Gerald Gabrielse
Encyclopedia
Gerald Gabrielse is an American
physicist and the George Vasmer Leverett Professor of Physics at Harvard University
. In 2007, he was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences
.
. He then completed his M.S. (1975) and Ph.D. (1980) in physics from the University of Chicago
.
in Seattle. He became a professor of physics at Harvard University
in 1987. He was named the George Vasmer Leverett Professor of Physics at Harvard University in 2003.
Gabrielse also led The international ATRAP Collaboration which now uses these antiprotons to produce cold antihydrogen atoms, an important step towards comparing antihydrogen and hydrogen atoms via precise laser spectroscopy. The group's nested Penning trap
, invented and demonstrated at Harvard University as a method for getting cold antiprotons and cold positrons to interact, was the crucial device that first permitted the observation of cold antihydrogen. ATRAP's first demonstration of positron cooling in a nested Penning trap
established the crucial technique needed to first produce cold antihydrogen; ATRAP and others then used this device and method to observe cold antihydrogen. ATRAP's field ionization detection technique allowed a background-free observation and the first measurement of states of antihydrogen being produced, and their method to drive the production of antihydrogen substantially increased the production rate. ATRAP also demonstrated a second method to produce slow antihydrogen, for the first time using lasers to control the production via a charge exchange method.
scientist. He said:
that aired on February 21, 2007, Jim Carrey and Conan O'Brien humorously discussed content from a paper entitled, "Stochastic Phase-Switching of a Parametrically-Driven Electron in a Penning Trap" Gerald Gabrielse said that it was 'perhaps the most obscure paper I've ever written'.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicist and the George Vasmer Leverett Professor of Physics at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In 2007, he was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The 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...
.
Education
He graduated with a B.S. (honors) from Calvin CollegeCalvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
. He then completed his M.S. (1975) and Ph.D. (1980) in physics from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
.
Academic career
After completing his PhD, he joined the faculty at the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle. He became a professor of physics at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1987. He was named the George Vasmer Leverett Professor of Physics at Harvard University in 2003.
Research
Gabrielse led the international TRAP team that developed the techniques to accumulate antiprotons at 4 K - an energy more than 1010 times lower than previously realized. These techniques are being used in all efforts to produce and study cold antihydrogen. These techniques also led to the most stringent CPT test with baryons when the charge-to-mass ratio of a single antiproton and proton were compared to 9 parts in 1011, an accuracy improved by nearly a factor of a million.Gabrielse also led The international ATRAP Collaboration which now uses these antiprotons to produce cold antihydrogen atoms, an important step towards comparing antihydrogen and hydrogen atoms via precise laser spectroscopy. The group's nested Penning trap
Penning trap
Penning traps are devices for the storage of charged particles using a homogeneous static magnetic field and a spatially inhomogeneous static electric field. This kind of trap is particularly well suited to precision measurements of properties of ions and stable subatomic particles which have...
, invented and demonstrated at Harvard University as a method for getting cold antiprotons and cold positrons to interact, was the crucial device that first permitted the observation of cold antihydrogen. ATRAP's first demonstration of positron cooling in a nested Penning trap
Penning trap
Penning traps are devices for the storage of charged particles using a homogeneous static magnetic field and a spatially inhomogeneous static electric field. This kind of trap is particularly well suited to precision measurements of properties of ions and stable subatomic particles which have...
established the crucial technique needed to first produce cold antihydrogen; ATRAP and others then used this device and method to observe cold antihydrogen. ATRAP's field ionization detection technique allowed a background-free observation and the first measurement of states of antihydrogen being produced, and their method to drive the production of antihydrogen substantially increased the production rate. ATRAP also demonstrated a second method to produce slow antihydrogen, for the first time using lasers to control the production via a charge exchange method.
Religious views
Gabrielse identifies himself as a Reformed ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
scientist. He said:
I do not believe that science and the Bible are in conflict. However, it is possible to misunderstand the Bible and to misunderstand science. It is important to figure out what of each might be misunderstood.
Trivia
On an episode of Late Night with Conan O'BrienLate Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
that aired on February 21, 2007, Jim Carrey and Conan O'Brien humorously discussed content from a paper entitled, "Stochastic Phase-Switching of a Parametrically-Driven Electron in a Penning Trap" Gerald Gabrielse said that it was 'perhaps the most obscure paper I've ever written'.