| Authorised form of name | Wolfendale; Sir; Arnold Whittaker (1927 - 2020) |
| Dates | 1927 - 2020 |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | Rugby, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Date of birth | 25/06/1927 |
| Place of death | Durham, England, United Kingdom |
| Date of death | 21/12/2020 |
| Occupation | Physicist |
| Research field | Astronomy |
| Cosmology |
| Cosmic rays |
| Science policy |
| Activity | Education:
St Michael's Church School, Stretford Grammar School , University of Machester, BSc (1948), PhD (1953), DSc (1970)
Career:
University of Manchester, Assistant Lecturer (1953); Lecturer (1954); University of Durham, Professor, (1956-1992), Emeritus Professor (1992-2020); Regional Scientific Training Officer, Civil Defence Movement; declined offer of job as Chief Scientist to the Ministry of Defence (1982); Astronomer Royal (1991-1995);
Honours:
Kt 1995 for services to astronomy
Memberships:
European Physical Society (President 1999-2001); FRAS (1973, President 1981-1983)
|
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 17/03/1977 |
| Age at election | 49 |
| RSActivity | Royal Society roles:
Council: 1980-1982
Committee and panels:
Committee on the public understanding of science (1997); International Travel Grants Panel 5 (2003-2006)
Lectures:
Bakerian 2002 'Cosmic rays: what are they and where do they come from?' |
| Relationships | Married (1) Audrey Darby, 3 Feb 1951; (2) Dorothy Middleton, Sep 2015. Worked under Patrick Blackett PRS at University of Manchester and later George Rochester FRS, whom he followed to University of Durham |
| PublishedWorks | https://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n81022886/ |
| OtherInfo | Arnold Wolfendale conducted research on cosmic rays — immensely energetic particles from sources mainly beyond our Solar System. Arnold became, in particular, a world expert on muons — an elementary particle similar to the electron. His expertise was important in accounting for cosmic ray background effects in experiments that successfully detected neutrinos emitted by nuclear fusion within the Sun.
Arnold developed the neon flash tube and the solid iron spectrograph to improve cosmic ray detection and measurement of their energies. As well as helping us to understand their origin, cosmic ray research has bearing due to the damage that these charged particles can inflict on electronic circuits and living organisms — directly in those sent into space, and indirectly in those on Earth through secondary radiation.
Arnold’s eminence was recognised in his appointment as Astronomer Royal in 1991. He served as President of both the European Physical Society and the Royal Astronomical Society. He was knighted for services to astronomy in 1995.
Sir Arnold Wolfendale FRS died on 21 December 2020. |
| Source | Sources:
Royal Society profile page https://royalsociety.org/people/arnold-wolfendale-12551/ (accessed 20 January 2021)
Wikipeadie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Wolfendale (accessed 20 January 2021)
References:
J C Taylor and A W Wolfendale, ' John Harrison: clockmaker and Copypley Medallist. A public memorial at last' in NR 2007 vol 61 pp 53-62
Anne Purkiss 'Scientists 1985 - 2010; Portraits of Fellows of the Royal Society' 2010, p. 51 |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/51751144 |
| Code | NA5462 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
| RefNo | Title | Date |
| EC/1977/39 | Wolfendale, Sir Arnold Whittaker: certificate of election to the Royal Society | 1976 |
| PB/2/7/11/1 | Letter from Arnold W Wolfendale, re discussion meeting at Royal Society on 'Origin of Cosmic Rays'. | 6 February 1974 |
| PB/2/2/9/3 | Notes by Blackett and related offprints | 1950-1953 |
| IM/GA/RGRS/8045 | Wolfendale, Arnold Whittaker | 1977 |