Wigner, Eugene
| Name |
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| Birthname | Jenö Pal Wigner | ||||
| born on | 17 November 1902 | ||||
| Place | Budapest, Hungary, 47n30, 19e05 | ||||
| Timezone | MET h1e (is standard time) | ||||
| Data source |
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| Astrology data |   24°10'  
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Biography
Hungarian American theoretical physicist and mathematician. He received a share of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963 "for his contributions to the theory of the atomic nucleus and the elementary particles, particularly through the discovery and application of fundamental symmetry principles"; the other half of the award was shared between Maria Goeppert-Mayer and J. Hans D. Jensen. Wigner is notable for having laid the foundation for the theory of symmetries in quantum mechanics as well as for his research into the structure of the atomic nucleus. It was Eugene Wigner who first identified Xe-135 "poisoning" in nuclear reactors, and for this reason it is sometimes referred to as Wigner poisoning. Wigner is also important for his work in pure mathematics, having authored a number of theorems. In particular, Wigner's theorem is a cornerstone in the mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics.
In 1939, Wigner helped Leo Szilard persuade Albert Einstein to write the historic letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt that set in motion the U.S. atomic-bomb project. During World War II he worked at the Metallurgical Laboratory at the University of Chicago, where he helped Enrico Fermi construct the first atomic pile. Wigner also conducted research on quantum mechanics, the theory of the rates of chemical reactions, and nuclear structure.
Both of his parents committed suicide.
He died 1 January 1995.
Relationships
- business associate/partner relationship with Born, Max (born 11 December 1882)
- friend relationship with Einstein, Albert (born 14 March 1879)
- friend relationship with Fermi, Enrico (born 29 September 1901)
- friend relationship with Szilard, Leo (born 11 February 1898)
- friend relationship with Teller, Edward (born 15 January 1908)
- friend relationship with von Neumann, John (born 28 December 1903)
- (has as) teacher relationship with Becker, Richard (born 3 December 1887)
Events
Source Notes
Birth time unknown. Starkman rectified it to 9.02.24 CET
Categories
- Personal : Death : Long life more than 80 yrs (Age 92)
- Vocation : Science : Physics
- Notable : Awards : Nobel prize
- Notable : Famous : Founder/ originator (many discoveries)
- Notable : Famous : Top 5% of Profession
