Morris Tanenbaum
Morris Tanenbaum | |
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Born | Bell Laboratories, AT&T Corporation | November 10, 1928
Morris Tanenbaum (November 10, 1928 – February 26, 2023) was an American physical chemist and executive who worked at
Tanenbaum made significant contributions in the fields of
Later in his career he became an executive. He dealt with the separation of Bell Laboratories and AT&T, and became the first chief executive officer and chairman of the board at AT&T Corporation as of January 1, 1984.
Early life and education
Morris Tanenbaum was born to Ruben Simon Tanenbaum and his mother Mollie Tanenbaum, on November 10, 1928, in
Morris Tanenbaum attended Johns Hopkins University, earning his bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1949.[4] As a sophomore at Johns Hopkins University, Tanenbaum met his future wife Charlotte Silver.[4] Their engagement was announced in September 1949, after his graduation from Johns Hopkins.[5]
Encouraged by professor Clark Bricker, who was himself moving, Tanenbaum went from Johns Hopkins to Princeton University for his doctoral work. At Princeton, Tanenbaum first studied spectroscopy with Bricker. He then did his thesis work with Walter Kauzmann, studying the properties of metal single crystals. Tanenbaum received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton in 1952 after completing a doctoral dissertation titled "Studies of the plastic flow and annealing behavior of zinc crystals."[6][4][7]
Career
Morris Tanenbaum joined the chemistry department at
Tanenbaum then moved to the
He returned to Bell Laboratories in 1975 as vice President of engineering and network services (1976–1978). He served briefly as president of the
Following the restructuring, Tanenbaum became the first chief executive officer and chairman of the board at AT&T Corporation (1984–1986).[10] From 1986 to 1988 he served as AT&T's Vice Chairman for Finance, and from 1988 to 1991, AT&T's vice chairman for finance and chief financial officer.[4]
Research
When Tanenbaum joined the chemistry department at
Finding better semiconductor materials to support the "transistor effect" was a critical area of research at Bell.
Tanenbaum's initial work at Bell focused on possible single crystal Group III-V semiconductors such as indium antimonide (InSb) and gallium antimonide (GaSb).[14]
The first silicon transistor
In 1953, Tanenbaum was asked by Shockley to see if transistors could be made using silicon, from group III-IV.[15] Tanenbaum built on Pearson's research, and worked with technical assistant Ernest Buehler,[16] whom he described as "a master craftsman in building apparatus and growing semiconductor crystals."[11] They used samples of highly purified silicon from DuPont to grow crystals.[11]
On January 26, 1954, Tanenbaum recorded a successful demonstration of the first silicon transistor in his logbook. However, Bell Laboratories did not draw attention to Tanenbaum's discovery publicly. The successful transistor had been constructed using a rate-growing process,
In the meantime,
The first gas-diffused silicon transistor
By 1954, several researchers at Bell Labs were experimenting with diffusion techniques to create layered semiconductors. Charles A. Lee developed a germanium semiconductor using diffused arsenic in late 1954.[18] Meanwhile Tanenbaum worked with Calvin Fuller, D. E. Thomas, and others to develop a gas diffusion method for silicon semiconductors.[19][20][21] Fuller developed a way to expose thin slices of crystalline silicon to gaseous
After weeks of experimenting, Tanenbaum wrote in his laboratory notebook on March 17, 1955, “This looks like the transistor we’ve been waiting for. It should be a cinch to make.”[2]: 169–170 The diffused-base silicon transistor was able to amplify and switch signals above 100 megahertz, at a switching speed 10 times that of previous silicon transistors. The news convinced executive Jack Andrew Morton to return early from a trip to Europe and adopt silicon as the material for the company's future transistor and diode development.[22][16][23]
In 1956, with financial backing from
Bell Laboratories did not take advantage of Tanenbaum's early achievements and capitalize on the possibilities of chip technology. They became increasingly dependent on other companies for microchips and large-scale integrated circuits.[22] Tanenbaum has expressed disappointment at this missed opportunity.[4]
High-field superconducting magnets
After becoming Assistant Director of the Metallurgical Department at Bell Labs in 1962, Tanenbaum led a group doing basic research into applied metallurgy. John Eugene Kunzler was interested in the electrical properties of commercially important metals at low temperatures.[25]
Tanenbaum worked with technician Ernest Buehler to develop a way to form the Nb3Sn compound into a coil and insulate it. He credits Buehler with the idea behind their PIT (powder in tube) approach. They sought to avoid Nb3Sn's fragility issues by delaying the point at which the material was formed: 1) combining a mixture of ductile, pure niobium metal and tin metal powders in the proper ratio, 2) using it to fill a tube formed from a non-superconducting metal such as copper, silver or stainless steel, 3) drawing the composite tube into a fine wire which could then be coiled and 4) finally heating the already-coiled tube to a temperature at which the niobium and tin powders would react chemically to form Nb3Sn.[25][26]
On December 15, 1960, their first day of testing, Tanenbaum and Kunzler's group tested the high field properties of a rod of Nb3Sn that had been fired at 2400°Celsius. It was still superconducting at 8.8 T, their maximum available field strength.
