1906-

German-born American physicist who was awarded the 1967 Nobel Prize for Physics for contributions to nuclear reactions, especially for his 1939 theory describing stellar energy production. One of his many contributions to quantum electrodynamics was the theoretical explanation of the "Lamb shift" (1947). Bethe also co-authored (with Ralph Alpher and George Gamow) the alpha-beta-gamma "big bang" theory of the universe's origin. During World War II, Bethe's research was crucial for developing the atomic bomb, though he later actively opposed its use.