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Enrico Fermi

! scientist · # tag · @ author
1901–1954 · Nuclear physics, Quantum statistics, Particle physics
Italian-American physicist, the 'architect of the nuclear age'. He built the first nuclear reactor, thus initiating controlled nuclear chain reaction. Developed Fermi-Dirac statistics for particles with half-integer spin. Made fundamental contributions to the theory of beta decay, introduced the concept of the weak interaction. Exceptionally successfully combined theoretical and experimental work.

Biography

Born in Rome. Studied at the University of Pisa. Worked in Göttingen and Leiden, then professor at the University of Rome. In 1938, due to anti-Semitic laws, emigrated to the USA, worked at Columbia University and the University of Chicago. Winner of the 1938 Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of new radioactive elements.

Key discoveries

💡 Fermi was known for his ability to quickly make accurate estimates, called 'Fermi problems' — for example, estimating the energy of a nuclear explosion by eye from the movement of pieces of paper.
Quote: "Where is everybody? (Fermi paradox about extraterrestrial intelligence)."
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Related tags
cosmic raysneutrinoStandard Model
Related laws
Fermi–Dirac statisticsFermi's golden ruleFermi acceleration
Related scientists
Emilio Gino SegrèPaul DiracPeter HiggsRichard FeynmanJ. J. ThomsonMarie CurieEdward WittenFrank Wilczek

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