American - Scientist | March 22, 1931 -
Modern science is fast-moving, and no laboratory can exist for long with a program based on old facilities. Innovation and renewal are required to keep a laboratory on the frontiers of science.
Burton Richter
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During my years at the synchrotron laboratory, I had become interested in the theory of quantum electrodynamics and had decided that what I would most like to do after completing my dissertation work was to probe the short-distance behavior of the electromagnetic interaction.
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While a lab director can get done the things that he regards as important, he has the more important job of bringing out the best ideas of the broader scientific community. I learned this early in my career while I was leading the construction of the SPEAR facility.
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I was born on 22 March 1931 in New York, the elder child of Abraham and Fanny Richter.
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In 1948 I entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, undecided between studies of chemistry and physics, but my first year convinced me that physics was more interesting to me.
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While a lab Director can get done the things that he regards as important, he has the more important job of bringing out the best ideas of the broader scientific community.
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Since stepping down as laboratory director in 1999, I have devoted an increasing fraction of my time to international issues. I am involved with energy, environment, and sustainability issues, particularly as they involve new energy sources free of greenhouse gases.
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In 1960, I married Laurose Becker. We have two children: Elizabeth, born in 1961, and Matthew, born in 1963.
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During my first year as a graduate student, we worked on a measurement of the isotope shift and hyperfine structure of mercury isotopes.
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Total failure isn't something I want to spend a lot of time envisioning. I'm pretty sure I'll recognize it if it comes.
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Theorists can create all sorts of theories which go beyond the Standard Model. But there's not one bit of experimental evidence to point out which way you should go.
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What I found was that I thoroughly enjoyed the plumbing of experiment.
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