Alpher
Definition
Alpher was an American physicist who played a crucial role in the development of Big Bang nucleosynthesis. He is best known for predicting the abundance of light elements in the early universe.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Alpher co-authored the landmark paper 'The Origin of Chemical Elements' with Hans Bethe and George Gamow in 1948.
- His work laid the foundation for our understanding of how elements like hydrogen and helium were formed during the Big Bang.
- Alpher predicted that a residual radiation from the Big Bang should exist, which led to the discovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background.
- He received several awards for his contributions to cosmology, including the National Medal of Science.
- Despite his significant contributions, Alpher's work was initially overshadowed by more prominent scientists like Gamow.
Review Questions
- What was Ralph Alpher's most notable contribution to cosmology?
- How did Alpher's predictions lead to the discovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background?
- In what year did Alpher co-author 'The Origin of Chemical Elements'?
"Alpher" appears in:
Related terms
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis: The process through which light elements were formed in the early universe.
Cosmic Microwave Background: Residual thermal radiation from the early stages of the universe, providing evidence for the Big Bang theory.
George Gamow: A physicist who worked with Alpher on developing theories about element formation and cosmic background radiation.
