Biographical Memoirs Volume 90 (2009) / Chapter Skim
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LYMAN SPITZER JR.
LYMAN SPITZER JR.
Pages 354-371
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From page 354... ...
Photograph by Orren Jack Turner.
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From page 355... ...
OSTRIKER o ne of the leading theoretical astrophysicists of the 20th century, Lyman Spitzer showed a renaissance or even a classical figure in both his character and personal style. I once speculated that a biographer would someday remark on the importance of Spitzer's early exposure to ancient literature, and his family assured me that he had been, in fact, throughout his life strongly influenced by classical, especially Latin, models.
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From page 356... ...
The scientific program of Princeton University Observatory, initiated in 1947 by Spitzer along with his contemporaneous colleague Martin Schwarzschild, was maintained as a leading center of astrophysics -- especially theoretical astrophysics -- for the last half of the 20th century, until Spitzer and Schwarzschild both died within a few weeks of each other in the spring of 1997. A few words on how Spitzer planned and carried out his return to Princeton give insight into both his character and the times in which he lived.
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From page 357... ...
This reputation has been built up over a considerable period of years, and should be preserved. The plan presented here is devised to continue this historical tradition in the field of theoretical astrophysics, and at the same time to preserve a balanced department by maintaining research in an observational field that is an integral part of the Princeton tradition -- precise photometry of variable stars.
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From page 358... ...
If a governmental Science Foundation is set up, and if such a Foundation decides to support theoretical astrophysics on a substantial scale, the astronomy Department at Princeton would make an ideal focus for such support. To cross-fertilize the different fields of astronomy, and to keep theorists and observationalists in touch with each other, it would be desirable to bring scientists from other institutions to Princeton from time to time for joint consideration of the major problems
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From page 359... ...
Building upon the foundation established by Henry Norris Russell, Spitzer and Schwarzschild together created a department with an enduring cordial atmosphere of mutual support and encouragement for astrophysical research at the highest level. The tradition of rigorous and creative scientific scholarship made Princeton a preeminent center of astrophysical research in the world.
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From page 360... ...
I greatly value learning your views on the many topics that you follow more closely than do I." Years later I was told by an individual I thought to be reliable that Lyman was on one of Nixon's extended "enemies lists," presumably due to his large financial contribution to Nixon's opponent. I was never able to confirm this, but when I asked Lyman about it directly many years after the event, his equivocal reply was, "I did not think much of McGovern, but I firmly concurred with your view that Nixon did not have a character suitable to be the President of the United States of America." What kind of a scientist was he?
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From page 361... ...
In the late 1930s Spitzer was struck by the fact that elliptical galaxies contained old stars but no large amounts of interstellar gas, whereas spiral galaxies that contained substantial amounts of gas also had young stars. He concluded that stars must be forming even today from clouds of gas and dust.
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, and mechanical transport coefficients in a fully ionized gas, and he made the initial calculations of thermal and electrical conductivities and diffusion coefficients for plasmas. His pioneering studies in basic plasma physics culminated in the volume Physics of Fully Ionized Gases (1956)
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From page 363... ...
It is an extraordinarily apt measure of Spitzer's prescience that Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory is now, one-half century after Lyman proposed it, building, after an international technical review, what may be the most promising design yet for taming the physical process that makes the stars shine; the National Compact Stellarator Experiment (NCSX) is scheduled to begin operation in 2009.
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From page 364... ...
His many contributions to the field were summarized in 1987 in the book Dynamical Evolution of Globular Clusters. Spitzer's seminal contributions to space astronomy are legendary and were recognized in 2003 when the large infrared space observatory launched earlier that year was named the Lyman Spitzer Telescope.
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From page 365... ...
In 1946 he proposed, in a report under Project RAND titled "Astronomical Advantages of an Extra-Terrestrial Observatory," the development of large space telescopes. In the abstract he points out, quite amazingly for what appears to be the first time, "the results that might be expected from astronomical measurements made with a satellite vehicle… While a more exhaustive analysis would alter some of the details of the present study, it would probably not change the chief conclusion -- that such a scientific tool, if practically feasible, could revolutionize astronomical techniques and open up completely new vistas of astronomical research." He then goes on to outline the advantages to be gained due to greater angular resolution (overcoming astronomical "seeing" problems)
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From page 366... ...
considered him to be shy. Spitzer continued to sit as an elder statesman on the Space Telescope Institute Council, providing wise guidance for this extraordinarily important scientific venture until his death in 1997.
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His scientific work received worldwide recognition, and he was the recipient of many honors, including membership in the National Academy of Sciences in 1952, the Henry Norris Russell Prize of the American Astronomical Society in 1953, the Henry Draper medal of the National Academy of Sciences in 1974, the James Clerk Maxwell Prize of the American Physical Society in 1975, the Crafoord Prize of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1985, and the James Madison Medal of Princeton University in 1989. He was an enthusiastic music lover, and an active mountain climber (making the first ascent of the spectacular Mt.
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From page 368... ...
Spitzer formally retired in 1982 but did not slow his active involvement in forefront research, involving both theoretical work and, following the launch of Hubble Space Telescope, observational studies using the high-resolution spectrograph to study interstellar absorption lines. On March 31, 1997, Spitzer spent the day in Peyton Hall, working on a scientific manuscript, and happily discussing recent developments with his colleagues.
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From page 369... ...
Härm. Transport phenomena in a completely ionized gas.
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From page 370... ...
158:L139-L143. 1971 Dynamical evolution of dense spherical star systems.
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From page 371... ...
New York: AIAA. 1978 Physical Processes in the Interstellar Medium.
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