Albert Silverman, professor emeritus of physics and nuclear studies at Cornell who led pioneering experiments in particle physics during his 38 years at the university, died Jan. 17 at age 92.

Silverman is credited with making important contributions that led to the success of the Cornell Laboratory of Nuclear Studies. At a time when most universities were closing their accelerator facilities, the group at Cornell built a progression of five electron accelerators, the last of which, the collider CESR, placed Cornell at the forefront of physics. Silverman contributed substantially to every phase of the construction of the accelerators, in the development of new particle detectors and to their use for research.

Notably, he was in charge of the design and construction of CLEO, the detector of CESR. When the collider began taking data in 1979, he played the leading role in its use for scientific research until he retired in 1990. As part of that program, he organized a large collaboration of physicists who came to use CLEO from all over the world.

Among the discoveries and measurements made at Cornell were the B meson, charm physics and precise measurements of tau leptons. Silverman did important research utilizing innovative techniques continuously during his tenure at Cornell.

During his career, Silverman served on various advisory boards including the Program Advisory and Scientific Policy Committees of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, the Visiting Committee and Board of Overseers of Fermilab, and as a trustee of the Universities Research Association.

Silverman, who served in the U.S. Navy, 1944-46, received his Ph.D. from the University of California-Berkeley in 1950. Always interested in music and art, Silverman collaborated with colleagues in other departments at Cornell in later years on the use of physics in the investigation of old paintings and other artworks.

He is survived by his wife, Irene, two adult children, three grandchildren and other family members. A memorial service will be announced in the near future. Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.