Robert Hofstadter

Robert H. Hofstadter (1915 -1990) received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1961 for his pioneering studies of electron scattering in atomic nuclei and for his discoveries concerning the structure of nucleons. Born in New York City, he earned his undergraduate degree at City College, with support from the General Electric Company. His doctoral research at Princeton University was concerned with infrared spectra of simple organic molecules and, in particular, with the partial elucidation of the structure of the now well-known "hydrogen bond." He was still a graduate student at Princeton University when he discovered the sodium iodide scintillator, and determined how it detects gamma rays, a discovery that launched his career as a physicist. During World War II, he worked at the Norden Laboratory Corporation, developing automatic pilot systems. He returned to Princeton after the war, to continue exploring the detection and measurement of gamma rays. His discoveries have had far-reaching effects in medicine and biology, as well as physics. From 1950, he made his home at Stanford University, where he was Max H. Stein Professor of Physics and Director of the High Energy Physics Laboratory. His studies of high-energy electrons, neutrons, x-rays, cosmic radiation and the charge distribution within the nucleus of the atom led to his Nobel Prize in 1961. In this audio podcast, recorded at the 1984 Achievement Summit in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he recalls his discovery of the sodium iodide scintillator and the impact of his discovery on his subsequent career. He reminds the Academy's student delegates that the study of little things can lead to the discovery of big ones.