George O. Zimmerman Explained

George O. Zimmerman
Birth Date:20 October 1935
Birth Place:Katowice, Poland
Nationality:American
Field:Physics, solid state, cryogenics
Work Institution:Boston University
Alma Mater:Yale University
Doctoral Advisor:Henry Fairbank
Spouse:Isa Kaftal Zimmerman

George Ogurek Zimmerman, (October 20, 1935  - May 6, 2019) was a Polish-born American scientist, researcher, inventor, professor of physics and physics department chair at Boston University. Zimmerman achieved his PhD in solid state physics in 1963 at Yale University and came to Boston University in the fall of 1963.

Zimmerman's major contributions in physics include discoveries in Condensed Matter and Solid State Physics, phase transitions at ultra low temperatures, magnetically intercalated graphite compounds, Jahn-Teller materials, and applied superconductivity and modeling.[1] Zimmerman is also well known for his popular lectures on physics, hands-on advanced laboratory lectures and, a Summer Research Internship Program for High School students.[2]

Zimmerman's accomplishments were highlighted in the 17th edition of Who's Who in the World, the 7th through 10th editions of Who's Who in Science and Engineering, and multiple editions of Who's Who in America published between 1986 and 2016. He resided in Boston, where he enjoyed classical music and photography and pursued his research in physics and history until the end of his life.[3] Zimmerman died at the age of 83 in 2019.[4] [5]

Early life and education

George Ogurek Zimmerman was born on October 20, 1935, in Poland.[6] He received his Ph.D. in Physics from Yale University in 1963. His thesis was in experimental low temperature physics.

After a few months as a post-doc with C.T. Lane at Yale, he joined the Physics Department at Boston University His research interests are in Condensed Matter and Solid State Physics. More specifically, some of the topics of interest are phase transitions, some at ultra low temperatures, magnetically intercalated graphite compounds, Jahn-Teller materials, and applied superconductivity and modeling. At Boston University, Zimmerman was department chair for 12 years, chaired the Faculty Council, and was a member and chair of several other influential university committees.

His research collaborations include the Francis Bitter National Magnet Laboratory at MIT, and sabbaticals at Brookhaven National Laboratory, UC San Diego, Leiden University, the Netherlands, Harvard University, Cambridge US, and Imperial College, London.

He was a Member At Large of the Governing Board of the Forum on the History of Physics (FHP) and its Webmaster ad hoc. He conducted many oral history interviews[7] which have been archived at the Niels Bohr Library and Archives at the American Institute of Physics.

He established a Summer Research Internship Program for High School students starting in the early 1980's.[8]

Biographical Listings

Academic career

Society memberships

Discovery

Inventions

Zimmerman has developed high temperature superconductor based high current leads, which became the first industrial application of the then newly discovered high temperature ceramic superconductors.[9] Some of Zimmerman's inventions were granted a patent as listed here (patent number and title):

Selected publications

Professor Zimmerman has published more than 100 scientific articles, below are a selected few:

Books

Some of his latest research and studies are in his publications:[12]

Lectures

External links

Archival collections

Notes and References

  1. Web site: APS Physics | FHP | Election 2010 Candidate Biographies . Aps.org . 2014-03-10.
  2. Web site: High School Summer Research Internship in Science & Engineering History & Timeline At BU Summer Term . Bu.edu . 2014-03-10.
  3. Web site: Dr. George Zimmerman Honored for Excellence as a Physicist, Professor and Researcher . 24-7 Press Release . 2017-01-14.
  4. Web site: Boston Globe Obituaries . Legacy.com . 2019-05-07.
  5. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/brookline-ma/george-zimmerman-8273653 George O. Zimmerman
  6. Book: Who's who in Science and Engineering. 2008. 9780837957685 . Marquis . Who's Who . Who . Marquis Who's . Marquis Who's Who .
  7. Web site: American Institute of Physics: Oral History Interviews. www.aip.org. 2019-09-17.
  8. Web site: RISE Internship / Practicum. www.bu.edu. 2024-07-18.
  9. Web site: Composite lead for conducting an electric current between 75-80K and 4.5K temperatures . patft.uspto.gov . 2014-02-02 .
  10. https://physics.bu.edu/sites/gzimmerman/files/2018/12/46.pdf
  11. https://physics.bu.edu/sites/gzimmerman/files/2018/08/130-2003.pdf
  12. Web site: George Zimmerman . 2014-03-10.
  13. Web site: APS -APS March Meeting 2010 - Epitome . Meetings.aps.org . 55 . 2 . 2014-03-10.
  14. Web site: APS -APS March Meeting 2010 - Session Index MAR10 . Meetings.aps.org . 2010-03-18 . 55 . 2 . 2014-03-10.

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