| Citation | Distinguished for his many contributions to antennas and to optical fibre systems. He discovered that a network could be used to effect the transformation between the patterns of circular and linear arrays, so providing a new approach to electronic scanning with circular arrays. He devised a scheme for rapid 360 degree beam scanning in circular arrays, and showed how multiple coupling problems could be eliminated in such arrays. Davies then originated an elegant technique for independently steering n-1 nulls of an n-element linear or circular array, and showed how octave bandwidth coverage could be obtained. His exceptionally deep understanding of the theoretical and practical limitations of radar systems has led to his being consulted at the highest level by the Ministry of Defence. Recently he pioneered studies of the effects of mechanical strain, pressure and temperature on the phase of a light wave in an optical fibre. He then originated a whole range of data highway and sensor applications, the latter become a multi-million dollar research activity in the U.S.A. A characteristic feature of all Davies's work is a powerful combination of conceptual elegance with excellent engineering design. |