Life History

John Bardeen (1908-1991) was an American physicist and electrical engineer who is best known for his work on the development of the transistor, which revolutionized the field of electronics.

Biography of John Bardeen and Discovery

John Bardeen Birth

John Bardeen was born on May 23, 1908, in Madison, Wisconsin, United States.

John Bardeen Accomplishments

John Bardeen is a renowned American physicist who made many significant contributions to the field of condensed matter physics and electronic engineering...

John Bardeen is widely considered to be one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century, and his work continues to impact modern electronics and materials science today.

Invention of the transistor?

Bardeen, along with William Shockley and Walter Brattain, invented the transistor in 1947 while working at Bell Labs. The transistor revolutionized the electronics industry and paved the way for the development of modern electronic devices such as computers and smartphones.

Theory of superconductivity?

Bardeen, along with Leon Cooper and John Schrieffer, developed the BCS theory of superconductivity in 1957. This theory explains how certain materials can conduct electricity with zero resistance at very low temperatures, and has been instrumental in advancing the field of superconductivity.

Two-time Nobel Prize winner?

Bardeen is one of only four people to have been awarded two Nobel Prizes in Physics. He received his first Nobel Prize in 1956 for his contributions to the invention of the transistor, and his second in 1972 for his work on superconductivity.

Research on semiconductors?

Bardeen also made significant contributions to the study of semiconductors, including the development of the theory of tunneling, which explains how electrons can pass through a thin barrier.

John Bardeen Family Background

John Bardeen's father's name was Charles Russell Bardeen, and his mother's name was Althea Harmer Bardeen.

John Bardeen had two siblings!

Brother Name Charles, &  Sister Name Jane,

John Bardeen's father, Charles Russell Bardeen, was a prominent American anatomist and physiologist. He was born in 1871 in New York and received his medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1897. He subsequently pursued a career in academic medicine and was appointed to the faculty at the University of Wisconsin in 1903.

Charles Bardeen was a leading researcher in the field of embryology and made significant contributions to our understanding of the development of the musculoskeletal system in vertebrates. He authored numerous scientific papers and several books, including "Development and Structure of the Human Body" and "An Introduction to Embryology."

In addition to his academic work, Charles Bardeen was also involved in various professional organizations, including the American Association of Anatomists and the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

John Bardeen's mother, Althea Harmer Bardeen, was a schoolteacher who was born in 1876 in Indiana. She attended college at Indiana University and subsequently pursued a career in education.

Althea Bardeen was a dedicated and influential teacher who emphasized the importance of hard work and academic achievement to her children. She encouraged her son John's early interest in science and technology and provided him with the resources and support he needed to pursue his education and career in these fields.

In addition to her work as a teacher, Althea Bardeen was also involved in various community organizations and was an active member of the Madison community. Her commitment to education and public service had a profound impact on her family and the community as a whole.

John Bardeen's brother Charles Bardeen, was a prominent American physician and medical researcher. He was born in 1914 in Madison, Wisconsin, and received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1939.

During his career, Charles Bardeen made significant contributions to the fields of pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. He conducted research on the physiology of the heart and lungs and helped to develop new surgical techniques for treating congenital heart defects in children.

Charles Bardeen also played an important role in the development of medical education in the United States. He served as the dean of the University of Wisconsin Medical School from 1965 to 1970 and was a founding member of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Charles Bardeen's work had a significant impact on the field of medicine and helped to improve the lives of many patients.

John Bardeen's sister Jane Bardeen, was a musician and music teacher. She was born in 1918 in Madison, Wisconsin, and grew up in a family that valued education and music.

Jane Bardeen began playing the piano at a young age and went on to study music at the University of Wisconsin. She subsequently pursued a career as a music teacher and taught piano and music theory to many students over the years.

In addition to her work as a music teacher, Jane Bardeen was also an accomplished musician in her own right. She performed as a pianist at various concerts and events in the Madison area and was an active member of the local music community. 

