Atomic physicist.

Places

Birth

New York (N.Y.)

Undergraduate Education

Pasadena (Calif.)

Death

Cambridge (Mass.)

Employment

Cambridge (Mass.)

Subjects

Atomic and molecular physics.

Diffraction gratings.

Interferometry.

Lasers.

Optics.

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Cornell, Eric Allin, 1961-

Advised by Pritchard at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), "Mass spectroscopy using single ion cyclotron resonance."

Ketterle, Wolfgang

Advised by Pritchard as a post-doc at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Kleppner, Daniel

PhD advisor at Harvard University, "Differential Spin Exchange Scattering: Sodium on Cesium" and both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Research Laboratory of Electronics.

Schneble, Dominik A.

Advised by Pritchard at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Colleagues

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

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Wiesner, Jerome B. (Jerome Bert), 1915-1994

Both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Institutions

Major Positions

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research Laboratory of Electronics

Staff Member; Instructor to Associate Professor; Professor of Physics; Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics; and Associate Director.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Physical Society

Received 1991 Herbert P. Broida Prize and 2003 Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Science.

California Institute of Technology. Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy

Obtained BS (1962).

Harvard University. Department of Physics

Obtained PhD (1968).

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Industrial Liaison Program.

Head, MIT Physics Industrial Forum.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

Optical Society of America

Member, Board of Directors.

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