J. Robert Oppenheimer, Physicist

Journal Article · 30 April 2024 · American Journal of Physics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0209857 · OSTI ID:2349095

Cahn, Robert N.  ^[1]; Quigg, Chris  ^[2]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
2. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

What kind of scientist was J. Robert Oppenheimer? Christopher Nolan's film has prompted several one-line pronouncements. “He was no Einstein”—which leaves plenty of room near the top; “He never won a Nobel Prize”—a narrow metric, if undeniably true; “He would have had a Nobel had he lived to see X or Y discovered”—we will never know. Oppenheimer's legacy in research merits a closer look.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-07CH11359
• OSTI ID: 2349095
• Report Number(s): FERMILAB-PUB--24-0121-T; oai:inspirehep.net:2784645
• Journal Information: American Journal of Physics, Journal Name: American Journal of Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 92; ISSN 0002-9505
• Publisher: American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English