Jane Bardeen's dedication to music education and her contributions to the local music scene had a significant impact on the community

John Bardeen Education

John Bardeen received his early education in the public schools of Madison, Wisconsin. He then attended the University of Wisconsin, where he received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1928. He went on to earn a master's degree in the same field in 1929.

After completing his master's degree, Bardeen pursued a doctorate in mathematical physics at Princeton University, where he studied under renowned physicist Eugene Wigner. He completed his Ph.D. in 1936 with a dissertation on the theory of metals.

Bardeen's education provided him with a strong foundation in mathematics and physics, which he would use throughout his career to make significant contributions to the fields of solid-state physics and electronics.

John Bardeen Career

John Bardeen had a long and distinguished career as a physicist and electrical engineer. After completing his Ph.D. at Princeton University in 1936, he worked as a research assistant at Harvard University for a short time before accepting a faculty position at the University of Minnesota.

During World War II, Bardeen worked on various projects related to radar and electronic communications for the U.S. Navy. In 1945, he joined Bell Telephone Laboratories, where he conducted research on solid-state physics and developed the theory of superconductivity.

In the 1950s, Bardeen, along with colleagues Walter Brattain and William Shockley, invented the transistor, a device that revolutionized the field of electronics and paved the way for the development of modern computers and other electronic devices. For this achievement, Bardeen, Brattain, and Shockley were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1956.

After leaving Bell Labs in 1951, Bardeen joined the faculty at the University of Illinois, where he continued to conduct research on solid-state physics and made significant contributions to our understanding of the behavior of electrons in semiconductors. He also served as the director of the university's Materials Research Laboratory.

Bardeen remained at the University of Illinois for the rest of his career, and in 1972, he was awarded a second Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the theory of superconductivity. He retired from the university in 1975 but continued to conduct research and publish papers until his death in 1991.

John Bardeen Awards

John Bardeen received numerous awards and honors throughout his distinguished career.

Nobel Prize in Physics (1956) Bardeen, along with Walter Brattain and William Shockley, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for the invention of the transistor, which revolutionized the field of electronics and led to the development of modern computers and other electronic devices.

National Medal of Science (1965) Bardeen received this award from President Lyndon B. Johnson in recognition of his contributions to the fields of solid-state physics and electronics.

Stuart Ballantine Medal (1971) This award, presented by the Franklin Institute, recognized Bardeen's contributions to the development of the transistor and the theory of superconductivity.

Nobel Prize in Physics (1972) Bardeen was awarded a second Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the theory of superconductivity, which has important applications in the fields of electronics and energy.

IEEE Medal of Honor (1975) This award, presented by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, recognized Bardeen's contributions to the invention of the transistor and his work on the theory of superconductivity.

Some More

Fellow of the American Physical Society (1941)

Stuart Ballantine Medal from the Franklin Institute (1952)

National Medal of Science (1965)

Nobel Prize in Physics (1956) for the invention of the transistor, which he shared with Walter H. Brattain and William B. Shockley

Oliver E. Buckley Prize from the American Physical Society (1957)

John Scott Medal from the City of Philadelphia (1958)

Member of the National Academy of Sciences (1959)

Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin (1960)

Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Chicago (1963)

IEEE Medal of Honor from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (1971)

Nobel Prize in Physics (1972) for his work on the theory of superconductivity, which he shared with Leon N. Cooper and John Robert Schrieffer

These awards reflect the significant impact that Bardeen had on the fields of solid-state physics and electronics, and his contributions continue to be celebrated and remembered today.

John Bardeen Books

John Bardeen was a prolific scientist and researcher, but he did not write any books as an author or co-author. Instead, he published many research papers and articles in scientific journals throughout his career, which have contributed significantly to the field of solid-state physics and electronics.

