Noted physicist Rosenbluth dies

Marshall Rosenbluth, a nuclear and plasma physicist who pioneered the scientific knowledge of thermonuclear fusion, died Sept. 26 in La Jolla, Calf. He was 76.

A 1997 recipient of the National Medal of Science for his many fundamental contributions to the field of nuclear fusion and plasma physics, Rosenbluth was known internationally for his leadership in developing nuclear fusion as a future energy source and for his wide-ranging contributions to national security.

After receiving his doctorate from the University of Chicago in 1949 at the age of 22, he began an analysis of the scattering of relativistic electrons within nuclei, which led to his discovery of the so-called Rosenbluth formula - a staple of college physics courses.

In 1950, Rosenbluth was recruited to Los Alamos by the late Edward Teller as one of the principal theoreticians to do classified research that led to the development of the hydrogen bomb. Rosenbluth later joined a small group of scientists that investigated the possible peaceful uses of nuclear energy. During this period, Rosenbluth led the research effort that developed the Monte Carlo algorithm.

Rosenbluth served as a key advisor to the Department of Energy for magnetic and inertial confinement fusion research and for a range of issues relating to national defense and disarmament. He also was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and received numerous awards, including the E. O. Lawrence and Albert Einstein awards and the Enrico Fermi Award.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Marshall Rosenbluth Memorial Fund in the Division of Physical Sciences at University of California, San Diego. To read a UC, San Diego news release, click here.

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