Ramsey, Norman Foster

Ramsey, Norman Foster

▪ American scientist
born Aug. 27, 1915, Washington, D.C., U.S.

      American physicist who received one-half of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1989 for his development of a technique to induce atoms to shift from one specific energy level to another. (The other half of the prize was awarded to Wolfgang Paul (Paul, Wolfgang) and Hans Georg Dehmelt (Dehmelt, Hans Georg).) Ramsey's innovation, called the separated oscillatory fields method, found application in the precise measurement of time and frequency.

      Ramsey studied physics at Columbia University, N.Y., and received a Ph.D. degree there in 1940. He also earned a D.Sc. degree from the University of Cambridge in 1954. After teaching at various American universities in the 1940s, he taught at Harvard University from 1947, becoming Higgins professor of physics there in 1966.

      In 1949 Ramsey perfected a method to study the structure of atoms by sending them through two separate oscillating electromagnetic fields. The rapid energy-level transitions thereby induced in a beam of atoms produced an interference pattern that could provide important data about the structure and behaviour of atoms. When synchronized with a microwave oscillator, the atoms' oscillations could also be used to measure the passage of time with extreme accuracy, thus providing the basis for the modern cesium atomic clock, which sets present time standards. In the 1950s Ramsey helped develop the hydrogen maser, a microwave-emitting relative of the laser.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ramsey , Norman Foster — (1915–) American physicist Born in Washington DC, Ramsey was educated at Columbia and at Harvard, where he obtained his PhD. He has served as professor of physics at Harvard since 1947. Ramsey was a student of Isidor Rabi and worked with him on… …   Scientists

  • Norman Foster Ramsey, Jr. — Norman Ramsey redirects here. For the U.S. federal judge (1922–1993), see Norman Park Ramsey. Norman Foster Ramsey, Jr. Born August 27, 1915(1915 08 27) Washington, DC Died …   Wikipedia

  • Norman Foster Ramsey — (* 27. August 1915 in Washington, D.C.) ist ein US amerikanischer Physiker. 1989 erhielt er den Physik Nobelpreis für seine Arbeiten, die zu verbesserten spektroskopischen Verfahren in der Atom , Molekül und Kernphysik und zu präzisen Zeit und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Norman Foster Ramsey — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ramsey. Norman Foster Ramsey, Jr., 27 août 1915 à Washington, D.C. et mort le 4 novembre 2011, est un physicien américain. Il est lauréat de la moitié du prix Nobel de physique de 1989[1] not …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Norman Foster Ramsey — Norman Foster Nombre Norman Foster Ramsey Nacimiento 27 d …   Wikipedia Español

  • Norman Foster — or Norm Foster may refer to: * Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank (born 1935), English architect and designer * Norman Foster (director) (1900–1976), American film director * Norman Foster (Australian politician) (1921–2006) * Norm Foster …   Wikipedia

  • Norman Foster (disambiguation) — Norman Foster or Norm Foster may refer to: Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank (born 1935), English architect and designer Norman Foster (Australian politician) (1921–2006) Norman Foster (bass), U.S. operatic bass and actor Norman Foster… …   Wikipedia

  • Ramsey — Norman Foster …   Scientists

  • Norman F. Ramsey — Norman Foster Ramsey Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ramsey. Norman Foster Ramsey, Jr. (né le 27 août, 1915, à Washington, DC) est un physicien américain. Professeur de physique à l Université Harvard depuis 1947, Ramsey a aussi tenu plusieurs… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Norman Ramsey — Norman Foster Ramsey Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ramsey. Norman Foster Ramsey, Jr. (né le 27 août, 1915, à Washington, DC) est un physicien américain. Professeur de physique à l Université Harvard depuis 1947, Ramsey a aussi tenu plusieurs… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”