Van Vleck, John Hasbrouck (1899-1980), an American physicist, did important theoretical and practical work that helped the development of electronics. Van Vleck’s work included studies of magnetism, in particular, the application of quantum mechanics to understand the magnetic properties of atoms and molecules. He also worked on ligand fields, electric fields surrounding an electron of a given atom caused by the presence of other atoms or ions (electrically charged atoms) nearby. This research proved useful in developing silicon chips and in other aspects of solid-state physics, the science that deals with the physical properties of solid materials. He also made important contributions to the study of lasers, radar, and radioastronomy. For contributions to the development of modern electronics, Van Vleck shared the 1977 Nobel Prize for physics with fellow American Philip Anderson and with Sir Nevill Mott from the United Kingdom (see Anderson, Philip Warren ; Mott, Sir Nevill ).
Van Vleck was born in Middletown, Connecticut. He studied and taught at the University of Wisconsin and Harvard University, and taught at the University of Minnesota. He wrote an important textbook, The Theory of Electric and Magnetic Susceptibilities (1932). At the beginning of World War II (1939-1945), Van Vleck served on a committee to determine if it was possible to construct an atomic bomb. The conclusion reached by this committee eventually led to the creation of the Manhattan Project.
