Edwin McMillan

Edwin McMillan Nobel

Edwin Mattison McMillan (September 18, 1907 – September 7, 1991) was an American physicist and Nobel laureate in chemistry who is credited with being the first to produce a transuranium element. He shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1951 with Glenn T. Seaborg for their "discoveries in the chemistry of the transuranium elements". McMillan was also instrumental in the development of the cyclotron with Ernest Lawrence at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His work in the field of nuclear chemistry and physics had a profound impact on the scientific community and contributed significantly to the development of nuclear weapons during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project.

Early Life and Education

Edwin McMillan was born in Redondo Beach, California, to a family of Scottish descent. He attended California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for his undergraduate studies, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1928. He then went on to pursue graduate studies at Princeton University, receiving his Ph.D. in physics in 1933. His doctoral work focused on the physics of electrons.

Career and Research

After completing his Ph.D., McMillan returned to California to join the faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, where he would spend the majority of his professional career. It was here, at the Berkeley Radiation Laboratory, that he began his pioneering work on the cyclotron and nuclear chemistry.

In 1940, McMillan discovered neptunium, the first transuranium element, by bombarding uranium with neutrons. Neptunium, with the atomic number 93, was the first element to be synthesized that was heavier than uranium on the periodic table. This discovery opened the door to the creation of further transuranium elements, significantly expanding the periodic table and deepening the understanding of atomic structure.

During World War II, McMillan played a significant role in the Manhattan Project, contributing to the development of the atomic bomb. After the war, he continued his research in nuclear physics and was involved in the study of particle physics.

In addition to his Nobel Prize, McMillan received numerous other awards and honors for his contributions to science, including the Medal for Merit for his wartime services.

Later Life and Legacy

Edwin McMillan served as the director of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory from 1958 to 1973. Under his leadership, the laboratory expanded its research into new areas of physics and developed into a leading center for scientific research. McMillan was also a key figure in the establishment of the University of California, San Francisco's medical physics program.

McMillan retired in 1973 but remained active in the scientific community until his death in 1991. His legacy is marked by his contributions to the discovery and understanding of transuranium elements, as well as his leadership in the development of nuclear science and technology.