Gerhart Friedlander
Encyclopedia
Gerhart Friedlander was a nuclear chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project
.
Friedlander was born in Munich
, and fled Nazi Germany
for the United States in 1936. After emigrating, he studied at the University of California, Berkeley
, earning a PhD
.
He spent the bulk of his career at Brookhaven National Laboratory
, where he served as head of the chemistry
department. He conducted fundamental research into the mechanics of nuclear reactions, developing groundbreaking models that remained in use at the time of his death. He also co-authored a popular textbook on nuclear chemistry.
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...
.
Friedlander was born in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, and fled Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
for the United States in 1936. After emigrating, he studied at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, earning a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
.
He spent the bulk of his career at Brookhaven National Laboratory
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Brookhaven National Laboratory , is a United States national laboratory located in Upton, New York on Long Island, and was formally established in 1947 at the site of Camp Upton, a former U.S. Army base...
, where he served as head of the chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
department. He conducted fundamental research into the mechanics of nuclear reactions, developing groundbreaking models that remained in use at the time of his death. He also co-authored a popular textbook on nuclear chemistry.