Akira Tonomura | |
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 Tonomura in 2009 | |
| Born | (1942-04-25)April 25, 1942 Hyōgo, Japan |
| Died | May 2, 2012(2012-05-02) (aged 70) |
| Known for | development ofelectron holography |
| Awards | Japan Academy Prize(1991) The Franklin Medal(1999) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
Akira Tonomura (外村 彰,Tonomura Akira; April 25, 1942 – May 2, 2012) was a Japanesephysicist, best known for his development ofelectron holography and his experimental verification of theAharonov–Bohm effect.[1]
Tonomura was born inHyōgo, Japan, and graduated fromthe University of Tokyo with a degree in physics. Upon graduation he joined theHitachi Central Research Laboratory, where he later attained the title "Fellow" in 1999.[2]
In the 1970s, Tonomura did pioneering work in the development of theelectron holography microscope and observed lines of magnetic force for the first time in the world. Building on this, in 1986, he experimentally verified theAharonov–Bohm effect, which had eluded definitive experimental proof for a long time. This experiment proved thatvector potentials, which are nothing more than a mathematical concept inclassical physics, are in fact physical quantities that are more fundamental (i.e. haveontological priority) than electric or magnetic fields.[3][4][5]
Tonomura was also known for his observations of magnetic vortex movement insuperconductors.
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