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| prizes = {{Nowrap|[[Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize]]{{Small|(1968)}}<br /> [[National Medal of Science]] {{Small|(1983)}}<br />[[Nobel Prize in Physics]] {{Small|(1972)}}<br />[[Comstock Prize in Physics]] {{Small|(1968)}}}}
| prizes = {{Nowrap|[[Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize]]{{Small|(1968)}}<br /> [[National Medal of Science]] {{Small|(1983)}}<br />[[Nobel Prize in Physics]] {{Small|(1972)}}<br />[[Comstock Prize in Physics]] {{Small|(1968)}}}}
}}
}}
'''John Robert Schrieffer''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|r|iː|f|ər}}; May 31, 1931&nbsp;– July 27, 2019)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/ce182adbe46e4bdf89ff172f93fdfd20|title=Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Schrieffer Dies in Florida|last=|first=|date=July 27, 2019|publisher=Associated Press|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref> was an American physicist who, with [[John Bardeen]] and [[Leon Cooper]], was a recipient of the 1972 [[Nobel Prize in Physics]] for developing the [[BCS theory]], the first successful quantum theory of [[superconductivity]]. In 2005, Schrieffer fell asleep while driving and received a sentence of two years in prison for vehicular manslaughter which killed one, and injured seven other people.<ref name=":0" />
'''John Robert Schrieffer''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|r|iː|f|ər}}; May 31, 1931&nbsp;– July 27, 2019)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/ce182adbe46e4bdf89ff172f93fdfd20|title=Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Schrieffer Dies in Florida|date=July 27, 2019|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref> was an American physicist who, with [[John Bardeen]] and [[Leon Cooper]], was a recipient of the 1972 [[Nobel Prize in Physics]] for developing the [[BCS theory]], the first successful quantum theory of [[superconductivity]]. In 2005, Schrieffer fell asleep while driving and received a sentence of two years in prison for vehicular manslaughter which killed one, and injured seven other people.<ref name=":0" />


== Life and career ==
== Life and career ==
Schrieffer was born in [[Oak Park, Illinois]], the son of Louise (Anderson) and John Henry Schrieffer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myheritage.com/names/john_schrieffer|title=John Schrieffer|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=[[MyHeritage]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=August 4, 2019|quote=John, Robert Schrieffer was born on month day 1931, at birth place, Illinois, to John, H. Schrieffer and Louise Schrieffer.}}</ref> His family moved in 1940 to [[Manhasset, New York]], and then in 1947 to [[Eustis, Florida]], where his father, a former pharmaceutical salesman, began a career in the citrus industry. In his Florida days, Schrieffer enjoyed playing with homemade rockets and ham radio, a hobby that sparked an interest in electrical engineering.
Schrieffer was born in [[Oak Park, Illinois]], the son of Louise (Anderson) and John Henry Schrieffer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myheritage.com/names/john_schrieffer|title=John Schrieffer|publisher=[[MyHeritage]]|accessdate=August 4, 2019|quote=John, Robert Schrieffer was born on month day 1931, at birth place, Illinois, to John, H. Schrieffer and Louise Schrieffer.}}</ref> His family moved in 1940 to [[Manhasset, New York]], and then in 1947 to [[Eustis, Florida]], where his father, a former pharmaceutical salesman, began a career in the citrus industry. In his Florida days, Schrieffer enjoyed playing with homemade rockets and ham radio, a hobby that sparked an interest in electrical engineering.


