Robert Hofstadter

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Robert Hofstadter

Robert Hofstadter (February 5, 1915 – November 17, 1990) was an American physicist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1961 for his pioneering work in the field of electron scattering in atomic nuclei and for his discoveries concerning the structure of nucleons. His research significantly advanced the understanding of the atomic nucleus and the subatomic particles.

Early Life and Education

Robert Hofstadter was born in New York City, New York. He attended Princeton University, where he earned his B.A. in 1935 and his Ph.D. in 1938. His doctoral thesis focused on the photoelectric effect in cesium and potassium.

Career and Research

After completing his Ph.D., Hofstadter worked at the National Bureau of Standards and later joined the faculty at Princeton University. During World War II, he contributed to the development of radar technology.

In 1950, Hofstadter joined the faculty at Stanford University, where he conducted his Nobel Prize-winning research. He used high-energy electron scattering to probe the internal structure of protons and neutrons, revealing that these particles have a finite size and an internal structure. This work provided crucial insights into the strong nuclear force and the quark model of particle physics.

Nobel Prize

Hofstadter was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1961, sharing the honor with Rudolf Mössbauer, who was recognized for his work on the Mössbauer effect. Hofstadter's Nobel lecture focused on the structure of the nucleon and the implications of his findings for the field of nuclear physics.

Later Life and Legacy

Hofstadter continued his research at Stanford until his retirement in 1985. He was also involved in the development of scintillation counters and other instruments used in particle physics experiments. His contributions to the field have had a lasting impact on the study of subatomic particles and the fundamental forces of nature.

Robert Hofstadter passed away on November 17, 1990, in Stanford, California. His legacy lives on through his groundbreaking research and the many students and colleagues he mentored throughout his career.

Personal Life

Hofstadter was married to Nancy Givan, and they had three children, including Douglas Hofstadter, a noted cognitive scientist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

See Also

• Electron scattering
• Nucleon
• Quark
• Stanford University
• Nobel Prize in Physics