Robert James Moon
Encyclopedia
Robert James Moon was an American physicist
, chemist
and engineer
. An important figure in 20th century nuclear science, he was involved in America's wartime Manhattan Project
. He was a founding member of the Fusion Energy Foundation
and a close collaborator of the LaRouche movement
. He pioneered work on the fundamental structure of the atomic nucleus
based on platonic solids.
at the age of 16 in 1928. He earned a Ph.D. degree in physical chemistry under William Draper Harkins and then a doctorate in physics. Starting in the 1930s, he taught at both departments.
In the 1930s, Moon built the second cyclotron
in the world, with many improvements over the first device constructed by Ernest Lawrence
. During World War II, he played a key role in the Manhattan Project
. After the war, he constructed the first scanning X-ray microscope
and pioneered in optical biophysics studies on the action potential
in nerves. He conducted biophysical research in connection with the Argonne National Laboratory
.
His study of the electrodynamic theories of André-Marie Ampère
and Wilhelm Weber
led him to reconsider the usual interpretation of the Rutherford scattering
data, which ignores the variation in force between charged particles as a result of relative velocities and accelerations. Calculations based on the Weber electrodynamics forced Moon to re-conceptualize most of what is, still today, taken for granted in atomic and nuclear physics.
For some time he was editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Fusion Energy.
’s conception of the solar system, as described in Kepler's work Mysterium Cosmographicum
. The model is also inspired by the discovery by von Klitzing of the quantum Hall effect, leading Moon to believe that space itself is quantized, and that the nucleons are positioned at discrete locations, i.e. at the vertices of a set of nested platonic solids.
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...
, chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. An important figure in 20th century nuclear science, he was involved in America's wartime Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
. He was a founding member of the Fusion Energy Foundation
Fusion Energy Foundation
Fusion Energy Foundation was a non-profit think tank cofounded by Lyndon LaRouche in 1974 in New York. It promoted the construction of nuclear power plants, research into fusion power and beam weapons and other causes. The FEF was called fusion's greatest private supporter...
and a close collaborator of the LaRouche movement
LaRouche movement
The LaRouche movement is an international political and cultural network that promotes Lyndon LaRouche and his ideas. It has included scores of organizations and companies around the world. Their activities include campaigning, private intelligence gathering, and publishing numerous periodicals,...
. He pioneered work on the fundamental structure of the atomic nucleus
Atomic nucleus
The nucleus is the very dense region consisting of protons and neutrons at the center of an atom. It was discovered in 1911, as a result of Ernest Rutherford's interpretation of the famous 1909 Rutherford experiment performed by Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden, under the direction of Rutherford. The...
based on platonic solids.
Life and Work
From a rural background, he arrived at the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
at the age of 16 in 1928. He earned a Ph.D. degree in physical chemistry under William Draper Harkins and then a doctorate in physics. Starting in the 1930s, he taught at both departments.
In the 1930s, Moon built the second cyclotron
Cyclotron
In technology, a cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator. In physics, the cyclotron frequency or gyrofrequency is the frequency of a charged particle moving perpendicularly to the direction of a uniform magnetic field, i.e. a magnetic field of constant magnitude and direction...
in the world, with many improvements over the first device constructed by Ernest Lawrence
Ernest Lawrence
Ernest Orlando Lawrence was an American physicist and Nobel Laureate, known for his invention, utilization, and improvement of the cyclotron atom-smasher beginning in 1929, based on his studies of the works of Rolf Widerøe, and his later work in uranium-isotope separation for the Manhattan Project...
. During World War II, he played a key role in the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
. After the war, he constructed the first scanning X-ray microscope
X-ray microscope
An X-ray microscope uses electromagnetic radiation in the soft X-ray band to produce images of very small objects.Unlike visible light, X-rays do not reflect or refract easily, and they are invisible to the human eye. Therefore the basic process of an X-ray microscope is to expose film or use a...
and pioneered in optical biophysics studies on the action potential
Action potential
In physiology, an action potential is a short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory. Action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, called excitable cells, which include neurons, muscle cells, and...
in nerves. He conducted biophysical research in connection with the Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory is the first science and engineering research national laboratory in the United States, receiving this designation on July 1, 1946. It is the largest national laboratory by size and scope in the Midwest...
.
His study of the electrodynamic theories of André-Marie Ampère
André-Marie Ampère
André-Marie Ampère was a French physicist and mathematician who is generally regarded as one of the main discoverers of electromagnetism. The SI unit of measurement of electric current, the ampere, is named after him....
and Wilhelm Weber
Wilhelm Weber
Wilhelm Weber may refer to:*Wilhelm Eduard Weber , German physicist*Wilhelm Weber , German Olympic gymnast*Wilhelm Weber , SS-Obersturmführer 33. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS Charlemagne , awarded the Knight's Cross*Willi Weber, Wilhelm "Willi" Friedrich Weber, motorsport manager...
led him to reconsider the usual interpretation of the Rutherford scattering
Rutherford scattering
In physics, Rutherford scattering is a phenomenon that was explained by Ernest Rutherford in 1911, and led to the development of the Rutherford model of the atom, and eventually to the Bohr model. It is now exploited by the materials analytical technique Rutherford backscattering...
data, which ignores the variation in force between charged particles as a result of relative velocities and accelerations. Calculations based on the Weber electrodynamics forced Moon to re-conceptualize most of what is, still today, taken for granted in atomic and nuclear physics.
For some time he was editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Fusion Energy.
Moon model
As an outgrowth of seminars conducted with LaRouche and other scientific collaborators in the 19841986 period, Moon came up with his proposal for a geometric ordering of protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus based on nested platonic solids. This "Moon Model", published in Fusion Magazine, is inspired by Johannes KeplerJohannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler was a German mathematician, astronomer and astrologer. A key figure in the 17th century scientific revolution, he is best known for his eponymous laws of planetary motion, codified by later astronomers, based on his works Astronomia nova, Harmonices Mundi, and Epitome of Copernican...
’s conception of the solar system, as described in Kepler's work Mysterium Cosmographicum
Mysterium Cosmographicum
Mysterium Cosmographicum, is an astronomy book by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler, published at Tübingen in 1596 and in a second edition in 1621...
. The model is also inspired by the discovery by von Klitzing of the quantum Hall effect, leading Moon to believe that space itself is quantized, and that the nucleons are positioned at discrete locations, i.e. at the vertices of a set of nested platonic solids.