John R. Dunning
John R. Dunning | |
---|---|
Born | September 24, 1907 Shelby, Nebraska, US |
Died | August 25, 1975 | (aged 67)
Education | Nebraska Wesleyan University (BA) Columbia University (MS, PhD) |
Awards | Medal for Merit (1946) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | physics |
Thesis | The Emission and Scattering of Neutrons (1934) |
Doctoral advisor | George B. Pegram |
John Ray Dunning (September 24, 1907 – August 25, 1975) was an American
Early life
John Ray Dunning was born in Shelby, Nebraska, on September 24, 1907, the son of Albert Chester Dunning, a grain dealer, and his wife Josephine Dunning née Thelen. He graduated from Shelby High School in 1925,and entered Nebraska Wesleyan University where he became a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, and received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in 1929.[1]
After graduation, Dunning commenced a doctoral program at Columbia University. In 1932, James Chadwick discovered the neutron, which influenced Dunning's career, as he thereafter devoted much of his professional interest to the characteristics and uses of this particle. Dunning's research was enthusiastically supported at Columbia by George B. Pegram. In 1933, Dunning was an instructor at Columbia University from 1929 to 1932, and a university fellow from 1932 to 1933.[2] He received his Ph.D. in 1934, writing his thesis on "The Emission and Scattering of Neutrons" under Pegram's supervision.[3]
Dunning married Esther Laura Blevins in 1930. They had two children, John Ray Jr., who became a professor of physics and astronomy at Sonoma State University, and Ann Adele.[1]
Manhattan Project
After gaining his doctorate at Columbia, Dunning continued teaching and research there, becoming an assistant professor in 1935, and an associate professor there in 1938. Dunning was a central figure at Columbia on neutron research, and went on to publish 24 papers on neutrons between 1934 and 1938. In 1936, Dunning received a Traveling Fellowship, which he used to meet and discuss his neutron physics research with many eminent European nuclear physicists including Niels Bohr, James Chadwick, Fermi, Werner Heisenberg, and Ernest Rutherford.[2]
Dunning closely followed the work of Ernest Lawrence on the cyclotron. Dunning wanted a more powerful neutron source and the cyclotron appeared as an attractive tool to achieve this end. Government funding was not available for such projects in those days, and university budgets were tight. Nonetheless, during 1935 and 1936 he was able construct a cyclotron using many salvaged parts to reduce costs and funding from industrial and private donations.[4] It was announced in 2007 that Columbia University has decided to junk a 70-year-old atom smasher, which is the nation's oldest artefact of the nuclear era. After being decommissioned in 1965, the machine sat in the basement of Pupin Hall, home of Columbia's physics department.[5] It was scrapped in 2008, although some components are in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.[6]
In December 1938, the German chemists
Bohr argued that it was the
for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the War Department, in accomplishments involving great responsibility and scientific distinction in connection with the development of the greatest military weapon of all time, the atomic bomb. As a physical researcher, he took a leading part in the initiation of the early phases of the project; then he was in charge of essential research in the SAM Laboratories for the Manhattan Engineer District, Army Service Forces, and then he served as advisor to the contractor for full scale operation of his process. A physicist of national distinction, Dr. Dunning's unselfish and unswerving devotion to duty have contributed significantly to the success of the Atomic Bomb project.[19]
Later life
In 1946, Dunning became Thayer Lindsley Professor of Applied Science at Columbia. In the immediate post-war years he was scientific director for construction of the Nevis Laboratories, a collaborative effort of Columbia University, the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and the Office of Naval Research. He became dean of the school of engineering and applied science in 1950. This ended his active research career, but he was active in fundraising for what became the Seeley Wintersmith Mudd Building and the Terrace Engineering Center extension. By the time he stepped down as dean in 1969, he had raised $50 million for the school.[20]
During the 1950s, Dunning was often consulted on nuclear technology matters by President
Fascinated by nuclear technology and eager to share his knowledge with the public, Dunning gave numerous public talks on the subject, and made frequent appearances on television and radio. He helped write a
He died from a heart attack at his home in Key Biscayne, Florida, on August 25, 1975,[23] and was buried at North Cemetery in Sherman, Connecticut, near where he had another home.
Selected publications
- John R. Dunning The Emission and Scattering of Neutrons, Phys. Rev. Volume 45, Issue 9, 586–600 (1934). Institutional citation: Department of Physics, Columbia University. Received 5 March 1934.
- H. L. Anderson, E. T. Booth, J. R. Dunning, E. Fermi, G. N. Glasoe, and F. G. Slack The Fission of Uranium, Phys. Rev. Volume 55, Number 5, 511–512 (1939). Institutional citation: Pupin Physics Laboratories, Columbia University, New York, New York. Received 16 February 1939.
