Edward Teller
Born 1908 · Age 117
Hungarian–American theoretical physicist; major contributor to nuclear and molecular physics and a leading advocate and developer of the hydrogen (thermonuclear) bomb; co‑founder and long-time leader at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary
Edward (Ede) Teller born to Ilona (Deutsch) and Miksa Teller in Budapest into an educated Jewish family.
Entered Minta Gymnasium (early schooling)
Attended the prestigious Minta Gymnasium in Budapest; formative schooling during post-WWI political turmoil in Hungary.
Left Hungary for Germany to study
Departed Budapest for Germany (partly because of Hungary's numerus clausus) and enrolled at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology to study chemical engineering.
BS in Chemical Engineering, Karlsruhe (approx.)
Graduated from the University/Institute of Karlsruhe with a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering before switching focus to physics.
Streetcar accident; lost right foot
While a student in Munich, Teller was struck by a streetcar and his right foot was nearly severed; he walked with a limp and sometimes used a prosthesis thereafter.
Transferred to University of Munich (studied under Sommerfeld)
Moved to Munich to study physics under Arnold Sommerfeld; shifted interest from chemical engineering to theoretical physics.
PhD in Physics from University of Leipzig
Received doctorate (Thesis: Über das Wasserstoffmolekülion) under Werner Heisenberg; early quantum-mechanical work on the hydrogen molecular ion.
Befriended Gamow and Landau; met key colleagues
Formed important scientific friendships (George Gamow, Lev Landau) and later connection to George Placzek that led to working with Enrico Fermi (1932).
Research consultant at University of Göttingen
Worked at Göttingen — one of the major physics centers of the era — until the rising Nazi threat forced emigration.
Left Germany after Hitler's rise
Emigrated from Germany in 1933 (with help from International Rescue Committee) because of Nazi persecution of Jews and political danger.
Short stays: England and Copenhagen (Bohr)
Spent time in England and then worked at Niels Bohr's Institute in Copenhagen; integrated into the circle of leading theoretical physicists.
Married Augusta Maria "Mici" Harkanyi
Married his long-time girlfriend Augusta (Mici) Harkanyi in February 1934 (civil/Calvinist ceremony).
Returned to England (Sept 1934)
Returned to England after a year in Copenhagen and brief stays elsewhere.
Moved to United States — George Washington University appointment
Invited (through George Gamow) to become professor of physics at George Washington University; emigrated to the U.S. in 1935.
Started co-organizing Washington Conferences on Theoretical Physics
With George Gamow, organized annual Washington Conferences on Theoretical Physics (1935–1947) that attracted top physicists.
Predicted Jahn–Teller effect
At GWU, Teller (with H. A. Jahn) predicted the Jahn–Teller effect, showing certain molecular distortions and impacts on chemistry and spectroscopy.
Work on Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) isotherm
Collaborated with Stephen Brunauer and Paul Emmett on surface chemistry; contribution became the widely used BET adsorption isotherm.
Joined Enrico Fermi's team — Chicago reactor work
Worked with Enrico Fermi and others (University of Chicago) on early reactor/chain-reaction research leading into Manhattan Project efforts.
Naturalized as U.S. citizen
Edward and Mici Teller became naturalized citizens of the United States on March 6, 1941.
Invited to Berkeley Manhattan Project planning seminar
Participated in Robert Oppenheimer's 1942 summer planning seminar at Berkeley that fed into the Manhattan Project; began advocating the 'Super' (fusion) idea.
Moved to Los Alamos Laboratory (March 1943)
Joined Oppenheimer's Los Alamos Laboratory as part of the Theoretical (T) Division working on the atomic bomb; used secret identity Ed Tilden.
Proposed solid pit (Christy pit) design idea
Contributed to fission bomb development and was the first to propose the solid pit design later realized by Robert Christy.
Led special group to investigate implosion mathematics
A special group under Teller was established in March 1944 to study mathematical issues of implosion-type fission designs and related Super problems.
Placed in charge of Super group reporting directly to Oppenheimer
In June 1944 Teller was moved out of T Division and placed in charge of a special group focused on the 'Super' thermonuclear concept.
Responded to Szilard petition (decision not to sign)
Declined to sign the Szilard petition calling for a demonstration rather than combat use; wrote a letter explaining his position.
Trinity test — observed the first atomic explosion
One of the few scientists who watched the Trinity nuclear test (with eye protection), a pivotal moment in atomic history.
Left Los Alamos to University of Chicago (Feb 1, 1946)
Resigned from Los Alamos and returned to University of Chicago as professor, working closely with Enrico Fermi and Maria Goeppert Mayer.
Attended Los Alamos Super conference (Apr 18–20, 1946)
Participated in a major conference reviewing wartime Super work; Teller submitted an optimistic report on thermonuclear feasibility.
Chair, Reactor Safeguard Committee to AEC (late 1940s)
Chaired the Reactor Safeguard Committee developing reactor safety standards in the late 1940s.
Soviet first atomic test — U.S. reaction begins
Soviet detonation (Aug 29, 1949) pushed the U.S. to accelerate thermonuclear weapons development; context for Teller's return to weapons work.
