Val Logsdon Fitch ( born 10.03.1923) - an American experimental physicist, a member of the National Academy of Sciences (1966). He was born in Merriman. He graduated from McGill University (1948). In 1953-54 he worked at Columbia University, where he received (1954) the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Since 1954 he has worked at Princeton University (as professor from 1960).
His work was in the field of nuclear and meson physics and elementary particle physics. Together with J. Rainwater he determined the mass of the μ+-meson, measured the spectrum of the X-rays emitted by mu-mesons in transitions between quantum states in the atom, and discovered (1953) mu-mesic atoms. With him in 1953 he also measured, with sufficiently high accuracy, the radii of nuclei over the range of values of Z from 13 to 83, showing that the nuclear radius is equal to 1.2*10-13 cm.
In 1956 he proved experimentally the equality of the lifetimes of the so-called tau- and theta-mesons, thereby helping to establish the identity of these particles. In 1960 he discovered the K°-meson. In 1964 (with J. Cronin and others) he detected a rare decay of the neutral kaon, which showed the violation of CP invariance in weak interactions (Nobel Prize, 1980). He was the first to observe (1965) the interference of K0- and K0~ -mesons.
The E. Lawrence Medal (1968) and others.
His work was in the field of nuclear and meson physics and elementary particle physics. Together with J. Rainwater he determined the mass of the μ+-meson, measured the spectrum of the X-rays emitted by mu-mesons in transitions between quantum states in the atom, and discovered (1953) mu-mesic atoms. With him in 1953 he also measured, with sufficiently high accuracy, the radii of nuclei over the range of values of Z from 13 to 83, showing that the nuclear radius is equal to 1.2*10-13 cm.
In 1956 he proved experimentally the equality of the lifetimes of the so-called tau- and theta-mesons, thereby helping to establish the identity of these particles. In 1960 he discovered the K°-meson. In 1964 (with J. Cronin and others) he detected a rare decay of the neutral kaon, which showed the violation of CP invariance in weak interactions (Nobel Prize, 1980). He was the first to observe (1965) the interference of K0- and K0~ -mesons.
The E. Lawrence Medal (1968) and others.