George Eugene Uhlenbeck (born 6.02.1900) — an American theoretical physicist, member of the National Academy of Sciences (1955). Born in Jakarta (Indonesia). He graduated from Leiden University (1927). In 1927-35 he taught at the University of Michigan, in 1935 —39 he was professor at the University of Utrecht, in 1939 — 61 at the University of Michigan, and in 1961 —71 at Rockefeller University.
His work was in quantum mechanics, atomic and nuclear physics, kinetic theory, statistical mechanics and nonlocal quantum field theory. In 1925, together with S. Goudsmit, he introduced the concept of electron spin. Independently of G. Wick he generalised (1936) Fermi's theory of beta decay to positron decay. He calculated the coefficients of internal conversion with pair production, and carried out (1936) theoretical calculations of the spectrum of internal bremsstrahlung. Together with E. Konopinski he developed (1940) the theory of forbidden spectra.
Member of a number of academies of sciences and scientific societies. In 1959 he was president of the American Physical Society. M. Planck Medal (1964), H. Lorentz Medal (1970) and others.