Background
Bennett, Willard Harrison was born on June 13, 1903 in Findlay, Ohio, United States. Son of Harry and Elsie Mae (Ward) Bennett.
Bennett, Willard Harrison was born on June 13, 1903 in Findlay, Ohio, United States. Son of Harry and Elsie Mae (Ward) Bennett.
Born in Findlay, Ohio, Bennett attended Carnegie Institute of Technology from 1920-1922 and Ohio State University. The University of Wisconsin–Madison, Sc.M. in physical chemistry, 1926. And the University of Michigan, Doctor of Philosophy in physics, 1928.
Bennett was elected to a National Research Fellowship in Physics and in 1928 and 1929 studied at the California Institute of Technology.
Bennett conducted research into plasma physics, astrophysics, geophysics, surface physics, and physical chemistry. The Bennett pinch is named after him. In 1930 he joined the Physics faculty at Ohio State.
Following service in World World War II, Bennett worked at the National Bureau of Standards, the University of Arkansas, and the United States Naval Research Laboratory.
In 1961, he was appointed Burlington Professor of Physics at North Carolina State University (emeritus in 1976). Bennett held 67 patents.
Bennett made scientific history in the 1930s pioneering studies in plasma physics - the study of gases ionized by high-voltage electricity. Bennett invented radio frequency mass spectrometry in (1955).
Bennett"s radio frequency mass spectrometer measured the masses of atoms.
lieutenant was the first such experiment in space. He also researched gases ionized by high voltage electricity. This research was used in later thermonuclear fusion research.Had a sister named Minda M. Bennett
These studies and later research have been used throughout the world in controlled thermonuclear fusion research.
In the 1950s, Bennett"s experimental tube called the Stormertron predicted and modeled the Van Allen radiation belts surrounding the earth six years before they were discovered by satellite.
lieutenant also reproduced intricate impact patterns found on the Earth"s surface which explained many features of the polar aurora. Sputnik 3 carried the first radio frequency mass spectrometer into space.
Served to lieutenant colonel Army of the United States, 1941-1945. Fellow American Physical Society, Washington Academy of Sciences.
Married MOna D. Sheets, September 8, 1928. Children: Willard Harrison, Barbara, Bruce, Steven. Married Helen Mae Sawyer, October 24, 1948: children: Charles, Ward, Rebecca Bennett Haas, Douglas Taylor Haas.