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Hans Christian Ørsted: Discovered magnetic field around a current1820
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André-Marie Ampère: Studied interaction of current-carrying conductors1820–1825
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Michael Faraday: Discovered electromagnetic induction1831–1834
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Heinrich Lenz: Formulated Lenz’s Law (induced currents oppose the cause)1834
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Franz Ernst Neumann: Developed mathematical theory of electromagnetic induction1845
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Hermann von Helmholtz: Applied energy conservation to electromagnetic theory1847
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James Clerk Maxwell: Unified electricity & magnetism via Maxwell’s equations1873–1879
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William Thomson (Lord Kelvin): Developed solutions to Bessel’s equation, helped model ECT behavior1850s–1880s
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David E. Hughes: Demonstrated metal differentiation with electromagnetic induction1860s
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Charles P. Steinmetz: Introduced phasor analysis and impedance diagrams1890s–1900s
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Charles W. Burroughs: Early ECT instruments at Magnetic Analysis Corp.1925–1940s
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Carl Kinsley: Patented ECT comparator designs1930s–1940s
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Theodore Zuschlag: Co-developer of MAC eddy current systems1930s–1940s
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Archibald H. Davis: Contributed ECT innovations at Republic Steel1930s–1940s
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Horace G. Knerr: Republic Steel ECT innovator1930s–1940s
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Alfred R. Sharpies: Early ECT tester developer at Republic Steel1930s–1940s
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Ross Gunn: Developed probe-based ECT systems at U.S. Naval Research Lab1940s
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Dr. Trygve Yensen: Developed low-loss electrical steels and annealing methods at Westinghouse1930s–1940s
Early ECT Practitioners (1920s–1940s)
Post-War Innovators (1950s–1970s)
Friedrich Förster: Father of modern ECT; phase plane, lift-off compensation, quantitative systems1948–1960s
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Hugo L. Libby: Hanford researcher; multifrequency ECT, frequency mix analysis1950s–1970s
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Caius V. Dodd: Oak Ridge; mathematical modeling of ECT systems1950s–1970s
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J.A. Deeds: Oak Ridge collaborator with Dodd; early field modeling work1950s–1970s
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Richard Hochschild: Commercialized Förster’s work in U.S.; early microwave ECT1950s–1970s
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Robert Oliver: Early adopter and integrator of ECT in U.S. industry1950s–1960s
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Robert McClung: Contributed to post-war ECT innovations and training1950s–1970s
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Richard Betz: ECT in nuclear turbine blade inspection1970s
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Clyde J. Denton: Developed steam generator ECT systems1970s
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E.R. Reinhart: Applied round-robin testing to ECT system evaluation1970s
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Allen Wehrmeister: Led nuclear industry applications for ECT1970s
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Ron Botsco: Advocated for microwave NDT; worked with Hochschild1970s
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John D. Kraus: Applied Maxwell’s field theory to radio astronomy (mentioned as ECT analogy)1960s–1970s