George Gamow
Georgiy Antonovich Gamow was born in Odessa, Russian Empire, now Odesa, Ukraine. His father taught Russian language and literature while his mother taught geography and history at a girls' school. He learned French from his mother and German from a private tutor before mastering English during college years. Most early publications appeared in German or Russian, but he later switched to English for both technical papers and general audiences.
He studied at the Institute of Physics and Mathematics in Odessa from 1922 to 1923. Then he moved to the University of Leningrad between 1923 and 1929. There he worked under Alexander Friedmann until Friedmann died in 1925. This loss forced him to change dissertation advisors. At the university, Gamow befriended three other theoretical physics students: Lev Landau, Dmitri Ivanenko, and Matvey Bronshtein. They formed a group called the Three Musketeers that met regularly to discuss groundbreaking quantum mechanics papers published during those years.
In 1928, Gamow solved the theory of alpha decay through tunneling while working in Göttingen. Nikolai Kochin provided mathematical assistance for this work. The problem also received independent solutions by Ronald W. Gurney and Edward U. Condon. However, only Gamow achieved the quantitative results needed to explain the phenomenon fully.
Classically, particles remain trapped inside nuclei due to high energy requirements for escape. Quantum mechanics allows probability-based tunneling through potential barriers instead. Gamow derived relationships between half-life durations and emission energies from first principles. These calculations matched empirical observations known as the Geiger, Nuttall law. Years later, scientists applied his name to probabilities involving nuclear particle interactions with electrostatic Coulomb barriers.
Gamow worked at various Soviet establishments before deciding to flee increasing oppression. Official permission denied him attendance at a scientific conference in Italy during 1931. That same year he married Lyubov Vokhmintseva, another physicist nicknamed Rho after the Greek letter. They spent two years attempting to leave without official approval.
First attempts involved kayaking across the Black Sea toward Turkey covering 250 kilometers. Another attempt went from Murmansk to Norway. Poor weather foiled both efforts while authorities remained unaware of their plans. In 1933, sudden permission arrived allowing attendance at the 7th Solvay Conference on physics in Brussels. He insisted his wife accompany him despite initial resistance. Eventually Soviet authorities issued passports for the couple. Marie Curie helped them extend stays afterward. Gamow obtained temporary work at the Curie Institute, University of London, and the University of Michigan over the following year.
Gamow's work led development of the hot big bang theory describing an expanding universe. He employed Alexander Friedmann's and Georges Lemaître's non-static solutions of Einstein gravitational equations. These described uniform matter density with constant spatial curvature. His crucial advance provided physical reification of Lemaître's primordial quantum concept by assuming early universes dominated by radiation rather than matter.
He applied models to chemical element creation questions during 1946. Later evidence from Fred Hoyle showed heavier elements form through thermonuclear reactions inside stars or supernovae instead. Gamow formulated coupled differential equations assigning graduate student Ralph Alpher numerical solving tasks. Results appeared as the Alpher, Bethe, Gamow paper published in April 1948. Bethe's name inclusion served as a pun on Greek alphabet letters alpha beta gamma. In 1953 he determined relict background radiation densities predicting present temperatures around 7 Kelvin. This value slightly exceeded twice current accepted measurements before Penzias and Wilson discovered actual cosmic microwave background radiation in 1965.
Francis Crick, James Watson, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin discovered DNA double helix structures in 1953. Gamow attempted explaining how four base ordering controls protein synthesis from constituent amino acids. He observed that 4 cubed equals 64 possible permutations reduced to 20 distinct combinations if order mattered less. These twenty combinations might code for twenty amino acid constituents forming all proteins.
His proposed system called Gamow diamonds proved incorrect because triplets were supposed overlapping sequences like GGAC producing one amino acid then another. True genetic codes turned out non-overlapping where changing base orders alters resulting amino acids. In 1954 Gamow co-founded the RNA Tie Club with Watson discussing leading scientists concerned about genetic coding problems. Members included physicists Edward Teller and Richard Feynman. Watson later acknowledged importance of Gamow's insightful initiative despite describing him as zany card-trick playing limerick singing booze swilling practical joking giant imp.
Gamow became highly successful science writer whose books remain printed over half-century after initial publication. As educator he emphasized fundamental principles unlikely becoming obsolete even accelerating scientific technological pace. He conveyed excitement regarding physics revolutions accessible to common readers. Gamow sketched many illustrations himself adding new dimensions complementing intended text messages. Mathematics appeared wherever essential yet large equation numbers avoided deterring potential readers unnecessarily.
In 1946 he promoted human spaceflight propelled by atomic energy suggesting comfortable rocketships driven by such power. Ordinary chemical fuels could not possibly provide necessary velocities according to his calculations. By 1965 expectations moderated though re-stated atomic-power prognostications remained active during ongoing space race using conventional chemical rockets instead. His book The Creation of Universe first published in 1952 concluded stating less than an hour made all universal atoms while few hundred million years created stars planets but three billion years produced humanity itself. In 1956 awarded Kalinga Prize by UNESCO recognizing Mr Tompkins series spanning 1939 through 1967 plus One Two Three Infinity and other works.
In 1961 proposed representing periodic system continuous tape elements ordered atomic number wound round three-dimensional helix increasing diameter stepwise corresponding longer rows conventional tables. Continued teaching focusing increasingly writing textbooks general public books. After several months ill health surgeries circulatory system diabetes liver problems dying from liver failure called weak link unable withstand stresses. Letter written Ralph Alpher August 18 stated unbearable abdominal pain stopping nothing. On the 19th of August 1968 died age 64 buried Green Mountain Cemetery Boulder. Physics department tower named after him remains standing today.
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Common questions
When and where was Georgiy Antonovich Gamow born?
Georgiy Antonovich Gamow was born in Odessa, Russian Empire, which is now Odesa, Ukraine. He lived from 1904 until his death on the 19th of August 1968.
What major physics theory did George Gamow develop regarding alpha decay?
George Gamow solved the theory of alpha decay through quantum tunneling while working in Göttingen in 1928. His calculations matched empirical observations known as the Geiger Nuttall law and provided quantitative results that others could not achieve at the time.
How did George Gamow contribute to the hot big bang theory?
George Gamow developed the hot big bang theory by employing non-static solutions of Einstein gravitational equations from Alexander Friedmann and Georges Lemaître. He assumed early universes were dominated by radiation rather than matter to provide physical reification of Lemaître's primordial quantum concept.
Did George Gamow predict cosmic microwave background radiation before it was discovered?
Yes, George Gamow determined relict background radiation densities in 1953 predicting present temperatures around 7 Kelvin. This value slightly exceeded twice current accepted measurements before Penzias and Wilson discovered actual cosmic microwave background radiation in 1965.
What role did George Gamow play in the discovery of DNA structure?
George Gamow attempted explaining how four base ordering controls protein synthesis from constituent amino acids after Francis Crick James Watson Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin discovered DNA double helix structures in 1953. He co-founded the RNA Tie Club with Watson in 1954 discussing leading scientists concerned about genetic coding problems.