John Archibald Wheeler

American physicist

John Archibald Wheeler (July 9, 1911 – April 13, 2008) was an American theoretical physicist. He was known for his interest in general relativity in the United States. Wheeler also worked with Niels Bohr in explaining the basic principles behind nuclear fission.

John Archibald Wheeler
Wheeler before the Hermann Weyl-Conference 1985 in Kiel, Germany
Born(1911-07-09)July 9, 1911
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
DiedApril 13, 2008(2008-04-13) (aged 96)
Hightstown, New Jersey, United States
NationalityAmerican
Alma materJohns Hopkins University (Ph.D.)
Known for
SpouseJanette Hegner
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics
Institutions
ThesisTheory of the dispersion and absorption of helium (1933)
Doctoral advisorKarl Herzfeld
Doctoral students

He is best known for using the term "black hole" and for inventing the terms "quantum foam", "neutron moderator", "wormhole" and "it from bit", and for hypothesizing the "one-electron universe".[1]

On April 13, 2008, Wheeler died of pneumonia at the age of 96 in Hightstown, New Jersey.[2]

References change

  1. Wheeler, John Archibald; Ford, Kenneth (1998). Geons, Black Holes, and Quantum Foam: A Life in Physics. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. ISBN 0-393-04642-7.
  2. Overbye, Dennis (April 14, 2008). "John A. Wheeler, Physicist Who Coined the Term 'Black Hole', Is Dead at 96". The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2008.

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