George E. Smith, a prominent researcher at Bell Labs, passed away on May 28 at his home in Waretown, New Jersey, at the age of 95. His death was confirmed by his son, Carson Smith, although no cause was provided. Smith's groundbreaking work in partnership with Willard S. Boyle led to the development of the charge-coupled device (CCD), which has become the cornerstone of modern digital photography and various applications including deep space imagery. This innovation was recognized 40 years later with a Nobel Prize in Physics awarded in 2009.
The core idea behind Smith and Boyle's innovation stemmed from the photoelectric effect, a phenomenon first explored by Albert Einstein more than fifty years prior. They understood that light could dislodge electrons from metal surfaces, and during a brainstorming session in 1969, they proposed that the electrical charge generated from this effect could be harnessed and stored. Their vision was revolutionary: to use the flow of electrons to create images from incoming light. “What you want is a photon to come in,” Smith said in a 2001 oral history. “For every photon to make one electron that you can count.”
Initially, Smith and Boyle aimed to implement their concept in a proposed video phone, known as the PicturePhone, developed at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey (now known as Nokia Bell Labs). Although the PicturePhone project was ultimately deemed unprofitable and was discontinued, the potential for CCD technology became evident after they secured a patent in 1974. In 1975, a team at Eastman Kodak revealed a prototype digital camera utilizing CCD technology. This early camera, almost as large as a shoebox, captured images on cassette tapes that could hold around 30 photos.
Astronomers quickly recognized the potential of CCD technology to enhance their field by enabling the capture of light from wavelengths invisible to the human eye. This capability allowed for significant advancements in understanding the cosmos. By the late 1970s, observatories began using CCD units to replace traditional photographic plates, paving the way for clearer, more detailed images of the universe, including those captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Furthermore, the rapid evolution of CCD technology opened new avenues in undersea exploration and image-guided surgeries, impacting numerous aspects of life.
The Nobel Committee highlighted the profound influence of Smith and Boyle's work, stating that they were “Masters of light” and contributed to building “the foundation of our modern information society.” Smith retired from Bell Labs in 1986 and spent 17 years sailing around the world in a 31-foot sailboat named Apogee with his partner, Janet Murphy. In 2009, when the Nobel Prize was announced, he was busy digitizing thousands of photos from their travels, reflecting on his wish for a digital camera during their adventures.
Born on May 10, 1930, in White Plains, New York, George Elwood Smith experienced a nomadic childhood due to his father's job as an insurance underwriter. He attended nine elementary schools and five high schools across several states. After serving four years in the Navy, he used the GI Bill to pursue higher education, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1955 and earning his doctorate in physics from the University of Chicago in 1959. His doctoral dissertation focused on the electrical properties of semi-metals like germanium.
Despite the acclaim for their contributions to CCD technology, Smith and Boyle faced challenges, including disputes over credit for their work from colleagues Michael F. Tompsett and Eugene I. Gordon. Following the announcement of the Nobel Prize, these disputes resurfaced. Smith's personal life saw the loss of his wife, Janet Carson, in 1975, and his partner, Murphy, in 2020. He is survived by three children, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two sisters.
When the call came from Stockholm announcing the Nobel Prize, Smith missed the initial ring at 5:43 a.m. but received a voicemail from the Nobel envoy. Reflecting on the $250,000 prize money, he humorously noted that his sailboat, Apogee, could use some renovations. George E. Smith's legacy continues to resonate in the fields of digital photography and beyond, marking him as a true pioneer in technology.
