Charles Pence Slichter
Encyclopedia
Charles Pence Slichter is an American physicist
, best known for his work on nuclear magnetic resonance
and superconductivity
.
He was awarded the 2007 National Medal of Science
"for establishing nuclear magnetic resonance as a powerful tool to reveal the fundamental molecular properties of liquids and solids. His inspired teaching has led generations of physicists and chemists to develop a host of modern technologies in condensed matter physics, chemistry, biology and medicine."
and superconductivity
. His most important work includes:
He also served as a member of the Harvard Corporation, Harvard's primary governing body, from 1970–1995; as a member of the board of the National Science Foundation
from 1976–1984; as a member of the President's Science Advisory Committee
from 1965–1969; as a member of the President's Committee on the National Medal of Science
, 1969–1974; and as a member of the President's Committee on Science and Technology Policy, 1976. In 1993 Slichter was awarded the Comstock Prize in Physics
from the National Academy of Sciences
.
, the grandson of mathematician Charles S. Slichter
, and the father of musician Jacob Slichter
.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
, best known for his work on nuclear magnetic resonance
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Nuclear magnetic resonance is a physical phenomenon in which magnetic nuclei in a magnetic field absorb and re-emit electromagnetic radiation...
and superconductivity
Superconductivity
Superconductivity is a phenomenon of exactly zero electrical resistance occurring in certain materials below a characteristic temperature. It was discovered by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes on April 8, 1911 in Leiden. Like ferromagnetism and atomic spectral lines, superconductivity is a quantum...
.
He was awarded the 2007 National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
"for establishing nuclear magnetic resonance as a powerful tool to reveal the fundamental molecular properties of liquids and solids. His inspired teaching has led generations of physicists and chemists to develop a host of modern technologies in condensed matter physics, chemistry, biology and medicine."
Work
Slichter's research has focused primarily on NMRNMR
NMR may refer to:Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance:* Nuclear magnetic resonance* NMR spectroscopy* Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance* Protein nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy* Proton NMR* Carbon-13 NMR...
and superconductivity
Superconductivity
Superconductivity is a phenomenon of exactly zero electrical resistance occurring in certain materials below a characteristic temperature. It was discovered by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes on April 8, 1911 in Leiden. Like ferromagnetism and atomic spectral lines, superconductivity is a quantum...
. His most important work includes:
- Co-discoverer of the Hebel-Slichter effect, giving the earliest evidence for the BCS theoryBCS theoryBCS theory — proposed by Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer in 1957 — is the first microscopic theory of superconductivity since its discovery in 1911. The theory describes superconductivity as a microscopic effect caused by a "condensation" of pairs of electrons into a boson-like state...
of superconductivity.
- With Tom Carver, Slichter performed the first ENDOR, and gave the first demonstration of the Overhauser EffectNuclear Overhauser effectThe Nuclear Overhauser Effect is the transfer of nuclear spin polarization from one nuclear spin population to another via cross-relaxation. It is a common phenomenon observed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The theoretical basis for the NOE was described and experimentally verified...
.
- With Gutowsky and McCall, discovered J-couplingJ-couplingJ-coupling is the coupling between two nuclear spins due to the influence of bonding electrons on the magnetic field running between the two nuclei. J-coupling contains information about dihedral angles, which can be estimated using the Karplus equation...
.
He also served as a member of the Harvard Corporation, Harvard's primary governing body, from 1970–1995; as a member of the board of the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
from 1976–1984; as a member of the President's Science Advisory Committee
President's Science Advisory Committee
In 1951 President of the United States Harry S. Truman established the Science Advisory Committee as part of the Office of Defense Mobilization . As a direct response to the launches of the Soviet artificial satellites, Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2, on October 4 and November 3, 1957, the Science...
from 1965–1969; as a member of the President's Committee on the National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
, 1969–1974; and as a member of the President's Committee on Science and Technology Policy, 1976. In 1993 Slichter was awarded the Comstock Prize in Physics
Comstock Prize in Physics
The Comstock Prize in Physics is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "for recent innovative discovery or investigation in electricity, magnetism, or radiant energy, broadly interpreted."...
from the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.
Family
Slichter is the son of economist Sumner SlichterSumner Slichter
Sumner Huber Slichter was an American economist and the first Lamont University Professor at Harvard University. Slichter was considered by many to be the pre-eminent labor economist of the 1940s and 1950s.-Education:...
, the grandson of mathematician Charles S. Slichter
Charles S. Slichter
Charles Sumner Slichter was a well-respected mathematician and physicist. Some of his contributions to the body of science came from hydrogeology in which he developed a method of quantifying the velocity of ground-water underflow in river valleys...
, and the father of musician Jacob Slichter
Jacob Slichter
Jacob Slichter is an American musician. He graduated from Harvard with a degree in African American studies and history...
.
External links
- http://physics.illinois.edu/People/Slichter/
- http://www.ebyte.it/library/educards/nmr/Nmr_HebelSlichter.html