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Clinton Davisson died in his home in Charlottesville, Virginia on the night of February 1, 1958. Although he is no longer alive, his legacy still lives on.

Davisson’s work on electron diffraction is his most significant contribution to the scientific world. In 1927, while working with Germer, he found that a diffraction pattern emerged when a beam of electrons was reflected from a metallic crystal. This was essential for the development of quantum mechanics because it directly proved the wave-particle duality of electrons. In addition, his experiments led him to the invention of the electron microscope. Ultimately, Davisson helped to establish quantum mechanics and the Schrödinger equation. His experiments confirmed de Broglie's hypothesis of the wave nature of matter and provided evidence for proving the evolving theory of quantum mechanics, which has allowed for the many scientific advancements of today.

In those years and the years that followed, more scientific and technological discoveries were made at the same lab. Scientific innovations and feats continued in Clinton Davisson's name. The APS Davisson-Germer Prize in  Atomic or Surface Physics, which was established in 1965 by AT&T Bell Laboratories, is awarded in alternate years in the areas of  condensed matter physics, and atomic, molecular, and optical physics. It encourages and recognizes outstanding work in atomic and surface physics by a wide range of scientists. It serves a diverse and inclusive community of physicists worldwide such as underrepresented minorities, women, and international scientists.