After graduating from [[Eustis High School]] in 1949, Schrieffer was admitted to the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], where for two years he majored in electrical engineering before switching to physics in his junior year. He completed a bachelor's thesis on multiplets in heavy atoms under the direction of [[John C. Slater]] in 1953. Pursuing an interest in solid-state physics, Schrieffer began graduate studies at the [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]], where he was hired immediately as a research assistant to Bardeen. After working out a theoretical problem of electrical conduction on semiconductor surfaces, Schrieffer spent a year in the laboratory, applying the theory to several surface problems. In his third year of graduate studies, he joined Bardeen and Cooper in developing the theory of superconductivity.
After graduating from [[Eustis High School]] in 1949, Schrieffer was admitted to the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], where for two years he majored in electrical engineering before switching to physics in his junior year. He completed a bachelor's thesis on multiplets in heavy atoms under the direction of [[John C. Slater]] in 1953. Pursuing an interest in solid-state physics, Schrieffer began graduate studies at the [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]], where he was hired immediately as a research assistant to Bardeen. After working out a theoretical problem of electrical conduction on semiconductor surfaces, Schrieffer spent a year in the laboratory, applying the theory to several surface problems. In his third year of graduate studies, he joined Bardeen and Cooper in developing the theory of superconductivity.
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Schrieffer recalled that in January 1957 he was on a subway in New York City when he had an idea of how to describe mathematically the ground state of superconducting atoms. Schrieffer and Bardeen's collaborator Cooper had discovered that electrons in a superconductor are grouped in pairs, now called [[Cooper pair]]s, and that the motions of all Cooper pairs within a single superconductor are correlated and function as a single entity due to phonon-electron interactions. Schrieffer's mathematical breakthrough was to describe the behavior of all Cooper pairs at the same time, instead of each individual pair. The day after returning to Illinois, Schrieffer showed his equations to Bardeen, who immediately realized they were the solution to the problem. The BCS theory (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer) of superconductivity, as it is now known, accounted for more than 30 years of experimental results that had stymied some of the greatest theorists in physics.
Schrieffer recalled that in January 1957 he was on a subway in New York City when he had an idea of how to describe mathematically the ground state of superconducting atoms. Schrieffer and Bardeen's collaborator Cooper had discovered that electrons in a superconductor are grouped in pairs, now called [[Cooper pair]]s, and that the motions of all Cooper pairs within a single superconductor are correlated and function as a single entity due to phonon-electron interactions. Schrieffer's mathematical breakthrough was to describe the behavior of all Cooper pairs at the same time, instead of each individual pair. The day after returning to Illinois, Schrieffer showed his equations to Bardeen, who immediately realized they were the solution to the problem. The BCS theory (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer) of superconductivity, as it is now known, accounted for more than 30 years of experimental results that had stymied some of the greatest theorists in physics.


After completing his doctoral dissertation on the theory of superconductivity, Schrieffer spent the 1957–1958 academic year as a [[National Science Foundation]] fellow at the [[University of Birmingham]] in England and at the [[Niels Bohr Institute]] in Copenhagen, where he continued research into superconductivity. Following a year as assistant professor at the University of Chicago, he returned to the University of Illinois in 1959 as a faculty member. In 1960, he went back to the Bohr Institute for a summer visit, during which he became engaged to Anne Grete Thomsen whom he married at Christmas of that year. Two years later, Schrieffer joined the faculty of the [[University of Pennsylvania]] in [[Philadelphia]], and, in 1964, Schrieffer published his book on the BCS theory, Theory of Superconductivity. He held honorary degrees from the [[Technical University of Munich]] and the [[University of Geneva]]. In 1968 Schrieffer, along with Cooper, were awarded the [[Comstock Prize in Physics]] from the [[National Academy of Sciences]].<ref name="Comstock">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/50741.html|title=J. Robert Schrieffer|last=|first=|date=June 19, 2019|website=|publisher=[[National Academy of Sciences]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=August 4, 2019}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize]] by the [[American Physical Society]] the same year.
After completing his doctoral dissertation on the theory of superconductivity, Schrieffer spent the 1957–1958 academic year as a [[National Science Foundation]] fellow at the [[University of Birmingham]] in England and at the [[Niels Bohr Institute]] in Copenhagen, where he continued research into superconductivity. Following a year as assistant professor at the University of Chicago, he returned to the University of Illinois in 1959 as a faculty member. In 1960, he went back to the Bohr Institute for a summer visit, during which he became engaged to Anne Grete Thomsen whom he married at Christmas of that year. Two years later, Schrieffer joined the faculty of the [[University of Pennsylvania]] in [[Philadelphia]], and, in 1964, Schrieffer published his book on the BCS theory, Theory of Superconductivity. He held honorary degrees from the [[Technical University of Munich]] and the [[University of Geneva]]. In 1968 Schrieffer, along with Cooper, were awarded the [[Comstock Prize in Physics]] from the [[National Academy of Sciences]].<ref name="Comstock">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/50741.html|title=J. Robert Schrieffer|date=June 19, 2019|publisher=[[National Academy of Sciences]]|accessdate=August 4, 2019}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize]] by the [[American Physical Society]] the same year.


