Description
This collection documents the career of Nobel Prize winner Richard Phillips Feynman (1918-1988). It contains correspondence,
biographical materials, course and lecture notes, speeches, manuscripts, publications, and technical notes relating to his
work in quantum electrodynamics. Feynman served as Richard Chace Tolman Professor of Theoretical Physics at the California
Institute of Technology from 1951 until his death.
Background
Physicist Richard Feynman won his scientific renown through the development of quantum electrodynamics, or QED, a theory describing
the interaction of particles and atoms in radiation fields. As a part of this work he invented what came to be known as "Feynman
Diagrams," visual representations of space-time particle interactions. For this work he was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics,
together with J. Schwinger and S. I. Tomonaga, in 1965. Later in his life Feynman became a prominent public figure through
his association with the investigation of the space shuttle Challenger explosion and the publication of two best-selling books
of personal recollections.
Restrictions
Copyright may not have been assigned to the California Institute of Technology Archives. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Archives. Permission for publication is given on
behalf of the California Institute of Technology Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Availability
The collection is open for research. Researchers must apply in writing for access.