BRUNO PONTECORVO

BIRTH AND DEATH

Birth: 8/22/1913     Death: 9/24/1993

OCCUPATION

scientist

BIOGRAPHY SUMMARY

Bruno Pontecorvo was an Italian–Russian nuclear physicist, an early assistant of Enrico Fermi and the author of numerous studies in high energy physics, especially on neutrinos. A convinced communist, he defected to the Soviet Union in 1950, where he continued his research on the decay of the muon and on neutrinos. The prestigious Pontecorvo Prize was instituted in his memory in 1995.

NOTABLE WORK

WHY THEY MATTER

Bruno Pontecorvo was intellectually unique for his pioneering work in high-energy physics, particularly his groundbreaking studies on neutrinos and the decay of the muon. His decision to defect to the Soviet Union in 1950 due to his communist beliefs further cemented his legacy as a controversial and influential figure in the scientific community. The establishment of the Pontecorvo Prize in his honor in 1995 reflects the lasting impact of his intellectual contributions.

FAMOUS QUOTE

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