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The Nobel prize in physics - regularities and tendencies

Author

Listed:
  • Romualdas Karazija

    (Vilnius University Research Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy)

  • Alina Momkauskaitė

    (Vilnius University Research Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy)

Abstract

Various distributions of the Nobel laureates in physics in the 20th century and their discoveries are considered. It is shown that the time-interval between the discovery and its recognition can be approximately described by a lognormal distribution. The ratio of the numbers of laureates awarded for the experimental and the theoretical discoveries was rather different in various decades; this was determined by some “waves” of discoveries and in the initial period probably by some subjective factors. The probability to obtain this prize for the theorist is larger than for the experimenter. The main part of the awards was given to the scientists working in the main fields of modern physics: small distances and solid state physics. Some fields of physics such as mathematical physics, relativity, statistical physics were ignored completely. The worrying tendency of an increasing average age of laureates towards their retirement age is indicated.

Suggested Citation

  • Romualdas Karazija & Alina Momkauskaitė, 2004. "The Nobel prize in physics - regularities and tendencies," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 61(2), pages 191-205, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:61:y:2004:i:2:d:10.1023_b:scie.0000041648.87075.de
    DOI: 10.1023/B:SCIE.0000041648.87075.de
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tibor Braun & Zsuzsa Szabadi-Peresztegi & Éva Kovács-Németh, 2003. "No-bells for ambiguous lists of ranked Nobelists as science indicators of national merit in physics, chemistry and medicine, 1901-2001," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 56(1), pages 3-28, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. R. Bjørk, 2020. "The journals in physics that publish Nobel Prize research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 122(2), pages 817-823, February.
    2. Polemis, Michael & Stengos, Thanasis, 2021. "Sweden is calling: What shapes the delay in the Nobel Prize discoveries? A research note," MPRA Paper 106083, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Caifeng Ma & Cheng Su & Junpeng Yuan & Yishan Wu, 2012. "Papers written by Nobel Prize winners in physics before they won the prize: an analysis of their language and journal of publication," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 93(3), pages 1151-1163, December.
    4. Hajime Eto, 2008. "Scientometric definition of science: In what respect is the humanities more scientific than mathematical and social sciences?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 76(1), pages 23-42, July.
    5. Yves Gingras & Matthew L. Wallace, 2010. "Why it has become more difficult to predict Nobel Prize winners: a bibliometric analysis of nominees and winners of the chemistry and physics prizes (1901–2007)," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 82(2), pages 401-412, February.
    6. Michael L. Polemis & Thanasis Stengos, 2022. "What shapes the delay in the Nobel Prize discoveries? A research note," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(2), pages 803-811, February.
    7. R. Bjørk, 2019. "The age at which Noble Prize research is conducted," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 119(2), pages 931-939, May.
    8. Chung-Souk Han & Su Kyung Lee & Mark England, 2010. "Transition to postmodern science—related scientometric data," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(2), pages 391-401, August.

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