- E. T. Booth, J. R. Dunning, and F. G. Slack Delayed Neutron Emission from Uranium, Phys. Rev. Volume 55, Number 9, 876–876 (1939). Institutional citation: Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York, New York. Received 17 April 1939.
- E. T. Booth, J. R. Dunning, and F. G. Slack Energy Distribution of Uranium Fission Fragments, Phys. Rev. Volume 55, Number 10, 981–981 (1939). Institutional citation: Pupin Physics Laboratories, Columbia University, New York, New York. Received 1 May 1939.
- E. T. Booth, J. R. Dunning, and G. N. Glasoe Range Distribution of the Uranium Fission Fragments, Phys. Rev. Volume 55, Issue 10, 982–982 (1939). Institutional citation: Pupin Physics Laboratories, Columbia University, New York, New York. Received 1 May 1939.
- A. O. Nier, E. T. Booth, J. R. Dunning, and A. V. Grosse Nuclear fission of separated uranium isotopes, Phys. Rev. Volume 57, Issue 6, 546–546 (1940). Received 3 March 1940. Booth, Dunning, and Grosse were identified as being at Columbia University, New York, New York. Nier was identified as being at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- A. O. Nier, E. T. Booth, J. R. Dunning, and A. V. Grosse Further experiments on fission of separated uranium isotopes, Phys. Rev. Volume 57, Issue 8, 748–748 (1940). Received 13 April 1940. Booth, Dunning, and Grosse were identified as being at Columbia University, New York, New York. Nier was identified as being at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- E. T. Booth, J. R. Dunning, A. V. Grosse, and A. O. Nier Neutron Capture by Uranium (238), Phys. Rev. Volume 58, Issue 5, 475–476 (1940). Received 13 August 1940. Booth, Dunning, and Grosse were identified as being at Columbia University, New York, New York. Nier was identified as being at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- A. V. Grosse, E. T. Booth, and J. R. Dunning The Fourth (4n+1) Radioactive Series, Phys. Rev. Volume 59, Issue 3, 322–323 (1941). Institutional citation: Pupin Physics Laboratories, Columbia University, New York, New York. Received 11 January 1941.
Bibliography
- John R. Dunning Matter, Energy and Radiation (Columbia College Natural Science Series) (McGraw Hill, 1941)
- John R. Dunning and Bruce R. Prentics (editors) Hot Laboratory Operation and Equipment, Volume III. Fifth Hot Laboratories and Equipment Conference (Symposium Publications Division Pergamon Press, 1957)
- John R. Dunning and Bruce R. Prentics (editors) Advances in Nuclear Engineering, Volume I. Proceedings of the Second Nuclear Engineering and Science Conference (Pergamon Press 1957)
- John R. Dunning and Bruce R. Prentics (editors) Advances in Nuclear Engineering, Volume II. Proceedings of the Second Nuclear Engineering & Science Congress (Pergamon Press 1957)
Notes
- ^ a b Anderson 1989, pp. 163–164.
- ^ a b Anderson 1989, pp. 164–165.
- ^ Dunning, John R. The Emission and Scattering of Neutrons (Ph.D. thesis). Columbia University. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ Anderson 1989, pp. 166–167.
- New York Times. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ Wade, Elizabeth (4 February 2008). "Cyclotron Scrapped". Columbia Daily Spectator.
- S2CID 5920336.
- S2CID 4113262.
- S2CID 4076376.
- .
- ^ Anderson 1989, pp. 169–170.
- S2CID 119363433. Archived from the original(PDF) on 30 January 2006.
- ^ Rhodes 1986, pp. 267–270.
- ^ Anderson 1989, pp. 172–173.
- ISBN 978-1-61234-815-5.
- ^ Manhattan District 1947, p. G2.
- ^ Anderson 1989, p. 185.
- ^ Anderson 1989, p. 177.
- ^ Anderson 1989, p. 179.
- ^ a b c Anderson 1989, p. 178.
- ^ "Phi Kappa Tau Hall of Fame". Phi Kappa Tau. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ Anderson 1989, p. 180.
- ^ "Former Dean at Columbia Dies in Florida". The Day. 29 August 1975. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
References
- Anderson, Herbert L. (1989). "John Ray Dunning 1907–1975" (PDF). Biographical Memoirs. 58. National Academy of Sciences: 163–186. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- Manhattan District (1947). Manhattan District History, Book II Gaseous Diffusion (K-25) Project, Volume 2 – Research (PDF). Washington, DC: Manhattan District.
- ISBN 978-0-671-44133-3.