Gamow, George
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George Gamow (1904-1968) was an internationally well-known author and nuclear physicist. He was the chief proponent of the big-bang theory, according to which the universe was formed in a colossal explosion that took place billions of years ago. In addition, his work on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) made a basic contribution to modern genetic theory. Gamow was professor of theoretical physics at George Washington University from 1934-56.
A native of Ukraine (then a part of the former U.S.S.R), Gamow was educated in Odessa, where he attended the Normal School from 1914-20. He then went to the University of Göttingen, Germany, where he did remarkable work in formulating the first theory of radioactivity. During the late 1920s and early 1930s he worked on the mystery of atom splitting with Dr. Niels Bohr of Copenhagen Denmark and Lord Rutherford of Cambridge, England. He felt that his most important achievement in physics was the quantum theory of radioactivity which he developed in 1928 when studying with Dr. Bohr in Copenhagen.
Leaving the Soviet Union in 1933, he came to GW in 1934. Dr. Gamow was a consultant to the Atomic Energy Commission, Army, Navy, and Air Force, and was a guest lecturer all over the United States and abroad. He made frequent visits to laboratories in Los Alamos (where the first atomic bomb was developed) and was present for the explosion of the first hydrogen bomb.
Dr. Gamow began to apply physics to the study of stars soon after coming to GW, and became interested in writing scientific books on the cosmos and earth. These included Birth and Death of the Sun (1940); Mr. Tompkins in Wonderland (1940); Mr. Tompkins Explores the Atom (1944); Biography of the Earth (1941); Atomic Energy in Cosmic and Human Life (1946); The Creation of the Universe (1952); Mr. Tompkins Learns the Facts of Life (1953); One, Two, Three…Infinity (1947); Thirty Years that Shook Physics: The Story of Quantum Theory (1966); and Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself (1967).
Gamow left George Washington University in 1956 for the University of Colorado, where he remained until his death in 1968. A plaque to his memory was dedicated outside Corcoran Hall in 2000.
See also: History of George Gamow on the Physics' Departments site: [1]
Professors are People
The following appeared in the "GWU Alumni Review," Oct. 1948:
Backstage at Lisner Auditorium he wore a pullover sweater with "Property of George Washington University" stamped on it in large blue letters. He was mulling over an "atomic explanation" of how Algernon Lighthead could be used in a split-T formation. The husky Dr. George Gamow, the world's foremost authority on atomic energy in the stars, had been cast as the football coach for the Faculty Follies of '48. His comment on the split-T: "The split-T may only mean the splitting of a Target by bombarding protons or deutrons. Let us imagine the players surrounding the enemy coach to get the secret instructions. The coach is the nucleus. If one kicks him out of the atom by high energy impacts, the enemy atom is destroyed, and the problem is solved."
Dr. Gamow, who is the University's professor of theoretical physics, looks like an athlete. He is big and blond like a Viking, courtly in manner - he makes a small, stiff bow when he greets acquaintances. He possesses a slightly clipped accent as heritage from his native Russia together with an ability to use the language of his adopted country better than most of his fellow Americans. Although his technical papers and books are always news, his popular books such as "Mr. Tompkins Explores the Atom" and "The Birth and Death of The Sun" are almost handbooks for public school science teachers throughout the Nation. His most recent book, "One two three . . . infinity," was written to amaze the layman with a recital of recently discovered scientific wonders. It was dedicated "TO MY SON IGOR, WHO WOULD RATHER BE A COWBOY."
"He was pointed out to me at Bikini as the only scientist in America with a real sense of humor," a United Press reporter once told this writer. The AP man had said, "I get a kick out of calling him. He can always take the most technical information and make it simple." Why is he interested in atomic energy in the stars? Dr. Gamow's answer is quizzical and perhaps a bit romantic. "If you know the sources of energy, you know how stars are born."
Dr. Gamow is a pure scientist who does appreciate practical application, however. The practical application of his studies of the nucleus of the atom and the energy, which comes from it led to the development of the practical use of atomic energy-the atom bomb. Ironically enough, these studies were done at Gottingen, Germany. In the late '2o's and early '3o's Dr. Gamow worked on the mystery of atom splitting with Dr. Niels Bohr of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Lord Rutherford of Cambridge, England. Just two years ago a class of admirals, including Fleet Admirals Chester W. Nimitz and Ernest J. King became his students. He taught them the explanation of the atomic bomb.
Soon after he came to The George Washington University, Dr. Gamow began to apply nuclear physics to study of the stars. Many people do not realize that this is a desk job. Some months ago a photographer came to the University to photograph Dr. Gamow. "Could we get the doc to pose in a laboratory or something?" "The doc" was agreeable. "All right," he said. "I never go into a laboratory, but I don't mind." The photographer changed his mind and placed his subject against a blackboard covered with digits. Although Dr. Gamow is a physicist he does not do laboratory work, and although his work concerns the stars he is not an astronomer. He describes himself as "the man behind the man behind the telescope."
Once he thinks something is true, he must multiply and add and perform many intricate calculations to prove it is true. Or, as in the case of the recently announced discovery of the chemical creation of the universe in about one hour, he may have a student do the calculations as a dissertation. Young Dr. Ralph A. Alpher was the student who prepared these calculations. "I am lazy," Dr. Gamow says, smiling at the thought of his rigorous working schedule. "I am really interested in the creation of the universe," he explains. "The first step was the formation of the elements. I announced the theory last year, and calculations were completed later by Dr. Alpher. On Friday morning, February 13, he found the theory was wrong. The figures didn't fit. During the weekend he found he had made a simple error in arithmetic. By Monday he knew the theory was right. "The second step in the evolution of the universe has to do with the distribution of gases through the universe; the third, their condensation to form stars uniformly distributed through the universe and fourth, the expansion of the universe into small cloud or island universes. "A lot of that remains to be proved." So Dr. Gamow, now only 44, has much to interest him before coming down to earth. As regards the earth, Dr. Gamow says, "From the point of view of the universe, planets are very uninteresting."
Document Information
Images: 2
Photographic Credit: Public Relations files; GW University Historical Photographs Collection
Author or Source: Public relations files; GWU Alumni Review, Oct. 1948
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist
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