Arthur Holly Compton (1892-1962)

“The language of science is universal,

and is a powerful force in bringing the peoples of the world

closer together.”

John Bricker

Arthur Compton - Family

• Father, Elias Compton: Philosophy Professor, Chancellor at College of Wooster

• Brother, Karl Compton: President of MIT, had strong influence on Arthur’s work

• Brother, Wilson Compton: President of WSU• Sister, Mary Compton: Christian Missionary• Son, John Compton: Philosophy ProfessorStrong Christian values in home/family: “Your work in this field may become a more valuable Christian service than if you were to enter the ministry or come a missionary” – Elias to Arthur regarding Arthur’s plans after graduation from College of Wooster (1913)

Arthur Compton - Education

Compton earned both his Masters and PhD at Princeton University, finishing his studies in 1916Thesis focused on X-Rays reflection in

crystalsKarl and Wilson Compton also earned PhDs

from Princeton Arthur’s first job was as a Physics

professor at University of Minnesota

Arthur Compton – Early Intellect

In Minnesota Compton devised a way to prove the Earth’s rotation

Compton also stated that magnetization does not depend on electrons orbits, but on electrons own elementary characteristicsCompton was not alone in theorizing initial

quantum theories – C.V. Raman and Pieter Zeeman were working on similar ideas

Arthur Compton – Early Intellect

In 1917, Compton took a job at Westinghouse as an engineer, developing fluorescent lighting

In 1919 he received the National Research Council Fellowship which gave him freedom in his workWent to Cambridge to further look into ideas

about X-Ray scattering

Arthur Compton – Effect Compton comes back to the states and

perfects his apparatus at Washington University in St. Louis. In late 1922 he brings together quantum theory and special relativity essentially discovering the effect named after him

Arthur Compton – Effect

In 1927 is recognized for his work and shares the Nobel Prize with C.T.R WilsonWilson and Compton did not work on the

same content – they just happened to be win the prize the same year

Compton awarded Nobel Prize due to his “discovery of the effect named after him”

Arthur Compton – WWII

Arthur commits most of his time to a professorship at the University of Chicago during the 1930’s until World War II requires his intellect

Compton was placed in charge of the S-1 Uranium Committee which sought after the acquisition of Uranium 235Army officially overtakes this project in 1942

and it becomes the Manhattan Project

Arthur Compton – WWII

January 1945 was target date for completion of nuclear bomb and in July 1945 the United States successfully tested their first atomic bomb

16 milliseconds after detention

Arthur Compton – WWII

Compton played an interesting role in actually using atomic devices in the war. He was apart of the Interim Committee which was comprised of political figures and scientists.

The Interim Committee made the final decision for nuclear use in WWII.

Karl Compton was also a member.

Arthur Compton – WWII

Arthur

Karl

...that the weapon be used against Japan at the earliest opportunity, that it be used without warning, and that it be used on a dual target, namely, a military installation or war plant surrounded by or adjacent to homes or other buildings most susceptible to damage –Interim Committee Scientists referring to Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Arthur Compton – Later Years

He become the Chancellor of Washington University in St. Louis in 1946

Compton spent most of his late years in this position and died in 1962 at the age of 69During his time at Washington he was

against integration which makes WU the last major institution to accept African Americans

Arthur Compton – Holly Hump

He is also known for his own version of a speed hump, nicknamed a Holly Hump (Compton’s middle name is Holly)

Arthur Compton – Holly Hump• The idea was to exert a force on cars that grew exponentiallyrelative to the driver’s speed. Compton witnessed a lot of speedingwhile in St. Louis.

Arthur Compton – Religion

Compton’s views on religion were complex yet intriguing. During his entire career he maintained an active role in the protestant church

“…if our God is the God of Nature, we must recognize the laws of nature describing the way in which God works, and a basis for a theology is found. We find that through the long, hard struggle of evolution men have come to the stage where they are partly responsible for the development of live, even their own life, on the earth. Thus science can lead to the conception of man as a co-worker with God toward making this world what he wants it to be.” -Compton

Works Cited "Arthur Holly Compton: Ninth Chancellor." Washington University in

St. Louis. Washington University in St. Louis, n.d. Web. 06 May 2013. <http://www.wustl.edu/about/facts/chancellors/compton.html>.

"Arthur Holly Compton 1892-1962." Selected Papers of Great American Physicists. AIP Center for History of Physics, n.d. Web. 06 May 2013. <http://www.aip.org/history/gap/Compton/Compton.html>.

"Compton Scattering." Compton Scattering. Georgia State University, n.d. Web. 06 May 2013. <http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/quantum/comptint.html>

Davis, Edward B. "Prophet of Science-Part Two: Arthur Holly Compton on Science, Freedom, Religion, and Morality." Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith61.3 (2009): n. pag. Print.