The 1955 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Polykarp Kusch for his precise experimental determination that the electron magnetic moment exceeded its theoretical prediction. This result forced a fundamental re-evaluation of quantum electrodynamics, establishing a new experimental baseline for the sub-field of atomic physics during his long tenure at Columbia University.
Academic Foundation
Born in Blankenburg in 1911, Kusch emigrated to the United States as an infant and later naturalized as a citizen in 1922. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Case Institute of Technology, now Case Western Reserve University, earning a Bachelor of Science in 1931. He continued his training at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he worked with Francis Wheeler Loomis and obtained a Ph.D. in 1936 specializing in optical molecular spectroscopy.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Research at Columbia University
Kusch joined the faculty of Columbia University in 1937, where he conducted significant work on molecular beam resonance under the mentorship of I. I. Rabi. This period of research resulted in the identification of the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron. His laboratory activities expanded to include chemical physics and hyperfine structure measurements, and he served briefly as the university provost between 1970 and 1971.
Transition to Texas and Legacy
In 1972, Kusch transitioned to the University of Texas at Dallas, continuing his role as a professor until his retirement in 1982. He remained active within the scientific community as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. He died in Dallas in 1993 at age 82.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Blankenburg
- Died: 1993, Dallas
- Nobel Prize in Physics: 1955
- Education: Case Western Reserve University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Employers: Columbia University, University of Texas at Dallas
- Citizenship: United States
- Fellow: American Physical Society
- Honorary Doctor: Ohio State University
Questions readers ask
What specific physics discovery earned Kusch the Nobel Prize?
He experimentally determined that the magnetic moment of the electron was larger than what existing theory predicted.
Where can students find memorials to his career?
Case Western Reserve University maintains Kusch House on its South Campus, and the University of Texas at Dallas features the Polykarp Kusch Auditorium.
Achievements
- Nobel Prize in Physics — 1955
- Held posts at Columbia University and University of Texas at Dallas
- Educated at Case Western Reserve University, University of Illinois Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Fields of research: physics
