- Describes the life and work of one of the founders of NMR, laser spectroscopy and non-linear optics
- Presents a detailed and panoramic view of the developments in science in the second half of the twentieth century
- Describes Bloembergen's pioneering work in quantum electronics including the invention of the three-level maser
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- About this book
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This biography is a personal portrait of one of the best-known Dutch physicists, Nicolaas Bloembergen. Born in 1920 in Dordrecht, Bloembergen studied physics in Utrecht, leaving after World War II for the United States, where he became an American citizen in 1958. At Harvard University, he pioneered nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR, used in chemistry and biology for structure identification; moreover leading to MRI), laser theory and nonlinear optics. In 1978 he was awarded the Lorentz Medal for his contribution to the theory of nonlinear optics (used in fiber optics), and in 1981 he received the Nobel Prize for physics, along with Arthur Schawlow and Kai Siegbahn.
The book is based on numerous conversations with Nicolaas Bloembergen himself, his wife Deli Brink, his family, and colleagues in science. It describes his childhood and study in Bilthoven and Utrecht, the first postwar years at Harvard, the discoveries of masers and lasers, and the award of the Nobel Prize. It also delves into Bloembergen's involvement in American politics, particularly his role in Ronald Reagan's controversial "Star Wars" program.
- About the authors
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Dr. Rob Herber was Associate Professor at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam. Amongst others, he developed both methods and apparatus for atomic absorption spectrometry and an optical pyrometer for this apparatus. He is currently a guest researcher at the Descartes Centre of Utrecht University.
- Table of contents (16 chapters)
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The Bloembergen Dynasty: High Peaks and Deep Valleys
Pages 3-20
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Bilthoven: Playground for the Elite (1925–1938). Primary School and High School
Pages 21-50
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In the Footsteps of Lorentz, Kramers, and Ornstein
Pages 53-71
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BSc and MSc Exams in Wartime—Infected by Science
Pages 73-92
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Quantum Mechanics and Oil Lamps: Bilthoven in the War
Pages 93-108
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Table of contents (16 chapters)
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Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
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- Book Title
- Nico Bloembergen
- Book Subtitle
- Master of Light
- Authors
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- Rob Herber
- Series Title
- Springer Biographies
- Copyright
- 2019
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Copyright Holder
- Springer Nature Switzerland AG
- eBook ISBN
- 978-3-030-25737-8
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-030-25737-8
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-3-030-25736-1
- Series ISSN
- 2365-0613
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XX, 381
- Topics
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