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A Conversation with William A. Fowler – Part I

Abstract.

Nobel laureate William A. Fowler recalls his early education in physics; his part in the history of nuclear physics at the California Institute of Technology in the 1930s; parallel efforts elsewhere, particularly at Berkeley and the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism in Washington,D.C.; his contacts with J. Robert Oppenheimer; and his work with Charles C. Lauritsen and Tommy Lauritsen before and after World War II.

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John Greenberg received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin and was Caltech research fellow in history from 1980–1984. The Editors were saddened to learn that he died while this interview was in press. Requests for reprints may be directed to Judith R. Goodstein, Institute Archives 015A-74, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA; e-mail: jrg@caltech.edu.

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Greenberg, J. A Conversation with William A. Fowler – Part I. Phys. perspect. 7, 66–106 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00016-004-0216-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00016-004-0216-0

Key words.

  • Niels Bohr
  • H. Richard Crane
  • Enrico Fermi
  • William A. Fowler
  • Raymond G. Herb
  • Charles C. Lauritsen
  • Ernest O. Lawrence
  • Robert A. Millikan
  • J. Robert Oppenheimer
  • Richard C. Tolman
  • Merle A. Tuve
  • Hideki Yukawa
  • Fritz Zwicky
  • nuclear forces
  • nuclear physics