Luis Walter Alvarez

By Ellie Peterson

• Born in the USA on June 13, 1911 • received B.Sc. from the University of

Chicago,1932• Received a M.Sc. in 1934• Received a Ph.D. in 1936

Colleges

• Professor, Radiation Laboratory of the University of California.

• On leave, Radiation Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute.

• Metallurgical Laboratory of the University of Chicago

• Los Alamos Laboratory of the Manhattan District

Early development

• Worked the fields of optics and cosmic rays.

• He is co-discoverer of the "East-West effect".

• Concentrated work in the field of nuclear physics

• Method for producing beams of very slow neutrons

Accomplishments

• first 198Hg lamp• discovered the radioactivity of

3H • responsible for three important

radar systems.• the microwave early warning

system

Accomplishments

• the Eagle high altitude bombing system.

• A blind landing system of civilian

• military value (GCA, or Ground-Controlled Approach).

• developed the detonators for setting off plutonium bomb

Accomplishments• The Berkeley 40-foot proton linear

accelerator.

• Published the first suggestion for charge exchange acceleration.

• development of large liquid hydrogen bubble chambers

• devoted most time to study of cosmic rays.

Member of

• National Academy of Sciences

• American Philosophical Society

• American Physical Society (President 1969)

• American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Awards

• Member of National Academy of Engineering.

• Awarded the Collier Trophy

• Awarded the John Scott Medaland Prize

• Awarded the Medal for Merit

Awards

• Was named "California Scientist of the Year"

• Awarded the Einstein Medal.

• Awarded the Pioneer Award of the AIEEE;

• Awarded the National Medal of Science.

Honorary

• de grees:

• Sc.D., University of Chicago

• Sc.D., Carnegie-Mellon University

• Sc.D., Kenyon College

• http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1968/alvarez-bio.html