415:"The night prior to this meeting at the Institute for Advanced Study, I took a morning train down from New York with the latest results, went over to the Matterhorn building, got out a very large piece of paper, maybe about two feet by three feet in size, a large rectangle of paper, and sketched out a graph showing our latest calculation of thermonuclear burning, still very crude of course, because of those calculations, yet extremely encouraging. I then rolled up this large graph and drove over to the Institute and walked up to the first-floor window of the room where the meeting was in progress and either rapped gently on the window or signaled through the window to catch Wheeler's attention. As it happened, Wheeler had just taken the floor. It had just become his turn to speak. He interrupted his speech, walked over to the window, opened it, took from me this large graph, carried it back and pasted it on the blackboard for all to see. And then, at that moment, according to the reports of those who were there, Oppenheimer suddenly decided, 'This does look encouraging. I think they've really got something. It looks like it's going to work after all.'"
410:"I was aware of the fact that Oppenheimer was expressing opposition to the development of the H-bomb, for various reasons, from technical to moral. But I was also an accidental participant in what may have been the critical moment in changing his point of view. In June of '51 there was a meeting of the General Advisory Committee of the Atomic Energy Commission meeting at the Institute for Advanced Study. They were meeting in a first floor room on, if I remember correctly, a Sunday morning. Maybe it was a Saturday morning. It was a weekend. Wheeler was scheduled to make a presentation on the latest results of our calculations on the CPC in New York. I was working every night, all night, that week prior to that meeting trying to get the latest and best results that we could.
38:
976:
971:
707:
Ford (now
Caroline Richards) (1963), Adam Baumunk Ford (1964), Jason Lawrence Ford (1966), and Lucas Wheeler (now Star Lucia) Ford (1968). He has 13 grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. Ken and Joanne celebrated sixty years of marriage in June, 2023 before Joanne’s death on September 5, 2023.
706:
Ford married Karin
Stehnike on August 27, 1953, and fathered two children; Paul Thomas Ford (1957) and Sarah Elizabeth Ford (1958). They divorced in 1961. Ford married Joanne Baumunk on June 9, 1962, gained one stepdaughter, Nina Tannenwald (1959), and fathered four more children: Caroline Amanda
685:
to excise approximately ten percent of his manuscript as the security officials at DOE felt that it had the potential to reveal decades-old government classified information. After some back-and-forth, Ford made minimal edits to the book and went ahead with publishing, putting himself at risk of
419:
In the fall of 1952, Ford left project
Matterhorn and spent the next six months completing his graduate dissertation on the collective model of the nucleus. After defending his dissertation in the spring of 1953, and after spending that summer working in Los Alamos, he took up a post-doctoral
553:
in 1953 was as a postdoctoral researcher, he was given the opportunity to teach a graduate course. In later appointments at
Indiana and other universities, he continued to teach both graduate students and undergraduate. Subsequent to retirement, he taught high-school physics at
569:, where he continued research, supervision of graduate students, and, for the first time, taught introductory physics. He also served as department chair at Brandeis, 1963–64. In 1964 he was recruited by the soon-to-open new campus of the
371:. Following the radiation implosion idea offered by Teller and Ulam early in 1951, the focus of the work was on this new design idea. In June 1951, Ford returned to Princeton to continue the H-bomb work there at Wheeler's
209:, to parents Paul Hammond Ford (1892-1961) and Edith Timblin Ford (1892-1992) and was the second of their three children. He spent most of his childhood in Kentucky, living one year in Georgia when he was eight and nine.
530:
can be interpreted in terms of the deformations of these nuclei. Later papers analyzed muonic-atom data to give evidence on the distribution of electric charge within nuclei. Ford's 1959 papers with
526:
in 1950, used data from low-energy neutron scattering to give evidence for the transparency of nuclei to neutrons. A 1953 paper showed how regularities in the energies of the first excited states of
1132:
599:
When
Molecular Physics of Technology's research results failed to measure up to expectations and the company had to shut down, Ford took a position as education officer of the
618:
Ford has written eleven books (counting one three-volume work as three books), one of them with a co-author—five before his retirement and six after. His first book,
592:. That job lasted for slightly more than a year, during 1982–83, before Ford took his first non-academic job as president of Molecular Biophysics Technology in
1053:
Interview of
Kenneth W. Ford by Alexei Kojevnikov on November 22, 1997, Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD USA
1014:
1003:
Interview of
Kenneth W. Ford by Alexei Kojevnikov on November 15, 1997, Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD USA
796:
698:, tutored students, both in person and online, taught high-school physics, and, as noted above, written six books. He lives outside Philadelphia.
