Francis Bitter

Francis Bitter (July 22, 1902 – July 26, 1967) was an American physicist. Bitter invented the Bitter plate used in resistive magnets (also called Bitter electromagnets). He is the one who thought of using dust to visualize a magnetic field. (Many grade school children put metal filings on a paper with a magnet underneath to help visualize magnetic field lines.) He built the Bitter electromagnet by using stacked copper plates, rather than coiled w... more

Francis Bitter (July 22, 1902 – July 26, 1967) was an American physicist. Bitter invented the Bitter plate used in resistive magnets (also called Bitter electromagnets). He is the one who thought of using dust to visualize a magnetic field. (Many grade school children put metal filings on a paper with a magnet underneath to help visualize magnetic field lines.) He built the Bitter electromagnet by using stacked copper plates, rather than coiled wire. Previous to this time there was no way to cool the magnets so their power was limited. Francis Bitter was born in the Weehawken Township, New Jersey. His father, Karl Bitter, was a prominent sculptor. Bitter entered the University of Chicago in 1919, but chose to leave his studies there in 1922 in order to visit Europe. He later transferred to Columbia University and graduated in 1925. He continued his studies in Berlin from 1925-26 and received a Ph.D. at Columbia in 1928. At Columbia, Bitter began his life-long fascination with magnets.... less