J. Carson Mark
Encyclopedia
J. Carson Mark was a Canadian-born American
mathematician
known especially for his work on developing nuclear weapon
s for the United States
at Los Alamos National Laboratory
.
, he received a Bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Western Ontario
in 1935 and a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Toronto
in 1938. From 1938 to 1943, he taught mathematics at the University of Manitoba
. From 1943 to 1945, he worked at the Montreal laboratory of the National Research Council of Canada
.
Mark joined the Manhattan Project
in 1945, and continued to work at Los Alamos after World War II
had ended. He became the leader of the Theoretical Division at the laboratory in 1947 under the lab directorship of Norris Bradbury
(a position he held until 1973), and oversaw the development of the hydrogen bomb in the 1950s (see Teller-Ulam design
for more on the development history).
Mark became a U.S. citizen in the 1950s and died in Los Alamos, New Mexico
in 1997 from complications related to a fall.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
known especially for his work on developing nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
s for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security , located in Los Alamos, New Mexico...
.
Biography
Born on in Lindsay, OntarioLindsay, Ontario
Lindsay is a community of 19,361 people on the Scugog River in the Kawartha Lakes region of south-eastern Ontario, Canada. It is approximately west of Peterborough...
, he received a Bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in 1935 and a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1938. From 1938 to 1943, he taught mathematics at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. From 1943 to 1945, he worked at the Montreal laboratory of the National Research Council of Canada
National Research Council of Canada
The National Research Council is an agency of the Government of Canada which conducts scientific research and development.- History :...
.
Mark joined 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...
in 1945, and continued to work at Los Alamos after 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...
had ended. He became the leader of the Theoretical Division at the laboratory in 1947 under the lab directorship of Norris Bradbury
Norris Bradbury
Norris Edwin Bradbury , was an American physicist who was born in Santa Barbara, California. He served as director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory for 25 years , succeeding J. Robert Oppenheimer, who personally chose Bradbury for the position of director after working closely with him on the...
(a position he held until 1973), and oversaw the development of the hydrogen bomb in the 1950s (see Teller-Ulam design
Teller-Ulam design
The Teller–Ulam design is the nuclear weapon design concept used in most of the world's nuclear weapons. It is colloquially referred to as "the secret of the hydrogen bomb" because it employs hydrogen fusion, though in most applications the bulk of its destructive energy comes from uranium fission,...
for more on the development history).
Mark became a U.S. citizen in the 1950s and died in 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...
in 1997 from complications related to a fall.