1063:
1097:
581:
186:
615:. Ford's retirement from the institute in 1993, at age 67, coincided with its move to College Park, along with other physics organizations.
922:
Oral history interview transcript with
Kenneth Ford on 21 November 1997, American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library & Archives
916:
Oral history interview transcript with
Kenneth Ford on 15 November 1997, American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library & Archives
622:, written in 1961-62 and published in 1963, did well enough and was satisfying enough to encourage him to write more. The thick textbook
858:(Harvard University Press, 2004). Translated into several languages. Paperback with “Quantum Questions,” 2005. Answer Manual available.
825:(Blaisdell, 1968). Introductory text for nonscience students. (Re-released, repurposed to serve as a resource for physics teachers, by
958:
1102:
584:(NM Tech). He spent 7 years at New Mexico Tech, resigning after receiving a vote of no confidence from the faculty. Ford then became
910:
800:
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776:
343:. Others in Wheeler's immediate group were John Toll and Burton Freeman. They worked closely with other lab staff members such as
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315:. In three four-month semesters completed in one year, he was able to secure credit for two years of college work and entered
1112:
284:
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717:
682:
577:
570:
296:
849:
646:
1064:
William Broad, “Hydrogen Bomb
Physicist’s Book Runs Afoul of Energy Department,” The New York Times, March 23, 2015.
977:
AIP Office of the Director H. William Koch and Kenneth W. Ford records, 1966-1992, Niels Bohr Library & Archives
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20:
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835:(Xerox College Publishing, 1972–74). Introductory text for students of science and engineering. 3 volumes.
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468:
565:
In 1958, after a year's leave from Indiana University in Los Alamos, Ford took up new faculty duties at
953:
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In the summer of 1968, influenced by his opposition to the Vietnam War, Ford announced at a talk in
585:
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68:
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Ford furthered his professional education in two subsequent leaves of absence: in 1955–56 at the
300:
222:
972:
AIP Office of the Director records of Kenneth Ford, 1979-1994, Niels Bohr Library & Archives
471:
Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship. It was during this second leave that Ford wrote his first book,
1117:
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340:
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as a junior in the fall of 1946 following his discharge from the Navy in June of that year.
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and the guidance of John Wheeler, provided the final predicted yield of 7 megatons for the
328:
264:
252:
85:
378:
Much of Ford's work was concerned with writing programs and doing calculations related to
279:
In April 1944, just before his 18th birthday, while still at Exeter, Ford enlisted in the
8:
954:
Physics Today Q&A: Kenneth Ford on textbooks, popularizations, and scientific secrecy
748:
566:
428:
259:. During 1950-1952 he interrupted his graduate studies to join the H-bomb design team at
1038:
943:
845:(W. W. Norton, 1998). Wheeler's autobiography. Translated into Chinese and Greek. (1999
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959:
Philadelphia Inquirer interview with Kenneth Ford about the 2023 film Oppenheimer
815:(Blaisdell Publishing Co., 1963). Translated into Italian, German, and Russian. (
738:
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387:
348:
304:
239:
865:
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482:, setting up the physics department there for its opening in the fall of 1965.
478:
In 1964, Ford took a job as professor and department chair at the newly opened
379:
356:
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Since officially retiring, Ford has done some consulting work, worked for the
534:
provided a semiclassical theory of scattering. In 1963, he participated, with
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580:, where he was a professor. In 1975, he accepted the job of president of the
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352:
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37:
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101 Quantum Questions: What You Need to Know About the World You Can’t See
938:
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Scientific American interview with Kenneth Ford on John Wheeler's passing
539:
456:
344:
331:. In 1950, he took a leave of absence from graduate work to work on the
535:
523:
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226:
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on November 1, 1952. The actual yield was approximately 10 megatons.
399:
878:(Harvard University Press, 2011). Translated into several languages.
734:
403:
339:(then called the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory) with his mentor
497:
19:
For the businessman who established Roseburg Forest Products, see
383:
280:
248:
142:
819:
selection in the United States, science writing prize in Italy.)
1075:
More Secrets: Letter to the Editor by Ken Ford, Inference, 2021
904:
770:
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332:
327:
In the fall of 1948, Ford began graduate studies in physics at
494:
that he would no longer do weapons work or other secret work.
398:
A SEAC calculation, programmed by Ford with the assistance of
669:
was reissued in 2017, repurposed as a resource for teachers.
