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Photo Origin: University of Illinois archives |
John Bardeen, Twice Nobel Prize Winner, and the World of Technology John Bardeen, a true innovator of his time, joined the University of Illinois in 1951 as a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Physics. A 42-year-old seasoned physicist, Bardeen was previously a geophysicist at Gulf Oil Company, had received his Ph.D. in Mathematical Physics from Princeton University in 1936, and had been a Junior Fellow at Harvard University’s Society of Fellows. Bardeen began his research on solid state physics at Bell Labs in Summit, New Jersey, which resulted in the creation of the transistor. His invention of a transistor 1/50th the size of the vacuum tube had an enormous impact on the world of technology, allowing for compact electronics that we are so familiar with today. For his invention Bardeen also received his first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1956. In 1951, Dr. Bardeen brought his expertise to the University of Illinois, using his enthusiasm and knowledge to create two research programs: one in physics, focused primarily on quantum systems, superconductivity and quantum liquids, and one in engineering, concentrating on semiconductors. The new research programs allowed for continued investigation and collaboration in physics and engineering, which made Dr. Bardeen the first person to receive two Nobel prizes in the same field. Dr. Bardeen was awarded his second Nobel Prize in 1972 for his theory of superconductivity, also known as the BCS theory. Dr. Bardeen died in 1991 after a 40-year career at the University of Illinois. |