In 1972, Schrieffer along with Bardeen and Cooper won the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics for developing the BCS theory. In 1980, Schrieffer became a professor at the [[University of California, Santa Barbara]], and rose to chancellor professor in 1984, serving as director of the university's [[Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics]]. In 1992, [[Florida State University]] appointed Schrieffer as a university eminent scholar professor and chief scientist of the [[National High Magnetic Field Laboratory]], where he continued to pursue one of the great goals in physics: room temperature superconductivity.
In 1972, Schrieffer along with Bardeen and Cooper won the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics for developing the BCS theory. In 1980, Schrieffer became a professor at the [[University of California, Santa Barbara]], and rose to chancellor professor in 1984, serving as director of the university's [[Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics]]. In 1992, [[Florida State University]] appointed Schrieffer as a university eminent scholar professor and chief scientist of the [[National High Magnetic Field Laboratory]], where he continued to pursue one of the great goals in physics: room temperature superconductivity.


On September 24, 2004, while driving with a suspended [[Driver's license|license]], Schrieffer was involved in an automobile accident that killed one person and injured seven others. Schrieffer was said to have fallen asleep at the wheel of his car. On November 6, 2005, he was sentenced to two years in [[prison]] for [[Vehicular homicide|vehicular manslaughter]]. Schrieffer was incarcerated in [[Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility]] at Rock Mountain near [[San Diego, California]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/nobel-prize-winning-physicist-gets-two-years-in-prison-for-deadly-crash|title=Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Gets Two Years in Prison for Deadly Crash|author=|first=|date=November 7, 2005|work=The Associated Press|access-date=July 28, 2019|publisher=[[Fox News]]}}</ref>
On September 24, 2004, while driving with a suspended [[Driver's license|license]], Schrieffer was involved in an automobile accident that killed one person and injured seven others. Schrieffer was said to have fallen asleep at the wheel of his car. On November 6, 2005, he was sentenced to two years in [[prison]] for [[Vehicular homicide|vehicular manslaughter]]. Schrieffer was incarcerated in [[Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility]] at Rock Mountain near [[San Diego, California]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/nobel-prize-winning-physicist-gets-two-years-in-prison-for-deadly-crash|title=Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Gets Two Years in Prison for Deadly Crash|date=November 7, 2005|work=The Associated Press|access-date=July 28, 2019|publisher=[[Fox News]]}}</ref>


He died in late July 2019 at a nursing facility in Florida while sleeping. He was 88 years old.<ref name=":0" />
He died in late July 2019 at a nursing facility in Florida while sleeping. He was 88 years old.<ref name=":0" />

Revision as of 03:18, 3 December 2020

John Robert Schrieffer
Schrieffer in 1972
Born(1931-05-31)May 31, 1931
Oak Park, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJuly 27, 2019(2019-07-27) (aged 88)
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materMassachusetts Institute of Technology
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Known forBCS theory
Schrieffer–Wolff transformation
Paramagnons
AwardsOliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize(1968)
National Medal of Science (1983)
Nobel Prize in Physics (1972)
Comstock Prize in Physics (1968)
Scientific career
FieldsCondensed-matter physics
InstitutionsUniversity of Pennsylvania
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of Florida
Florida State University
University of Birmingham
Doctoral advisorJohn Bardeen

John Robert Schrieffer (/ˈʃriːfər/; May 31, 1931 – July 27, 2019)[1] was an American physicist who, with John Bardeen and Leon Cooper, was a recipient of the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics for developing the BCS theory, the first successful quantum theory of superconductivity. In 2005, Schrieffer fell asleep while driving and received a sentence of two years in prison for vehicular manslaughter which killed one, and injured seven other people.[1]

Life and career

Schrieffer was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Louise (Anderson) and John Henry Schrieffer.[2] His family moved in 1940 to Manhasset, New York, and then in 1947 to Eustis, Florida, where his father, a former pharmaceutical salesman, began a career in the citrus industry. In his Florida days, Schrieffer enjoyed playing with homemade rockets and ham radio, a hobby that sparked an interest in electrical engineering.

