Donald William Kerst
Encyclopedia
Donald William Kerst was an American
physicist
.
He was born in Galena, Illinois
. At the University of Wisconsin he earned a bachelor's degree in 1934, then was awarded a Ph.D. in 1937. For a year he worked at General Electric Company, then he taught at the University of Illinois from 1938 until 1957, wherein he attained the rank of professor. During World War II
, he worked at Los Alamos, New Mexico
. From 1957–62 he was employed at the General Atomic Laboratory, La Jolla, working on the Manhattan Project
. He then became a professor at the University of Wisconsin until his retirement in 1980. From 1972–73 he was chairman of the
Plasma Physics Division of the American Physical Society.
In 1940, Dr. Kerst developed the betatron
and became the first person to accelerate electrons using magnetic induction, reaching energies of 2.3-MeV. Thereupon he built several betatrons of increasing energy, attaining 300-MeV. From 1953–57 he was technical director of the Midwestern Universities Research Association, where he worked on advanced concepts for particle accelerators. He then began working on the problem of plasma physics, particularly for the control of thermonuclear energy.
He was married to Dorothy Birkett Kerst. The couple had two children. He died at the University Hospital and Clinics in Madison, Wisconsin
from a brain tumor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
.
He was born in Galena, Illinois
Galena, Illinois
Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...
. At the University of Wisconsin he earned a bachelor's degree in 1934, then was awarded a Ph.D. in 1937. For a year he worked at General Electric Company, then he taught at the University of Illinois from 1938 until 1957, wherein he attained the rank of professor. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he worked at Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos is a townsite and census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The population of the CDP was 12,019 at the 2010 Census. The townsite or "the hill" is one part of town while...
. From 1957–62 he was employed at the General Atomic Laboratory, La Jolla, working on the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
. He then became a professor at the University of Wisconsin until his retirement in 1980. From 1972–73 he was chairman of the
Plasma Physics Division of the American Physical Society.
In 1940, Dr. Kerst developed the betatron
Betatron
A betatron is a cyclotron developed by Donald Kerst at the University of Illinois in 1940 to accelerate electrons, but the concepts ultimately originate from Rolf Widerøe and previous development occurred in Germany through Max Steenbeck in the 1930s. The betatron is essentially a transformer with...
and became the first person to accelerate electrons using magnetic induction, reaching energies of 2.3-MeV. Thereupon he built several betatrons of increasing energy, attaining 300-MeV. From 1953–57 he was technical director of the Midwestern Universities Research Association, where he worked on advanced concepts for particle accelerators. He then began working on the problem of plasma physics, particularly for the control of thermonuclear energy.
He was married to Dorothy Birkett Kerst. The couple had two children. He died at the University Hospital and Clinics in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
from a brain tumor.
Awards and honors
- Awarded Comstock Prize in PhysicsComstock Prize in PhysicsThe Comstock Prize in Physics is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "for recent innovative discovery or investigation in electricity, magnetism, or radiant energy, broadly interpreted."...
, National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, 1943. - Awarded John Scott Award, City of Philadelphia, 1946.
- Awarded John Price Wetherill Medal, Franklin InstituteFranklin InstituteThe Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
, 1950. - Awarded James Clerk Maxwell Prize in plasma physics, American Physical SocietyAmerican Physical SocietyThe American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
, 1984. - Awarded Robert R. Wilson Prize for accelerator physics, 1988.
- Honorary degree, Lawrence College, 1942.
- Honorary degree, University of Sao PauloUniversity of São PauloUniversidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
, 1953. - Honorary degree, University of Illinois, 1989.
- Elected to the National Academy of Sciences, 1951.