Born: 1906 (Kattowitz, Poland)
Died: 1972
Biography:
Maria Goeppert Mayer, a German-born American theoretical physicist, made significant contributions to the field of physics and broke barriers for women in science. She is best known for proposing the nuclear shell model of the atomic nucleus, which earned her the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963. Mayer’s groundbreaking work opened up new possibilities for understanding atomic structure and laid the foundation for modern nuclear physics.
Born on June 28, 1906, in Kattowitz (now Katowice, Poland), Maria Goeppert was the only child of Friedrich Goeppert, a renowned paediatrician, and Maria Wolff. Her father’s passion for science greatly influenced her early life. In 1910, the family moved to Göttingen, Germany, when her father was appointed as the professor of pediatrics at the University of Göttingen.
Goeppert was an exceptional student and exhibited a strong interest in the natural sciences from a young age. She attended the Höhere Technische school in Göttingen, a prestigious institution for middle-class girls aspiring to higher education. In 1921, she enrolled in the Frauenstudium, a private high school that prepared girls for university.
In 1924, Goeppert began her studies at the University of Göttingen, where she initially pursued mathematics but later switched to physics. During this time, she attended lectures by renowned scientists such as Max Born and James Franck. She earned her doctorate in physics in 1930, with her doctoral thesis focusing on the theory of possible two-photon absorption by atoms.
After completing her doctorate, Goeppert faced limited opportunities for professional advancement in Germany. In 1930, she married Joseph Edward Mayer, a chemist, and moved with him to the United States. Mayer accepted a position as an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, but strict nepotism rules prevented Maria from being hired as a faculty member. Instead, she was given an assistant position and continued her research independently.
In 1935, Goeppert published a seminal paper on double beta decay, which demonstrated her brilliance and research capabilities. Despite the lack of official recognition, her work gained attention and respect within the scientific community. In 1937, she moved to Columbia University, where she worked in an unpaid research position.
During World War II, Goeppert Mayer joined the Manhattan Project at Columbia University, contributing to the development of thermonuclear weapons. She also worked on isotope separation, a critical aspect of the project. Her expertise in nuclear physics and her contributions to the war effort further solidified her reputation as a brilliant scientist.
After the war, Goeppert Mayer became a voluntary associate professor of physics at the University of Chicago and a senior physicist at the Argonne National Laboratory. It was during this time that she developed the mathematical model for the structure of nuclear shells, which revolutionized the understanding of atomic nuclei. In recognition of her groundbreaking work, Maria Goeppert Mayer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963, making her the second woman ever to receive this prestigious honor, after Marie Curie.
In 1960, Goeppert Mayer was appointed as a full professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego. She continued her research and inspired countless students to pursue careers in science. She was a trailblazer for women in the field, paving the way for future generations of female physicists.
Maria Goeppert Mayer passed away on February 20, 1972, leaving behind a formidable legacy in the field of physics. Her contributions to the nuclear shell model and her determination to overcome societal obstacles have solidified her position as a prominent figure in women’s history and a role model for aspiring scientists.