Albert G. Petschek

Abstract Albert G. Petschek died suddenly 8 July 2004. He enjoyed good health and was very active professionally and personally until his death. He was highly respected, particularly in theoretical physics, for his deep, broad-ranging analytical powers, which resulted in contributions to nuclear physics, astrophysics, atmospheric physics, quantum mechanics, and quantum computing. Albert was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1928. His extended family left Czechoslovakia when its sovereignty was threatened by Germany in 1938 and settled throughout the Western Hemisphere. Albert's father, a banker, settled in Scarsdale, near New York City. Albert graduated from White Plains High School and obtained his BS from MIT in a program accelerated during World War II. While getting his masters degree at the University of Michigan, Albert met his wife, Marilyn, also a physics masters student. In 1953, Albert obtained his PhD from the University of Rochester working with Robert Marshak on aspects of nuclear theory, and joined Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), then Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Soon thereafter, Albert's younger brother, Harry, also became a PhD physicist. Harry is now well known in plasma physics for reconnection theory.

At Los Alamos, Albert worked closely with Carson Mark, Marshall Rosenbluth, and Conrad Longmire designing the first thermonuclear weapons. His derivation of several radiation diffusion solutions, later published as LAMS 2421, remains a classic in its field, as does work on nuclear theory done with Baird Brandow and Hans Bethe during a sabbatical at Cornell in 1961. Bethe was a frequent visitor to Los Alamos and a close friend. A devoted family man, Albert also valued Los Alamos as a safe, stimulating environment for raising an active family. Like many of the scientists at Los Alamos, Albert enjoyed its ready access to outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing. Albert often combined his passions for intellectual activity and the outdoors - discussing Lie groups around a camp fire or the controversies concerning the origin of lightning in electrical storms while hiking through a high mountain pass, watching a thundercloud form. Albert's son Rolfe was inspired in part by such outings to become a professional physicist.

For more than a decade following his PhD, Albert's primary scientific work was secret, contributing to the security of his adopted country, and he published little in the open literature. However, by the time of his death, Albert's broad interests and scientific rigor had resulted in 69 cited papers on such diverse topics as nuclear theory, plasma physics, radiation, numerical hydrodynamics and plastic flow, astrophysics (supernovae, quasars, gamma-ray bursts), chemical kinetics, atmospheric physics (plumes, electrification), geotectonics, nuclear weapons effects, inertial fusion and quantum computing. Even this list understates Albert's intellectual breadth: while his scientific publications are all in physics, he was also very knowledgeable in some aspects of biology and finance, and his broad-ranging analytical powers were appreciated by practitioners of many professions. In an increasingly specialized world, Albert's broad interests, wide knowledge, and willingness to think deeply about many problems are inspiring.

In 1966 Albert joined the faculty of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) in Socorro, New Mexico, as a full professor. In 1968 he left Tech to spend three years at Science, Systems and Software, a scientific consulting firm in San Diego California, and then returned to New Mexico Tech. Albert's intellectual leadership, the courses he taught in theoretical physics, and his frequent, insightful questions at seminars will long be remembered by those with whom he interacted at New Mexico Tech. Of his 69 published works, 39 were published in collaboration with Stirling Colgate. Colgate, at that time New Mexico Tech's president, had helped recruit Albert there. Albert's PhD students at New Mexico Tech keenly remember his patience, kindness and availability. His office door was always open, and he was eager to lead them through difficulties in their research.

Albert maintained his connection to LANL while at New Mexico Tech, consulting at LANL during many holidays and summers. In 1981 he became one of the first Fellows of Los Alamos National Laboratories. Albert also enjoyed service to the science community, editing a book on supernovae (1990), routinely judging local and regional science fairs, and advising LANL on the recipients of the Los Alamos prize. In 1987, Albert retired from New Mexico Tech and returned full time to Los Alamos in the Physics division. Although he subsequently retired from LANL in 1994, he remained very active at LANL until his death, spending three to four days there most weeks as an emeritus fellow, consultant, and frequent attendee of, and questioner at, seminars and colloquia. During this period his published scientific contributions were primarily to quantum computing and numerical hydrodynamics.

While he was retired Albert's part time status allowed him to spend yet more time with his family and he explored many parts of the world with them. Albert was an avid hiker, cross country skier, mushroom gatherer, gardener, and bicyclist. He commuted by bicycle between his home in La Senda and the Lab, an elevation change of 200 meters, in almost any weather, until his death. He is survived by Marilyn, his wife of 55 years, his brother Harry, his four children, Evelyn, Rolfe, Elaine, and Mark and three grandchildren.

Obituary: Marilyn A. Petschek Dec. 8, 1924 – Oct. 22, 2017 Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 18, 2017 - 8:29am

MARILYN PETSCHEK, Née POTH Dec. 8, 1924 – Oct. 22, 2017 Marilyn Petschek, née Poth, passed away peacefully at home on October 22, 2017 at the age of 92. She was living at El Castillo in Santa Fe at the time of her passing. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed by those whose lives she touched.

Marilyn was born in New Orleans LA, and was raised in Lynbrook, NY. She held a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Smith College, and a Masters degree in Physics, from the University of Michigan. During her master’s studies at the University of Michigan Marilyn met her husband to be, Albert, whom she married in June of 1949. Their long and happy marriage ended only with Albert’s death in 2004.

Marilyn and Albert moved to Los Alamos, NM in 1953 after Albert completed his Ph.D. Over the years, Albert’s career took them to Los Alamos, NM, Socorro, NM and La Jolla, CA. Once he retired, they made their primary home in Los Alamos but also enjoyed travels throughout the world.

Marilyn and Albert took their responsibility of raising their four children very seriously and were committed, caring and involved parents, in-laws and grandparents. They found no greater joy than spending time with their children and later children’s spouses and their grandchildren.

Marilyn was always very involved in the community where she was living. She organized concerts in the public schools in both Los Alamos and Socorro. She taught English as a second language, mathematics and literacy in Socorro and was involved with the American Association of University Women. She was active and involved with the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, starting in 1954 when the Fellowship was first formed. Over the years she served the church on many committees and the board.

Marilyn was a loyal, dedicated and caring friend to many, many people and showed great kindness and respect to everyone she met. She was an avid tennis player, an excellent bridge player. She loved flowers, gardening and music. She kept a large flower and vegetable garden, played in a weekly Renaissance music recorder group and was proud to say she had been attending the Santa Fe Opera since opening night of the first season.

Marilyn is survived by her children Evelyn of Santa Fe, NM, Rolfe and Jane of Shaker Heights, OH, Elaine and Leonardo of Sandia Park, NM and Mark and Paula of Bedford, MA, and by her grandchildren Mike and Katrina of Jamaica Plain, MA, Colin of Bedford, MA and Iris of Shaker Heights, OH. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Mary, of Lexington, MA, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great grandnieces and great grandnephews throughout the country.

The family thanks the wonderful caregivers from Nurses with Heart for the care they provided over the last several years, allowing Marilyn to remain comfortably in her home as her mobility declined. The family is also thankful for the services of Ambercare Hospice during Marilyn’s final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to a charity that supports Marilyn’s passions: Education, Wildlife and the Arts, such as Smith College, Reading is Fundamental (RIF), the Pajarito Environment Education Center, the Friends of the Bosque Del Apache, or the Los Alamos Concert Association.

In celebration of Marilyn's life, a reception will be held Thursday December 28th between 2pm and 4:30pm in the community room of El Castillo, 250 E Alameda St, Santa Fe, NM 87501.

• Residence: Marital Status: SingleRelation to Head of House: Son, Scarsdale, Westchester, New York, USA - Apr 1 1940