| Description |
1 online resource |
| Contents |
His Childhood -- The Formative UBC Years -- Exciting Graduate Years With Oppenheimer -- The First Marriage, to Dagmar von Lieven -- The Very First Nuclear Reactor -- Designing the First Atomic Bomb -- Opposing Nuclear Weapons Proliferation -- Becoming Oppenheimer's Successor at Caltech -- Contributions to Physics at Caltech -- Pioneering Work in Astrophysics : Variable Stars -- As Provost : Achieving His Dreams for Caltech -- The Second Marriage, to I.-Juliana Sackmann -- Daughters Late in Life -- Interim President of Caltech -- Later Years : Teaching and Research -- Radiation Dosimetry in Hiroshima and Nagasaki -- The Spring Valley Ranch : Fulfilling a Dream -- Robert's Health : Struggles and Successes -- An Innate Grace |
| Summary |
Robert F. Christy was a fascinating physicist who was one of the key players in some of the most dramatic events of the 20th century. He was one of Oppenheimer's students, whom Oppenheimer hailed as "one of the best in the world". He was a co-creator of the world's first nuclear reactor and the first atom bombs, of which the most practical design was called the "Christy Gadget". Later, he became a leader in the effort to contain nuclear proliferation, leading up to the SALT talks, and headed a study on long-term health effects of radiation crucial for medical safety standards. He also made pioneering contributions in the field of astrophysics, working on the variable stars (Cepheids) that are key distance indicators in the universe. Robert was equally fascinating as a person. He remarried at nearly 60 to an astrophysicist 26 years younger from some 6,000 miles initial separation. They had two daughters late in his life. Robert stayed active both professionally and physically into his nineties. He would still gallop on his horse at the age of 93. This biography is brought alive not only with words, but also with the many treasured photographs of Robert, his family, and his colleagues |
| Notes |
Includes index |
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English |
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Print version record |
| Subject |
Christy, Robert F
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| SUBJECT |
Christy, Robert F., 1916-2012 fast |
| Subject |
California Institute of Technology -- Biography
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| SUBJECT |
California Institute of Technology fast |
| Subject |
Physicists -- United States -- Biography
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Nuclear physics -- United States -- History -- 20th century
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Astrophysics -- United States -- History -- 20th century
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Nuclear physics -- History -- 20th century
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BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY -- Science & Technology.
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SCIENCE -- Energy.
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SCIENCE -- Mechanics -- General.
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SCIENCE -- Physics -- General.
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Astrophysics
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Nuclear physics
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Physicists
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United States
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| Genre/Form |
Biographies
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History
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Biographies.
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Biographies.
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| LC no. |
2013012736 |
| ISBN |
9789814460255 |
|
9814460257 |
|
1299713637 |
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9781299713635 |
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