Luis Walter Alvarez

By saem

  • Luis Walter Alvarez is born in San Francisco, California.

  • Alvarez receives his Bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago.

  • Alvarez receives his Master's degree from the University of Chicago.

  • Alvarez receives his PhD from the University of Chicago.

  • Marriage

    Alvarez is married to Geraldine Smithwick. They have two children, Walter and Jean, before a divorce.
  • Period: to

    Alvarez goes to the Radiation Laboratory at MIT for military research for WWII.

  • Manhattan Project

    Alvarez goes to Los Alamos, California to work on the Manhattan Project. He develops the detonator for the plutonium bomb. He is on Enola Gay as a researcher and sees the atomic bombs detonated.

  • Alvarez is awarded the Collier Trophy by the National Aeronautical Association for invention of Ground-Controlled Approach.

  • Alvarez is awarded the Medal for Merit.

  • Proton Accelerator

    Alvarez finishes building his proton accelerator.

  • Alvarez is awarded the John Scott Medaland Prize by the city of Philadelphia for his invention of Ground-Level approach.

  • Second Marriage

    Alvarez marries his second wife, Janet Landis. The couple have two children: Donald and Helen.

  • Alvarez is named the "California Scientist of the Year" for his research work on high-energy physics.

  • Alvarez is awarded the Einstein Medal for his contributions to the physical sciences.

  • Alvarez is awarded the Pioneer Award of the AIEEE.

  • Alvarez is awarded the National Medal of Science for his contributions to high-energy physics.

  • Alvarez receives the Michelson award.

  • Alvarez receives his Sc.D. from the University of Chicago

  • Alvarez receives his Sc.D. from Carnegie Mellon University.

  • Alvarez receives the Nobel Prize in Physics for his development of giant bubble chambers that are used to discover sub-atomic particles.

  • Alvarez becomes president of the American Physical Society.

  • Alvarez receives his Sc.D. from Kenyon College.

  • Alvarez retires from the University of Berkeley.

  • Luis Alvarez and his son Walter, along with two other scientists, develop the theory that dinosaur extinction was due to a massive asteroid impact.

  • Luis Walter Alvarez dies of cancer in Berkeley, California.