Isadore Perlman

Isadore Perlman (April 12, 1915 – August 3, 1991) was an American nuclear chemist noted for his research of Alpha particle decay. The National Academy of Sciences called Perlman "a world leader on the systematics of alpha decay". He was also recognized for his research of nuclear structure of the heavy elements. He was also noted for his isolation of Curium, as well as for fission of tantalum, bismuth, lead, thallium and platinum. Perlman discovered uses of radioactive iodine and phosphorus for medical purposes. He played a key role in Manhattan Project's plutonium production.

He was also a top expert in the field of archaeometry. He pioneered high-precision methods of neutron activation analysis at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in the US. Neutron activation analysis helps to determine the origin of ancient pottery and other artifacts through the analysis of the clay from which they were made. He was helped in the project by another noted scientist Frank Asaro. Second millennium BC pottery known as Cypriot Bichrome ware was one of the first archaeological projects that Perlman and Asaro undertook.

Perlman was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the Danish Royal Academy, chairman of the Department of Chemistry of the University of California, Berkeley, head of the Nuclear Chemistry Division and an associate director of the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

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