244:
382:, first using human "computers" with desk calculators, then
630:
in 1972–74. Following his retirement and while teaching at
230:
1133:
Presidents of the American Association of Physics Teachers
181:. He was the first chair of the physics department at the
448:
291:, Ford was called to active service and began the Navy's
190:
839:
Geons, Black Holes, and Quantum Foam: A Life in Physics
576:
In 1970, for family reasons, Ford left Irvine for the
1039:
http://www.spsnational.org/governance/ethics/ford.pdf
928:
Westinghouse Science Talent Search Winners from 1944
611:(to which he'd been commuting from Philadelphia) to
1015:"University of California History Digital Archives"
797:
American Association for the Advancement of Science
1017:. Sunsite.berkeley.edu. 1965-07-01. Archived from
864:(H Bar Press, 2007). Memoir on 50 years of flying
686:prosecution, but no action was taken by the DOE.
1084:
386:(CPCs), and later, with Project Matterhorn, the
189:(New Mexico Tech) and as Executive Director and
856:The Quantum World: Quantum Physics for Everyone
642:, published in 1998. In 1999, this book won an
603:. Then, in 1987, he became the director of the
502:Ford's principal research was in the theory of
498:Research, Teaching, Administration, and Writing
322:
263:(then Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory) and at
173:, teacher, and writer, currently residing near
677:While in the final stages of writing his book
229:, graduating in 1944. In 1948, he received an
582:New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
187:New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
485:
607:and later helped to shepherd its move from
626:followed in 1968 and the three volumes of
1068:
806:
801:American Association of Physics Teachers
787:American Association of Physics Teachers
777:American Association of Physics Teachers
295:. In June 1945, he transferred into the
965:
882:Building the H Bomb: A Personal History
549:Although Ford's initial appointment at
217:Ford attended Highlands High School in
185:, and later served as president of the
1085:
1048:
1046:
998:
996:
994:
992:
672:
775:1976 Distinguished Service Citation,
1098:People from West Palm Beach, Florida
640:Geons, Black Holes, and Quantum Foam
522:. His first paper, co-authored with
1057:
1043:
989:
723:1944 Prize for General Excellence,
696:David and Lucile Packard Foundation
359:, and with lab consultants such as
13:
761:(NSF) Senior Postdoctoral Fellow,
718:Westinghouse Science Talent Search
710:
689:
683:United States Department of Energy
638:to write Wheeler's autobiography,
578:University of Massachusetts Boston
571:University of California at Irvine
297:V-12 Navy College Training Program
283:. After summer employment at the
169:(born May 1, 1926) is an American
14:
1144:
937:Kenneth W. Ford's author page on
898:
813:The World of Elementary Particles
620:The World of Elementary Particles
518:, and also worked extensively on
508:particle and mathematical physics
473:The World of Elementary Particles
205:Ford was born on May 1, 1926, in
1103:21st-century American physicists
480:University of California, Irvine
183:University of California, Irvine
36:
384:IBM card-programmed calculators
1128:Phillips Exeter Academy alumni
1032:
1007:
337:Los Alamos National Laboratory
293:Electronic Technician Training
261:Los Alamos National Laboratory
99:, various textbooks on physics
16:American physicist (born 1926)
1:
1123:University of Michigan alumni
982:
847:American Institute of Physics
644:American Institute of Physics
605:American Institute of Physics
590:University of Maryland System
516:collective, or unified, model
195:American Institute of Physics
21:Kenneth W. Ford (businessman)
833:Classical and Modern Physics
681:, Ford was requested by the
628:Classical and Modern Physics
573:as its first physics chair.
392:National Bureau of Standards
323:Graduate Work and the H-Bomb
285:Marine Biological Laboratory
212:
200:
7:
1113:Princeton University alumni
944:Interview with Kenneth Ford
759:National Science Foundation
701:
469:National Science Foundation
10:
1149:
274:
221:, from 1940 to 1942, then
18:
948:Germantown Friends School
793:American Physical Society
601:American Physical Society
560:Germantown Friends School
486:Cessation of Weapons Work
289:Woods Hole, Massachusetts
160:
148:
138:
131:
111:
103:
92:
76:
47:
35:
28:
586:executive vice president
453:Cambridge, Massachusetts
445:Imperial College, London
420:research appointment at
255:in 1953, studying under
207:West Palm Beach, Florida
69:West Palm Beach, Florida
725:Phillips Exeter Academy
424:, beginning that fall.
