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Biography
AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjectsRelationships
PeopleInstitutionsResources
Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as SubjectJames Rainwater
Dates
December 9, 1917 – May 31, 1986
Authorized Form of Name
Rainwater, James, 1917-1986
Additional Forms of Names
Rainwater, L. James (Leo James), 1917-1986
Biography
Abstract
James Rainwater was Professor of Physics at Columbia University (1952-1986). His research interests included neutron spectroscopy, mesic atoms, and cyclotrons. In 1975, Rainwater shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Aage N. Bohr and Ben R. Mottelson "for the discovery of the connection between collective motion and particle motion in atomic nuclei and the development of the theory of the structure of the atomic nucleus based on this connection."
Important Dates
December 9, 1917Birth, Council (Idaho).
1939Obtained BS in Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (Calif.).
1941Obtained MA, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).
1941 – 1946Researcher, Manhattan Project, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).
1946Obtained PhD in Physics, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).
1946 – 1986Instructor to Associate Professor of Physics (1946-1952); Director, Nevis Laboratories (1951-1954); Professor of Physics (1952-1986); Director, Nevis Laboratories (1957-1961); and Emeritus Professor of Physics (1986), Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).
1957 – 1960Member, Advisory Committee, National Science Foundation.
1961 – 1965Member, Advisory Panel, Physics and Electronuclear Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
1968Member, National Academy of Sciences.
1969 – 1971Member, Physics Review Panel, Argonne National Laboratory.
1975Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics with Aage N. Bohr and Ben R. Mottelson "for the discovery of the connection between collective motion and particle motion in atomic nuclei and the development of the theory of the structure of the atomic nucleus based on this connection".
May 31, 1986Death.
Occupation
Nuclear physicist.
Places
Birth
Undergraduate Education
Graduate Education
Employment
Subjects
Relationships
People
Family
Smith, Emma Louise
Wife. Married in 1942.
Advisors & Collaborators
Shared 1975 Nobel Prize in Physics along with Ben Mottelson "for the discovery of the connection between collective motion and particle motion in atomic nuclei and the development of the theory of the structure of the atomic nucleus based on this connection."
Dunning, John R. (John Ray), 1907-1975
PhD advisor at Columbia University, "Neutron Beam Spectrometer Studies of Boron, Cadmium, and Energy Distribution from Paraffin," and both employed at Columbia University.
Advised by Rainwater at Columbia University, "Studies of X-rays from mu-mesonic atoms."
Shared 1975 Nobel Prize in Physics along with Aage Bohr "for the discovery of the connection between collective motion and particle motion in atomic nuclei and the development of the theory of the structure of the atomic nucleus based on this connection."
Colleagues
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Foley, Henry Michael, 1917-1982
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Lamb, Willis E. (Willis Eugene), 1913-2008
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Low, Francis E. (Francis Eugene), 1921-2007
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Pegram, George Braxton, 1876-1958
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Rabi, I. I. (Isidor Isaac), 1898-1988
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Sachs, Allan M. (Allan Maxwell), 1921-1989
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Schawlow, Arthur L., 1921-1999
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Thomas, Llewellyn Hilleth, 1903-1992
Both employed at Columbia University.
Ting, S. C. C. (Samuel Chao-chung), 1936-
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Both employed at Columbia University.
Wu, C. S. (Chien-shiung), 1912-1997
Both employed at Columbia University.
Additional
Havens, William W. (William Westerfield), 1920-2004
Oliver, J. E. (Jack Ertle), 1923-2011
Reich, Haskell Aaron, 1926-1983
Institutions
Major Positions
Columbia University. Department of Physics
Obtained MA (1941) and PhD (1946). Researcher, Manhattan Project; Instructor to Associate Professor of Physics; Professor of Physics; and Emeritus Professor of Physics.
Manhattan Project (U.S.)
Researcher, Columbia University.
Nevis Laboratories
Director.
Professional Activities & Affiliations
Member, Physics Review Panel.
California Institute of Technology. Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Obtained BS (1939).
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
Member.
National Science Foundation (U.S.)
Member, Advisory Committee.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Member, Advisory Panel, Physics and Electronuclear Division.
Resources
Archival Resources
Author
Distinguished Speaker Session [sound recording] 1976 April 28.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
L. James Rainwater notes on the structure of the atomic nucleus, 1975.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Subject
Haskell A. Reich collection of student notes, circa 1945-1954.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Jack E. Oliver, 1996 March 8 and 1997 September 27.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Luis Alvarez, 1967 February 14 and 15.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Robert Serber, 1967 February 10.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Val L. Fitch, 1986 December 18.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with William W. Havens, 1991 February 21, July 17, 29, Augut 5, 12 and 14.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Published Resources
Author
James Rainwater Nobel Prize autobiography.
Subject
"James Rainwater: 1917-1986", Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences