Origins & Early Life

Israel Isaac "Isidor" Rabi (; Yiddish: איזידאָר יצחק ראַבי, romanized: Izidor Yitzkhok Rabi; July 29, 1898 – January 11, 1988) was an American physicist who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1944 "for his resonance method for recording the magnetic properties of atomic nuclei." He was also one of the first scientists in the United States to work on the cavity magnetron, which is used in microwave radar and microwave ovens. Born into a traditional Polish-Jewish family in Rymanów, Austria-Hungary, Rabi came to the United States as an infant and was raised in New York's Lower East Side. He entered Cornell University as an electrical engineering student in 1916, but soon switched to chemistry. Later, he became interested in physics.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He continued his studies at Columbia University, where he was awarded his doctorate for a thesis on the magnetic susceptibility of certain crystals. In 1927, he headed for Europe, where he met and worked with many of the finest physicists of the time. In 1929, Rabi returned to the United States, where Columbia offered him a faculty position. In collaboration with Gregory Breit, he developed the Breit–Rabi equation and predicted that the Stern–Gerlach experiment...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alvar Aalto — Contemporary (Born in 1898) (1898): Pioneering Finnish architect whose total art approach defined modern Nordic design.
• Aubrey Beardsley — Contemporary (Died in 1898) (1898): Pioneering English illustrator known for decadent, erotic black ink drawings.
• Bennett Cerf — Contemporary (Born in 1898) (1898): American publisher, author, and co-founder of Random House.
• Adele — Contemporary (Born in 1988) (1988): Iconic English singer-songwriter celebrated for powerful mezzo-soprano vocals.
• Alexandra Burke — Contemporary (Born in 1988) (1988): British singer, songwriter, and actress known for winning The X Factor.
• Ana de Armas — Contemporary (Born in 1988) (1988): Cuban-Spanish actress known for roles in Hollywood thrillers and dramas.
• Alexis de Tocqueville — Shared historical date (07-29 · Born) (1805): French philosopher known for analyzing Western democracy and social trends.
• Benito Mussolini — Shared historical date (07-29 · Born) (1883): Italian dictator who founded fascism and ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 to 1943.
• Abraham Joshua Heschel — Shared historical date (01-11 · Born) (1907): Leading 20th-century American rabbi, theologian, and philosopher.
• Alberto Giacometti — Shared historical date (01-11 · Died) (1966): Swiss master of existential sculpture, known for elongated, fragile human figures.
• 1898 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1898
• July 29 (07-29) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 29
• 1988 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1988
• January 11 (01-11) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 11