301:John Carroll University
223:Phillips Exeter Academy
1108:Harvard College alumni
843:John Archibald Wheeler
417:
412:
309:University of Michigan
257:John Archibald Wheeler
155:John Archibald Wheeler
42:Kenneth W. Ford (1978)
850:Science Writing Prize
807:Selected bibliography
659:101 Quantum Questions
647:Science Writing Prize
413:
408:
380:thermonuclear burning
219:Fort Thomas, Kentucky
171:theoretical physicist
966:Archival collections
894:(H Bar Press, 2021).
657:(a memoir) in 2007,
506:, with some work in
443:; and in 1961–62 at
441:Fulbright Fellowship
329:Princeton University
265:Princeton University
253:Princeton University
167:Kenneth William Ford
86:Princeton University
52:Kenneth William Ford
909:Kenneth W. Ford at
862:In Love With Flying
749:Max Planck Institut
679:Building the H Bomb
673:Issues with Secrecy
663:Building the H Bomb
655:In Love with Flying
567:Brandeis University
510:. He exploited the
467:and supported by a
439:and supported by a
429:Max Planck Institut
107:Joanne Baumunk Ford
892:The First 95 Years
817:Library of Science
753:Göttingen, Germany
632:Germantown Academy
556:Germantown Academy
551:Indiana University
544:magnetic monopoles
542:, in a search for
433:Göttingen, Germany
422:Indiana University
373:Project Matterhorn
317:Harvard University
269:Project Matterhorn
243:. He received his
235:Harvard University
97:Project Matterhorn
81:Harvard University
651:The Quantum World
649:. There followed
634:, he joined with
558:(1995–98) and at
504:nuclear structure
437:Werner Heisenberg
164:
163:
133:Scientific career
121:Caroline Richards
1140:
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1005:
1000:
905:Personal Website
886:World Scientific
827:World Scientific
763:Imperial College
745:Fulbright Fellow
613:College Park, MD
528:even-even nuclei
465:Victor Weisskopf
396:Washington, D.C.
390:computer at the
361:John von Neumann
150:Doctoral advisor
65:
61:
59:
40:
26:
25:
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739:Harvard College
713:
711:Selected honors
704:
692:
690:Post-retirement
675:
500:
488:
461:Herman Feshbach
349:Conrad Longmire
325:
305:Cleveland, Ohio
277:
240:summa cum laude
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126:
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119:Nina Tannenwald
118:
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84:
77:Alma mater
72:
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53:
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31:
30:Kenneth W. Ford
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899:External links
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731:Phi Beta Kappa
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514:model and the
499:
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492:Cloudcroft, NM
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455:, mentored by
435:, mentored by
357:Stanislaw Ulam
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299:, studying at
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1021:on 2008-08-29
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823:Basic Physics
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783:Oersted Medal
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667:Basic Physics
664:
661:in 2011, and
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624:Basic Physics
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609:New York City
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562:(2000-2001).
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64:(age 98)
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27:
22:
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1034:
1023:. Retrieved
1019:the original
1009:
924:- Session II
891:
881:
875:
866:small planes
861:
855:
838:
832:
822:
812:
705:
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636:John Wheeler
627:
623:
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598:
594:Philadelphia
575:
564:
548:
532:John Wheeler
520:muonic atoms
501:
489:
477:
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409:
377:
365:Enrico Fermi
341:John Wheeler
326:
278:
238:
216:
204:
179:Pennsylvania
175:Philadelphia
166:
165:
132:
1093:1926 births
918:- Session I
540:Eiichi Goto
457:Abdus Salam
345:Carson Mark
62:May 1, 1926
1087:Categories
1025:2013-07-19
983:References
939:Amazon.com
536:Henry Kolm
524:David Bohm
369:Hans Bethe
227:Exeter, NH
125:Jason Ford
117:Sarah Ford
58:1926-05-01
829:in 2017.)
665:in 2015.
653:in 2004,
404:Mike test
400:John Toll
313:Ann Arbor
213:Education
201:Biography
127:Star Ford
123:Adam Ford
115:Paul Ford
888:, 2015).
791:Fellow,
757:1961-62
743:1955-56
735:Sigma Xi
702:Personal
112:Children
911:aip.org
870:gliders
841:, with
588:of the
281:US Navy
275:US Navy
249:physics
193:of the
143:Physics
88:(Ph.D.)
799:, and
771:M.I.T.
769:, and
767:London
720:winner
463:, and
367:, and
355:, and
333:H-bomb
139:Fields
104:Spouse
83:(A.B.)
71:, U.S.
781:2006
729:1948
716:1944
251:from
245:Ph.D.
233:from
868:and
538:and
447:and
388:SEAC
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