Origins & Early Life

Maria Goeppert Mayer (German: [maˈʁiːa ˈɡœpɐt ˈmaɪɐ] ; née Göppert; June 28, 1906 – February 20, 1972) was a German–American theoretical physicist who shared the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physics with J. Hans D. Jensen and Eugene Wigner. One half of the prize was awarded jointly to Goeppert Mayer and Jensen "for their discoveries concerning nuclear shell structure." She was the second woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physics, the first being Marie Curie in 1903.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 1986, the Maria Goeppert Mayer Award for early-career women physicists was established in her honor. A graduate of the University of Göttingen, Goeppert Mayer wrote her doctoral thesis on the theory of possible two-photon absorption by atoms. At the time, the chances of experimentally verifying her thesis seemed remote, but the development of the laser in the 1960s later permitted this. Today, the unit for the two-photon absorption cross section is called the Goeppert Mayer (GM) unit. Maria Goeppert married American chemist Joseph Edward Mayer and moved to the United States, where he was an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Strict rules against nepotism prevented Johns Hopkins University from taking her on as a faculty...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. J. P. Taylor — Contemporary (Born in 1906) (1906): Influential English historian specializing in 19th and 20th-century European diplomacy.
• Ajahn Buddhadasa — Contemporary (Born in 1906) (1906): Pioneering Thai Buddhist monk known for reinterpreting doctrine and fostering religious reformation.
• Aristotle Onassis — Contemporary (Born in 1906) (1906): Greek shipping magnate who amassed a massive fleet and achieved global fame.
• Abraham Joshua Heschel — Contemporary (Died in 1972) (1972): Leading 20th-century American rabbi, theologian, and philosopher.
• Alessandro Nivola — Contemporary (Born in 1972) (1972): Versatile American actor known for film and stage work, building a notable career.
• Alison Stone (philosopher) — Contemporary (Born in 1972) (1972): British philosopher specializing in feminist and continental European thought.
• Carl Spaatz — Shared historical date (06-28 · Born) (1891): US Air Force General known for strategic bombing command in WWII and founding USAF.
• Demarai Gray — Shared historical date (06-28 · Born) (1996): Professional footballer known for his winger role and international representation for Jamaica.
• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1763): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Ansel Adams — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1902): Iconic photographer and environmentalist celebrated for the American West's landscapes.
• 1906 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1906
• June 28 (06-28) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 28
• 1972 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1972
• February 20 (02-20) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 20