Albert L. Latter
Albert Louis Latter (October 17, 1921, Kokomo, Indiana – June 8, 1997, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles) was an American nuclear physicist and leading expert on nuclear weapons.[1]
Biography
Latter graduated from the
In the 1950s Albert Latter and
An American delegate to the 1959 nuclear test ban negotiations in Geneva, Latter studied seismic detection, which helped lead to the U.S. approval of the Limited Test Ban Treaty of 1963.
He was the first American scientist to theorize that high-yield nuclear devices will emit a large fraction of their energy as high temperature X-rays, a discovery that demonstrated the vulnerability of offensive and defensive strategic missiles.[6]
In 1960, Dr. Latter became head of the physics department at Rand, where the aspects of nuclear weapons he dealt with ranged from their design and efficiency to defensive steps against them. He also played a significant role in developing certain advanced missile warheads and in devising ways to detect underground nuclear tests.[1]
Albert Latter's brother Richard Latter (1923–1999) was also a noteworthy physicist and they worked together at RAND.[7]
In 1971 Albert Latter resigned from RAND
He received the 1964
Upon his death Albert Latter was survived by his wife, two daughter, and three grandchildren.[1]
Selected publications
- Latter, A. L.; Latter, R. (1952). "A Phase Shift Analysis of Neutron-Deuteron Scattering". Physical Review. 86 (5): 727–730. .
- Latter, A.; Latter, R. (1956). "Equation of State of Water on the Thomas‐Fermi Model". The Journal of Chemical Physics. 25 (5): 1016–1023. .
- Latter, A. L.; Martinelli, E. A.; Teller, E. (1959). "Seismic Scaling Law for Underground Explosions". Physics of Fluids. 2 (3): 280. .
- PMID 16590612.
- Latter, A. L.; Lelevier, R. E.; Martinelli, E. A.; McMillan, W. G. (1961). "A method of concealing underground nuclear explosions". Journal of Geophysical Research. 66 (3): 943–946. .
- Latter, A. L.; Martinelli, E. A.; Mathews, J.; McMillan, W. G. (1961). "The effect of plasticity on decoupling of underground explosions". Journal of Geophysical Research. 66 (9): 2929–2936. OSTI 4054285.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Pace, Eric (June 27, 1997). "Obituary. Albert L. Latter, 76, Physicist and Expert on Nuclear Arms". New York Times. p. 6, Section B.
- doi:10.1063/1.882112.
- ISBN 9780674016699.
- S2CID 239881549.
- .
- ^ a b Oliver, Myrna (June 27, 1997). "Obituary. Albert Latter; Physicist, Nuclear Weapons Expert". L. A. Times.
- ^ doi:10.1063/1.883065.
- ^ "Northrop Agrees to Buy Logicon for $750 Million". L. A. Times. May 6, 1997.
- ^ "E. O. Lawrence Award". Annual Report to Congress of the Atomic Energy Commission. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. January 1965. p. 33.