Floyd K. Richtmyer
Encyclopedia
Floyd Karker Richtmyer was a physicist
and educator in the United States
.
He studied with Perley Nutting at Cornell University
; both were students of Edward L. Nichols. Richtmyer graduated with his A.B. in 1904 and Ph.D. in 1910.
He taught physics at Drexel University
, but returned to Cornell as instructor in 1906, where he remained for the duration of his career.
He became assistant professor of physics in 1911, full professor in 1918, and then dean of the graduate school in 1931.
He also taught summer classes at the University of California, Berkeley
, Stanford University
, and Columbia University
.
When the new Journal of the Optical Society of America
(JOSA
) began in 1917, Richtmyer wrote the very first article, on page 1 of volume 1, titled "Opportunities for Research."
In 1918 and 1919, he served as OSA’s vice president, and president in 1920.
In 1928, he published a very popular textbook Introduction to Modern Physics (with E.H.Kennard,T. Lauritsen and John N. Cooper in later revisions). In 1933, he succeeded Paul Foote as editor of JOSA, and he served until his death. He published 11 items in JOSA, mostly in the period between 1922 and 1929.
His son Robert Davis Richtmyer
was also a physicist and mathematician. He had a daughter Sarah R. Richtmyer who married John T. Mann, and another son Lawson E. Richtmyer.
In 1929 he was awarded the Louis E. Levy Medal of the Franklin Institute
for the study of X-ray
s.
After his death from a coronary thrombosis
on November 7, 1939, the American Association of Physics Teachers
, which he had helped form, established the Richtmyer Memorial Lecture.
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...
and educator in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Richtmyer was born October 12, 1881, in the rural community of Cobleskill, New York.He studied with Perley Nutting at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
; both were students of Edward L. Nichols. Richtmyer graduated with his A.B. in 1904 and Ph.D. in 1910.
He taught physics at Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, but returned to Cornell as instructor in 1906, where he remained for the duration of his career.
He became assistant professor of physics in 1911, full professor in 1918, and then dean of the graduate school in 1931.
He also taught summer classes at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
When the new Journal of the Optical Society of America
Optical Society of America
The Optical Society is a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light—optics and photonics—in theory and application, by means of publishing, organizing conferences and exhibitions, partnership with industry, and education. The organization has members in more than 100 countries...
(JOSA
Josa
Josa is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 30 inhabitants....
) began in 1917, Richtmyer wrote the very first article, on page 1 of volume 1, titled "Opportunities for Research."
In 1918 and 1919, he served as OSA’s vice president, and president in 1920.
In 1928, he published a very popular textbook Introduction to Modern Physics (with E.H.Kennard,T. Lauritsen and John N. Cooper in later revisions). In 1933, he succeeded Paul Foote as editor of JOSA, and he served until his death. He published 11 items in JOSA, mostly in the period between 1922 and 1929.
His son Robert Davis Richtmyer
Robert D. Richtmyer
Robert Davis Richtmyer was an American physicist, mathematician, educator, author, and musician.-Biography:Richtmyer was born on October 10, 1910 in Ithaca, New York.His father was physicist Floyd K...
was also a physicist and mathematician. He had a daughter Sarah R. Richtmyer who married John T. Mann, and another son Lawson E. Richtmyer.
In 1929 he was awarded the Louis E. Levy Medal of the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
for the study of X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
s.
After his death from a coronary thrombosis
Coronary thrombosis
Coronary thrombosis is a form of thrombosis affecting the coronary circulation. It is associated with stenosis subsequent to clotting. The condition is considered as a type of ischaemic heart disease.It can lead to a myocardial infarction...
on November 7, 1939, the American Association of Physics Teachers
American Association of Physics Teachers
The American Association of Physics Teachers was founded in 1930 for the purpose of "dissemination of knowledge of physics, particularly by way of teaching." There are more than 10,000 members that reside in over 30 countries. AAPT publications include two peer-reviewed journals, the American...
, which he had helped form, established the Richtmyer Memorial Lecture.