"Theory of Superconductivity" (1957)

"Electron-Phonon Interaction in Metals" (1955)

"The Surface Properties of Semiconductors" (1950)

"Surface States and Rectification at a Metal-Semiconductor Contact" (1951)

"A Theory of the Hall Effect and the Related Effect" (1961)

These publications and others have contributed to our understanding of the behavior of electrons in semiconductors, the properties of superconductors, and other important topics in the field of solid-state physics. 

Although Bardeen did not write any books, his research has had a significant impact on the development of modern electronics and continues to be studied and built upon by researchers today.

John Bardeen Personal Life

The name of John Bardeen's wife was Jane Maxwell Bardeen.

Jane Maxwell Bardeen was born on August 22, 1916, in Madison, Wisconsin, and grew up in a family of educators. Her father, William H. Maxwell, was a professor of education at the University of Wisconsin, and her mother, Edna Maxwell, was a teacher. Jane attended the University of Wisconsin, where she met John Bardeen, and they were married in 1938. After John's career took them to various places, including Minnesota, Illinois, and New York, they settled in Urbana, Illinois, in 1951 when John joined the faculty at the University of Illinois.

Jane was a devoted wife and mother, and she was known for her support of John's work and her dedication to her family. She was also active in community service, volunteering for many years with the Carle Foundation Hospital and the Champaign County Nursing Home, and serving on the boards of several local charities. Jane passed away in 2002 at the age of 86.

John Bardeen and his wife Jane had three children together...

James Bardeen

William Bardeen

Elizabeth Bardeen

John Bardeen's personal life was marked by a deep commitment to his work as a physicist and researcher, as well as to his family. He was married to Jane Maxwell Bardeen, whom he met while they were both students at the University of Wisconsin. They had three children together.

Bardeen was known for his reserved and modest personality, and he was widely admired for his intelligence and dedication to his work. Despite his many accomplishments, he remained humble and down-to-earth, and he was known for his kindness and generosity to his colleagues and students.

Outside of his work, Bardeen enjoyed spending time with his family, playing golf, and listening to classical music. He was also an avid reader and kept up with the latest developments in science and technology throughout his life.

James Bardeen is the oldest son of John Bardeen and Jane Bardeen. He was born in 1940 in Schenectady, New York, where John was working at the General Electric Research Laboratory. James followed in his father's footsteps and became a physicist. He received his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and his Ph.D. from Harvard University, and went on to work as a researcher at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the University of Colorado, and the University of Washington.

James is best known for his work in the field of cosmology, where he has made important contributions to our understanding of the early universe and the formation of galaxies. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics and the Hans Bethe Prize from the American Physical Society.

William Bardeen is the second son of John Bardeen and Jane Bardeen. He was born in 1942 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where John was working at the University of Minnesota. Unlike his father and older brother, William did not pursue a career in physics. Instead, he became a lawyer and went on to work as a partner at the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago.

William received his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School. He has been recognized for his work in the field of antitrust law and has been named one of the leading lawyers in the United States by Chambers USA and other legal publications.

Elizabeth Bardeen is the daughter of John Bardeen and Jane Bardeen. She was born in 1950 in Urbana, Illinois, where John was working at the University of Illinois. Like her brother William, Elizabeth did not pursue a career in physics. Instead, she became an artist and a writer.

Elizabeth received her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College and went on to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has exhibited her artwork in galleries throughout the United States and has published a number of books for children and young adults, including "The Story of Barbie Doll" and "Stars of the First People." In addition to her artistic work, Elizabeth has also been involved in philanthropy and has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations.

John Bardeen Death

John Bardeen passed away on January 30, 1991, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 82. He had been in poor health for some time prior to his death, having suffered from heart disease and other medical conditions. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Jane and their three children. Bardeen's contributions to the field of physics and his pioneering work on the development of the transistor have had a lasting impact on science and technology, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important physicists of the 20th century.

About Us

Ancient Post is proud to write about(John Bardeen)and if you have any comments on this article please Contact US

Previous Post Next Post

Comments