Herbert Goldstein
Encyclopedia
Herbert Goldstein was an American physicist
and the author of the standard graduate textbook Classical Mechanics. He received a B.S. from City College of New York
in 1940 and a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1943.
Goldstein was from 1942 to 1946 a staff member of the wartime Radiation Laboratory
at M.I.T.
, where he engaged in research on the theory of waveguides and magnetrons
and on the characteristics of radar echoes. He was an instructor in the Physics Department at Harvard University
from 1946 to 1949. In 1949–50 he was an AEC
postdoctoral Fellow at M.I.T., and served as a Visiting Associate Professor of Physics at Brandeis University
, 1952–53. From 1950, Goldstein was a Senior Physicist at Nuclear Development Corporation of America, where he directed theoretical research on the shielding of nuclear reactor
s and on neutron
cross sections of interest for reactor design.
He was a founding member and served as president of the Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists
.
When he died he was a Professor Emeritus of nuclear science and engineering at Columbia University
.
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 the author of the standard graduate textbook Classical Mechanics. He received a B.S. from City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1940 and a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1943.
Goldstein was from 1942 to 1946 a staff member of the wartime Radiation Laboratory
Radiation Laboratory
The Radiation Laboratory, commonly called the Rad Lab, was located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts and functioned from October 1940 until December 31, 1945...
at M.I.T.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, where he engaged in research on the theory of waveguides and magnetrons
Cavity magnetron
The cavity magnetron is a high-powered vacuum tube that generates microwaves using the interaction of a stream of electrons with a magnetic field. The 'resonant' cavity magnetron variant of the earlier magnetron tube was invented by John Randall and Harry Boot in 1940 at the University of...
and on the characteristics of radar echoes. He was an instructor in the Physics Department at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
from 1946 to 1949. In 1949–50 he was an AEC
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
postdoctoral Fellow at M.I.T., and served as a Visiting Associate Professor of Physics at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
, 1952–53. From 1950, Goldstein was a Senior Physicist at Nuclear Development Corporation of America, where he directed theoretical research on the shielding of nuclear reactor
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
s and on neutron
Neutron
The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle which has the symbol or , no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. With the exception of hydrogen, nuclei of atoms consist of protons and neutrons, which are therefore collectively referred to as nucleons. The number of...
cross sections of interest for reactor design.
He was a founding member and served as president of the Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists
Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists
The Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists is an organization of scientists that focuses on the interrelationships between science and Orthodox Jewish Halakha....
.
When he died he was a Professor Emeritus of nuclear science and engineering at 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...
.
External links
- Classical Mechanics, second edition Addison-Wesley 1964, Herbert Goldstein.
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory Obituary
- Columbia university Obituary