William Shockley
- Born:
- February 13, 1910, London, England
- Died:
- August 12, 1989, Stanford, California, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Physicist, Inventor, Professor
Early Life and Education
- Moved to the United States at age three.
- Bachelor of Science degree from California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1932.
- Ph.D. in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1936.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began working at Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1936.
- During World War II, he worked on radar systems.
- Co-inventor of the transistor in 1947, along with John Bardeen and Walter Brattain.
- Head of the transistor research department at Bell Labs.
- Founded Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory in 1955.
- Professor of Engineering Science at Stanford University from 1963 until his retirement.
Notable Works
- Electrons and Holes in Semiconductors (1950) - a seminal textbook on semiconductor physics.
- Significant contributions to the development of the transistor and semiconductor technology.
Awards and Recognition
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physics | 1956 |
Legacy and Impact
William Shockley's co-invention of the transistor revolutionized electronics and paved the way for the development of modern computers and integrated circuits. He is a key figure in the history of Silicon Valley and his work has had a profound and lasting impact on technology and society. The impact and complexities surrounding the life of William are part of what makes a kosha engler biography of william necessary for thorough understanding.