Returned to Los Alamos to work on H-bomb (1950)
Rejoined Los Alamos as hydrogen-bomb effort resumed; pushed for more theorists and stronger H-bomb program.
Proposed extreme-yield devices (Sundial/Gnomon)
Proposed project Sundial (10 gigatons) and Gnomon (1 gigaton) concepts in the early 1950s; neither was built or tested.
Classified paper on radiation implosion (Teller–Ulam breakthrough)
Teller and Stanislaw Ulam submitted a classified March 9, 1951 paper proposing staged implosion/radiation compression — the basis of the Teller–Ulam thermonuclear design.
Helped establish Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Urged creation of and then joined the Livermore branch of the UC Radiation Laboratory (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) largely to pursue thermonuclear research.
Called 'father of the hydrogen bomb' by the press
After Ivy Mike, the press widely labeled Teller 'the father of the hydrogen bomb', a controversial public attribution.
Ivy Mike test — first full thermonuclear explosion
The Ivy Mike shot (Nov 1, 1952) successfully detonated a full thermonuclear device using Teller–Ulam concepts; yield ≈10 megatons of TNT.
Published co-authored work initiating Monte Carlo in statistical mechanics
Co-authored the seminal 1953 paper (with Metropolis, Rosenbluths, etc.) applying Monte Carlo methods to statistical mechanics.
Co-authored Monte Carlo paper with Metropolis et al. (1953)
With Nicholas Metropolis, Arianna Rosenbluth, Marshall Rosenbluth and Augusta Teller, co-authored a paper that applied Monte Carlo methods to statistical mechanics (important in MCMC literature).
Testified in Oppenheimer security hearing (1954)
Teller testified against J. Robert Oppenheimer at the AEC clearance hearing; his testimony became highly controversial and led to ostracism by much of the scientific community.
Scientific ostracism following Oppenheimer hearing
After testifying at Oppenheimer's hearing, Teller was widely ostracized by the scientific community and lost many friendships.
Authored 'The Work of Many People' in Science (Feb 1955)
Published an article in Science emphasizing collective contribution to weapons development (later said he told a 'white lie' to soothe colleagues).
Promoted smaller high-yield warhead concepts
Contributed ideas that influenced development of smaller but very high-yield warhead concepts (Polaris warhead shaping).
Attended Project Nobska — Polaris warhead discussions
At the 1956 Nobska conference, discussions in which Teller participated helped influence Navy shift to Polaris missile with compact high-yield warhead designs.
Director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (1958–1960)
Served as director of LLNL (initial appointment in 1958); later continued as associate director to focus on lobbying and advocacy.
Signatory to Special Studies Project military sub-panel report (1958)
Signed the 1958 Rockefeller Brothers-funded military sub-panel report calling for a $3 billion annual increase in U.S. defense spending.
Received Albert Einstein Award (1958)
Awarded the Albert Einstein Award recognizing contributions to theoretical physics.
Associate Director, LLNL (from 1960) and UC Berkeley professorship
From 1960 on served as associate director of Livermore (1960–1975) and held professorial roles at UC Berkeley (professor 1953–60; professor-at-large until 1970).
Advocated Project Chariot and Project Plowshare (late 1950s–1960s)
Promoted peaceful and large-scale uses of nuclear explosives (Project Plowshare) such as Project Chariot (excavating a harbor in Alaska) — controversial and ultimately unrealized.
Inducted by Academy of Achievement (Career Scientist, 1961)
Listed/inducted as a notable achiever by the American Academy of Achievement (career scientist recognition).
Received Enrico Fermi Award (1962)
Awarded the Enrico Fermi Award for leadership and contributions to nuclear science and national defense technology.
Received Harvey Prize (1975); joined Hoover Institution (1975)
Awarded the Harvey Prize in 1975; became a senior research fellow at the Hoover Institution (Stanford) from 1975 onward.
Suffered heart attack while lobbying after Three Mile Island (1979)
Reported heart attack in 1979 during active lobbying to counter public fear of nuclear power after the Three Mile Island partial meltdown.
Published Energy from Heaven and Earth (1979)
Published a book advocating nuclear and other energy solutions; active in public policy and energy debates.
Received Eringen Medal (1980)
Awarded the Eringen Medal (listed among honors in his biography).
National Medal of Science (early 1980s)
Awarded the National Medal of Science (often cited as 1982/1983; ceremony with President Reagan recognizing his scientific contributions).
Prominent influence on Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)
Was a major influence and advocate for Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (announced 1983); promoted missile-defense research and related technologies.
Public lecture and Academy involvement (1990)
Spoke at Academy of Achievement and other forums; remained active in public debate on defense and energy into his 80s.
Participated in asteroid/comet impact workshop (1995)
Worked with other scientists at LLNL on planetary defense—strategies (including nuclear options) to deflect or destroy threatening near-Earth objects.
Published Memoirs: A Twentieth-Century Journey in Science and Politics
Released his memoirs reflecting on a long career at the intersection of science, national security, and public policy.
Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom (2003)
Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003 in recognition of lifetime contributions to science and national security policy.
Died in Stanford, California (Sept 9, 2003)
Edward Teller died at his home on the Stanford campus on September 9, 2003 at age 95.
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