Physicists

Abstract A selection of the course and teaching notes, correspondence, technical files, and photographs of Carl D. Anderson (1905-1991) form the collection known as the Carl D. Anderson Papers in the Archives of the California Institute of Technology. Working under Robert A. Millikan at Caltech, Anderson conducted experiments on the penetrating radiation known as cosmic rays with a magnet cloud chamber, and in 1936 he won the Nobel Prize in physics for his discovery of the positive electron, or...

Scope and Contents

The Ronald W.P. Drever papers document his career and research at Caltech with his research in laser interferomters, including his collaborative work in what was known as Gravity Wave Physics and the founding of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). The collection includes correspondence, memos, research notebooks, and a collection of Caltech and the Physics, Math, and Astronomy (PMA) Division announcements.

Abstract

Jesse William Monroe DuMond, experimental physicist and professor of physics at Caltech, 1938-1963, was known for his work on physical constants and spectroscopic instrumentation. His papers contain principally his scientific correspondence, with some reprints, photos of experimental apparatus, and biographical material, the latter including his unpublished autobiography.

Abstract

Epstein was a physicist at California Institute of Technology from 1921-1953; he taught advanced courses in mathematical and theoretical physics. Collection includes general and family correspondence; personal and biographical material; notebooks; manuscripts; class notes by a Caltech student; books, mostly technical and in Russian; reprints of Epstein's writings.

Scope and Contents

The scientific and personal correspondence, organizational and government files, technical and teaching notes, writings and talks, civic and social action files, biographical and family papers, and a small collection of audiovisual material of Murray Gell-Mann form the Murray Gell-Mann Papers.

Abstract

The small collection of 36 items contains 20 letters and postcards of Richard Feynman to his childhood friend Elmer W.Heller, in addition to letters from others to Elmer Heller, including two letters from Arline Greenbaum, Feynman's first wife. Also included are some miscellaneous documents and photos related to Richard Feynman. The collection was assembled and donated by Elmer Heller's brother, Joseph Heller.

Abstract This collection documents the career of Robert B. Leighton, who served as a member of the physics faculty at the California Institute of Technology from 1949 until 1986. The materials relating to the California Institute of Technology include research proposals for funding on design projects for NASA, radio and optical telescope dish designs (Owens Valley Radio Observatory and Keck Telescope), and radio astronomy, and other observational data. The papers also contain lecture notes to courses...

Scope and Contents The core of the Robert A. Millikan Papers consists of the official papers generated by Millikan during the 25 years that he was the executive officer at the Institute. The bulk of the papers consist of correspondence, lecture notes, and other materials dealing with scientific and academic matters.For scholars pursuing topics related to Millikan’s professional activities, the first five series will hold the greatest interest as they contain the bulk of correspondence and other...

Abstract

The papers of H. Victor Neher (1904-1999), Caltech professor of physics, 1931-1970. Neher was one of Caltech's early PhDs in physics. He belonged to Robert A. Millikan's cosmic-ray research group at Caltech for 20 years and served on the Caltech faculty for over 40. His papers include correspondence, especially with and by Millikan; cosmic-ray data, slides and photographs of apparatus, and expedition journals; reprints; and an autobiography titled "Memories."

Abstract Howard P. Robertson was professor of mathematical physics at Caltech in 1927-1929 and again from 1947 until his death in 1961. He made notable contributions to the fields of relativity and cosmology and held important positions in the U.S. government related to national defense and science advising. His papers include correspondence, some with the most prominent physicists and mathematicians of his day; papers relating to professional organizations, companies, and government; teaching,...

Abstract

The working papers, correspondence, publications, and biographical material of physicist Fredrik Zachariasen form the collection known as the Fredrik Zachariasen Papers in the Archives of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Zachariasen specialized in theoretical physics, focusing on the interactions of elementary particles at high energies. He was an active member of the JASON defense advisory group, which was organized in 1960 to work on problems of national security.