After graduating from Eustis High School in 1949, Schrieffer was admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where for two years he majored in electrical engineering before switching to physics in his junior year. He completed a bachelor's thesis on multiplets in heavy atoms under the direction of John C. Slater in 1953. Pursuing an interest in solid-state physics, Schrieffer began graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he was hired immediately as a research assistant to Bardeen. After working out a theoretical problem of electrical conduction on semiconductor surfaces, Schrieffer spent a year in the laboratory, applying the theory to several surface problems. In his third year of graduate studies, he joined Bardeen and Cooper in developing the theory of superconductivity.

Schrieffer recalled that in January 1957 he was on a subway in New York City when he had an idea of how to describe mathematically the ground state of superconducting atoms. Schrieffer and Bardeen's collaborator Cooper had discovered that electrons in a superconductor are grouped in pairs, now called Cooper pairs, and that the motions of all Cooper pairs within a single superconductor are correlated and function as a single entity due to phonon-electron interactions. Schrieffer's mathematical breakthrough was to describe the behavior of all Cooper pairs at the same time, instead of each individual pair. The day after returning to Illinois, Schrieffer showed his equations to Bardeen, who immediately realized they were the solution to the problem. The BCS theory (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer) of superconductivity, as it is now known, accounted for more than 30 years of experimental results that had stymied some of the greatest theorists in physics.

After completing his doctoral dissertation on the theory of superconductivity, Schrieffer spent the 1957–1958 academic year as a National Science Foundation fellow at the University of Birmingham in England and at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, where he continued research into superconductivity. Following a year as assistant professor at the University of Chicago, he returned to the University of Illinois in 1959 as a faculty member. In 1960, he went back to the Bohr Institute for a summer visit, during which he became engaged to Anne Grete Thomsen whom he married at Christmas of that year. Two years later, Schrieffer joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and, in 1964, Schrieffer published his book on the BCS theory, Theory of Superconductivity. He held honorary degrees from the Technical University of Munich and the University of Geneva. In 1968 Schrieffer, along with Cooper, were awarded the Comstock Prize in Physics from the National Academy of Sciences.[3] He was awarded the Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize by the American Physical Society the same year.

In 1972, Schrieffer along with Bardeen and Cooper won the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics for developing the BCS theory. In 1980, Schrieffer became a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and rose to chancellor professor in 1984, serving as director of the university's Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics. In 1992, Florida State University appointed Schrieffer as a university eminent scholar professor and chief scientist of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, where he continued to pursue one of the great goals in physics: room temperature superconductivity.

On September 24, 2004, while driving with a suspended license, Schrieffer was involved in an automobile accident that killed one person and injured seven others. Schrieffer was said to have fallen asleep at the wheel of his car. On November 6, 2005, he was sentenced to two years in prison for vehicular manslaughter. Schrieffer was incarcerated in Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility at Rock Mountain near San Diego, California.[4]

He died in late July 2019 at a nursing facility in Florida while sleeping. He was 88 years old.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Schrieffer Dies in Florida". Associated Press. July 27, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  2. ^ "John Schrieffer". MyHeritage. Retrieved August 4, 2019. John, Robert Schrieffer was born on month day 1931, at birth place, Illinois, to John, H. Schrieffer and Louise Schrieffer.
  3. ^ "J. Robert Schrieffer". National Academy of Sciences. June 19, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  4. ^ "Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Gets Two Years in Prison for Deadly Crash". The Associated Press. Fox News. November 7, 2005. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
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