december american physicist shared nobel prize physics determining shapes certain atomic world war worked manhattan_project developed atomic bombs began developing theory contrary believed atomic spherical ideas later tested confirmed experiments contributed scientific understanding rays participated naval research projects joined physics faculty columbia reached rank professor named received orlando lawrence award physics awarded nobel prize physics discovery connection collective motion particle motion atomic development theory structure atomic nucleus based connection early life born december council idaho son civil engineer ran local general store wife née referred james jim father died great epidemic mother moved california married sons freeman john time acquired half brother naval officer high school excelled mathematics chemistry physics admitted strength chemistry competition received degree physics major manhattan_project chose undertake studies columbia_university time unusual scholar california columbia renowned physics recently changed recently built physics department hired scientists like studied engaged studies lead construction nuclear built columbia basement received doctor philosophy thesis beam studies energy distribution written supervision built developed techniques use married march sons james robert william daughter died group moved university_of_chicago remained columbia joined manhattan_project sam laboratories manhattan_project allied effort world war develop atomic bombs primary task development technology produce use atomic bombs worked studies cross sections war dozen papers published thesis published parts thesis awarded doctorate awarded work manhattan_project later life remained columbia instructor began teaching courses nuclear structure developed theoretical treatment nuclear based liquid drop model nucleus superseded nuclear shell model explain structure heavy elements older theory limits columbia reported experimental results indicated moments greater indicated shell model occurred explained differences liquid drop nuclear shell models reconciled atomic nucleus spherical assumed assume shapes published theoretical paper chance year sharing office took challenge theory published results papers confirmed theory felt model overlooked later recalled proposal use nuclear model obvious answer immediately simultaneously suggested field understand surprised dismayed hear respected announce attended comment nuclear shell model work present theoretical justification apply funding built operational estate hudson_river new_york columbia_university family professor director worked student studies electron replaced worked turning facility reporter inform won nobel prize physics initially thought work hours passed discovered work atomic structure nobel prize shared succeeded professor physics fellow member noted seldom engaged little interest sports sons involved collapsed lecture revived student knew administer declining health retired professor emeritus february died arrest new_york survived wife sons half brother george
James Rainwater