Henry Hurwitz Jr.
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Henry Hurwitz, Jr., was a physicist at General Electric Co. who pioneered the theory and design of nuclear power plants and helped engineer the reactor for the Seawolf nuclear submarine.
In 1955, a year after Fortune Magazine named him as one of the top 10 scientists in U.S. industry, Hurwitz contributed to establishing the first atomic containment sphere for GE. The development advanced industry-wide safety protocols for enclosing nuclear reactors.
Hurwitz received his Ph.D. in quantum mechanics from Harvard University in 1941. Two years later, he was recruited by Hans Bethe to help Edward Teller's staff of researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico develop the thermonuclear reactions for the hydrogen bomb. In 1946, Hurwitz became one of the first scientists to work at GE's Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Schenectady. In 1947 he transferred to the GE Research and Development Center to become manager of the Nucleonics and Radiation Branch. His team of scientists used advanced theta-pinch techniques to harness fusion reactions.
His interest in electronic devices, computer applications, and chemical engineering prompted GE to recognize Hurwitz's accomplishments in 1975 by naming him a Coolidge Fellow, the GE R&D Center's highest honor. Hurwitz also is noted for his efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of Radon, and later received the prestigious Seaborg Medal in 1989 from the American Nuclear Society.
[edit] References
Lambert, Bruce (April 16, 1992), [[1] Henry Hurwitz, 73; Research Physicist Developed Reactors], New York Times, <[2]>
[[3] People Briefs: Henry Hurwitz, Jr.], The Scientist, May 25, 1992, <[4]>
[[5] IN MEMORIAM HENRY HURWITZ], Access to Energy Newsletter, June 01, 1992, <[6]>
[[7] Henry Hurwitz Jr.], The Earnest Orlando Lawrence Award, 1961, <[8]>
[[http://www.ans.org/honors/recipients/va-seaborg ] Henry Hurwitz Jr.], Seaborg Medal, 1961, <[http://www.ans.org/honors/recipients/va-seaborg ]>
