Terahertz Pioneer: Paul L. Richards

Abstract

As the son of Lorenzo A. Richards [1], a well-known physicist, and pioneer in Soil Physics, and with seven uncles holding Ph.D. degrees, perhaps it was inevitable that Paul Linford Richards1 would find himself choosing a career in science. However much this may have been favorably influenced by his relationship with his family, it was not forced upon him, for as he told me, his father insisted that he, Paul, spend appropriate apprentice time with individuals practicing alternate professions before he chose to enroll in Harvard and to begin a long and stellar career in physics. We should all be very happy that his own force of will, innate talents, and strong desire to take the path less trodden, placed him in a position to have such a profound and widespread impact on Terahertz science and the instrument and device technologies that are so commonly employed today throughout our field.

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