Tanenbaum and Kunzler's group created the first high-field superconducting magnets, showing that Nb3Sn exhibits superconductivity at large currents and strong magnetic fields. Nb3Sn became the first known material suitable for use in high-powered magnets and electric machinery.[29][30] Their discovery made possible the eventual development of medical imaging devices.[2]
Tanenbaum eventually moved from research into management, a change in focus that some speculate may have cost him a Nobel Prize.[2]
Death
Tanenbaum died in his home in New Providence, New Jersey, on February 26, 2023.[31]
Awards and honors
In 1962, Tanenbaum became a Fellow of the American Physical Society.[32]
In 1970, he became a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).[4] In 1972, Tanenbaum was elected as a member into the National Academy of Engineering, for "Achievements in solid state research and technology and in technology transfer from research to manufacturing."[33] In 1984 he received the IEEE Centennial Medal.[4]
In 1990 Tanenbaum became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS).[34] In 1996 he became a life member of the
In 2013, Tanenbaum received a lifetime achievement award, the Science and Technology Medal, at the 34th Edison Patent Awards which are given by the
External links
- Center for Oral History. "Morris Tanenbaum". Science History Institute.
- Brock, David C.; Lécuyer, Christophe (26 July 2004). Morris Tanenbaum, Transcript of an Interview Conducted by David C. Brock and Christophe Lécuyer at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc. Murray Hill, New Jersey on 3 May and 26 July 2004 (PDF). Philadelphia, PA: Chemical Heritage Foundation.
- Tanenbaum, Morris. "First-Hand:Beginning of the Silicon Age". Engineering and Technology History Wiki. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- "Oral-History:Morris Tanenbaum". Engineering and Technology History Wiki. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- "Oral-History:Goldey, Hittinger and Tanenbaum". Engineering and Technology History Wiki. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
References
- ^ "First Transistor IEEE Milestone Dedication" (PDF). IEEE Newsletter. 56 (5). North Jersey Section of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
Dr. Tanenbaum had a distinguished career starting at Bell Labs where he worked under Shockley and made the first silicon transistor.
- ^ a b c d e f Friedman, Alexi (November 10, 2013). "N.J. scientist honored for invention that paved way for digital age". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- Chemical Heritage Foundation.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Center for Oral History. "Morris Tanenbaum". Science History Institute.
- ^ "Tanenbaum Silver". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. September 18, 1949. p. 60.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry M. Silver, of Shirley avenue, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Miss Charlotte Marilyn Silver, to Mr. Morris Tanenbaum, son of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Tanenbaum, of Callow avenue. Mr. Tanenbaum is engaged in graduate study at Princeton University.
- ^ Tanenbaum, Morris (1952). Studies of the plastic flow and annealing behavior of zinc crystals.
- ^ "Oral-History:Goldey, Hittinger and Tanenbaum". Engineering and Technology History Wiki. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ Gilpin, Kenneth N. (January 17, 1985). "BUSINESS PEOPLE ; 4 Senior Officers Shifted at A.T.&T". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ISBN 0521389291.
- ISBN 978-0-309-07557-2. Retrieved 12 February 2018.)
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has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ a b c d e f g Riordan, Michael (30 April 2004). "The Lost History of the Transistor". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-0393041248.
- ^ "1951: First Grown-Junction Transistors Fabricated". Computer History Museum. The Silicon Engine. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- .
- ^ Tanebaum, Morris. "First-Hand:Beginning of the Silicon Age". Engineering and Technology History Wiki. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-0143122791.
- .
- ISBN 978-0801887734. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- .
- ^ "1954 - Diffusion Process Developed for Transistors". Computer History Museum. The Silicon Engine. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- . Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ S2CID 24238492. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-309-02889-9. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ .
- ^ a b c "Oral-History:Morris Tanenbaum". Engineering and Technology History Wiki. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-1439849460.
- .
- .
- doi:10.1063/1.881384.
- S2CID 73655040.
- ^ Hagerty, James R. (March 4, 2023). "Morris Tanenbaum, Who Helped Put Silicon in Microchips, Dies at 94". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "APS Fellow Archive". American Physical Society. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- ^ "Dr. Morris Tanenbaum". National Academy of Engineering. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ "Members of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences: 1780-2012" (PDF). American Academy of Arts & Sciences. p. 534. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ "Morris Tanenbaum". The MIT Corporation. Retrieved 9 February 2018.