Leon Lederman: 1988 Nobel Prize in Physics
Tiffany Christian and host Sasha Whittaker discuss the winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize for Physics, Leon Lederman.
Born in 1922 in Manhattan, Lederman always had a passion for knowledge. After completing a
B.A in Chemistry at CCNY and serving in the army, he returned to NYC to get his masters and Ph.D
in Physics. Working with the Nevis Synchrocyclotron at Columbia University, Lederman, along
with Melvin Shwartz and Jack Steinberger discovered the muon neutrino, an sub atomic particle that is 200 times smaller
than an electron.
For more information go here
How did the army help him continue his passion for physics?
He actually was inspired by his friend in college to pursue physics. His army experience somehow reinforced that belief for him.
Did he do anything in the of field of chemistry?
Nope, he was completely married to the field of physics after he was honorably discharged from service.
How did being in the army push him to finally go into physics? Or was it just a catalyst that motivated him?
It was the catalyst that motivated him. Lederman said in an interview, “in College I majored in chemistry, but I also took a lot of physics courses. Then I won the war, one of those wars, I forget which one. I spent three years in the army, thinking about what I’d do when I finished and went to graduate school. When I finished military service, I decided physics was more fun. Why? Because the kids who were in physics happened to be more fun than the kids I met in chemistry. So when I got out of the army, I applied to graduate schools in physics.”
Is his discovery useful for scientists at CERN?
His discovery of the neutrino allowed for scientists to discover other types of neutrinos as well as think of new applications.
What was so exciting at the University of Chicago that he would leave his positions at both Ferme Lab and Columbia? Were there greater research opportunities?
Do you think chemistry and physics are ever mutually exclusive?
Physics is the basis for all sciences so to do chemistry you need physics. They are two fields of physical science that are deeply involved with each other.
Did his undergraduate work in chemistry help him in his physics career?
I don’t believe so, he was largely focused on physics research.
What are some applications of his neutrino research?
Since they passed unimpeded through matter, scientist have been toying with the idea of using to transmit messages.
What exactly convinced him to switch from chemistry to physics? What did his friend say?
I couldn’t determine exactly what he said, but his friends must’ve been extra persuasive.
After deciding to go into physics, why did he choose to work with subatomic particles?
Leon said in an interview, “I remember reading about a famous physicist, Carl Andersen, who won the Nobel Prize in the ’30’s for discovering the positive electron. I remember a very romantic scene in the newspaper. He had to drag some apparatus up to the top of a mountain and, using the cosmic rays as a source of particles, he discovered this positive electron. To me that whole idea of going up to the top of the mountain to trap a particle was romantic, exciting, and added to this whole mystique.”
It seems like a logical leap from chemistry down to a more fundamental science. Do you have any idea what his motivation was? It seems like maybe it was that he was intent on finding answers to questions even more fundamental than those chemistry could have answered.
In an interview, Lederman stated, “I remember reading about a famous physicist, Carl Andersen, who won the Nobel Prize in the ’30’s for discovering the positive electron. I remember a very romantic scene in the newspaper. He had to drag some apparatus up to the top of a mountain and, using the cosmic rays as a source of particles, he discovered this positive electron. To me that whole idea of going up to the top of the mountain to trap a particle was romantic, exciting, and added to this whole mystique.”
Did his army career involve research and development?
The God Particle is very controversial in society…did Lederman ever face religious or political criticism or backlash for his work?