Eugene Guth

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

August 21, 1905 – July 5, 1990

Polymer Physicist

Awarded Bingham Medal 1965

Dr. Eugene Guth was born in Budapest, Hungary and received his doctorate in physics from the University of Vienna in 1928. He worked at the University of Vienna until 1937 first as a research associate from 1928-1931 and then as a professor from 1932 until he left. He moved to the United States and began working at Notre Dame in 1937, working there until 1955. In 1956, Dr. Guth took a position as technical adviser at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Dr. Guth did research in polymer physics/polymer physical chemistry, nuclear physics, and solid-state physics. Guth was one of the chief founders and developers of polymer physics/polymer physical chemistry making important theoretical and experimental contributions. In conjunction with H. Markovitz (Bingham Medal recipient 1967) he developed an important equation which describe the entropy gained during the coiling of linear flexible molecules, and which now forms part of the foundations of the Kinetic Theory of Rubber Elasticity. Guth also generalized Einstein’s theory describing the viscosity of dilute suspensions to show that it also describes filler effects in filled composites, or “solid suspensions”, and the resulting formula is commonly referred to as the Guth-Gold expression. In his nuclear research, Guth foreshadowed the exploration of the nuclei of atoms through the use of electrons and was the first to propose the first detailed theory of the nuclear photo effect. In his solid-state research, Guth along with Mayerhöfer were the first to discuss Ohm’s Law at high current densities. Along with Mullin, he was the first to propose a theory of the emission of electrons from metals placed in electric fields.

Guth was awarded the Bingham Medal for his research on kinetic theory of rubber-like elasticity, adapting the Einstein formula for the viscosity of a suspension of spheres, and for leading an experimental group that studied and explained the mechanical properties of elastomers.

Sources

Guth, Michael A. S. Homepage of Dr. Eugene Guth, Theoretical and Experimental Physicist. Go to link (accessed July 11, 2018).

Rheology Bulletin Sep 1965, 34(3). Also, Box 5, Folder 45. Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740.