Shin’ichirō Tomonaga

Dates

March 31, 1906 – July 8, 1979

Authorized Form of Name

Tomonaga, Shin’ichirō, 1906-1979

Additional Forms of Names

Tomonaga, Sin-itiro, 1906-1979

朝永振一郎

Biography

Abstract

Shin’ichirō Tomonaga was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965 alongside Julian Schwinger and Richard P. Feynman "for their fundamental work in quantum electrodynamics, with deep-ploughing consequences for the physics of elementary particles." Tomonaga was a major influence on physics in Japan and the Quantum Electrodynamics field, which many had thought to abandom prior to his theoretical research.

Important Dates

March 31, 1906Birth, Kyoto (Japan).

1929Obtained BSc in Physics (Rigakushi), Kyoto Imperial University (Kyōto Teikoku Daigaku), Kyoto (Japan).

1937 – 1939Studied abroad under Werner Heisenber, University of Leipzig, Leipzig (Germany).

1939Obtained PhD in Physics (Rigakuhakushi), Toyko Imperial University (Tōkyō Teikoku Daigaku), Tokyo (Japan).

1941Professor of Physics, Bunrika University (Tōkyō-Bunrika-Daigaku), later to be absorbed into the Tokyo University of Education (Tōkyō-Kyōiku-Daigaku), Tokyo (Japan).

1944Lecturer, Tokyo Imperial University (Tōkyō Teikoku Daigaku), Tokyo (Japan).

1949Visiting Scholar, Princeton University, Princeton (N.J.).

1951Member, The Japan Academy (Nihon Gakushiin).

1955Served a leading role in the establishment of the Institute of Nuclear Study, University of Tokyo (Tōkyō Daigaku).

1956 – 1962University President, Tokyo University of Education (Tōkyō-Kyōiku-Daigaku), Tokyo (Japan).

1962 – 1969Director, Institute of Optical Research, Tokyo University of Education (Tōkyō-Kyōiku-Daigaku), Tokyo (Japan).

1963 – 1969President, Science Council of Japan (Nihon Gakujutsu Kaigi), Tokyo (Japan).

1964Awarded the Lomonosov Medal, U.S.S.R Academy of Sciences.

July 8, 1979Death, Tokyo (Japan).

Occupation

Quantum electrodynamics physicist.

Places

Subjects

Optics.

Quantum electrodynamics.

Renormalization (Physics).

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Feynman, Richard P. (Richard Phillips), 1918-1988

Awarded the 1965 Nobel Prize in Physics along with Julian Schwinger "for their fundamental work in quantum electrodynamics, with deep-ploughing consequences for the physics of elementary particles."

Heisenberg, Werner, 1901-1976

Advisor at University of Leipzig (Universität Leipzig).

Nambu, Yoichiro, 1921-2015

Advised by Tomonaga at University of Tokyo.

Nishina, Yoshio, 1890-1951

PhD advisor at Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (Rikagaku Kenkyūjo (Japan)).

Schwinger, Julian, 1918-1994

Awarded the 1965 Nobel Prize in Physics along with Richard Feynman "for their fundamental work in quantum electrodynamics, with deep-ploughing consequences for the physics of elementary particles."