Person Sibbett; Wilson (1948 - 2024); physicist Sibbett Wilson physicist 1948 - 2024 British Male Portglenone, County Antrim, Northern Ireland 03/1948 St. Andrews, Scotland 15/10/2024 20241015 Memorial service: St Leonard's Church, Hepburn Gardens, St Andrews, Scotland (8 November 2024)

Physicist Opto electronics Engineering Materials Science Astronomy Physics Education: Queen's University, Belfast BSc 1970; PhD 1973 Career: Lecturer at Imperial College London (1973); Reader; moved to St. Andrews University as Professor of natural philosophy chairman of the department of physics and astronomy (1985); Head of Physics and Astronomy, St. Andrews University (1988-1944); Director of Research, St. Andrews University; Wardlaw Professor of Physics (1997) Honours: CBE Awards/Medlas: Rank Prize for Optoelectronics 2007 Charles Hard Townes Award from the Optical Society of America 2011 Spouse: Barbara Sibbett Children: Rachael, Ruth, and Hannah. Conducted significant research on ultrashort pulse laser science and technology. Wilson, in his work on streak cameras, first demonstrated the technique of subpicosecond chronoscopy. By synchronous repetition, the streak cameras function as oscilloscopes. This was followed by his pioneering work on coupled cavity or additive-pulse mode locking and, more recently, his discovery of the technique of self-mode locking. First observed in nonlinear effects in titanium-doped sapphire, this technique has proved generally applicable and enabled the commercialisation of subpicosecond pulses of wide tuning range. Finally, he has exploited the advantages of diode-pumped solid-state lasers in the field of nonlinear optics for frequency conversion by demonstration of the world’s first all-solid-state optical parametric oscillator. These contributions are adding significantly to the power of laser techniques in physical investigation. Medals and prizes: Rumford Medal 2000 Lectures: Clifford Paterson Lecture 2005 Council 2010-2012 Committees: Physical Sciences Awards Committee 2018-2020 Research Appointment Panel A(i) 2002-2007 Sectional Committee 2: Astronomy and physics 1999-2002 Physical Sciences Awards Committee 2008 Fellow 15/05/1997 References: W Sibbett, 'Pioneering the femtoworld of molecules. Voyage through time, by A Zewail' in NR 2002 vol 56 pp 392-395 W Sibbett, 'Lasers and masers. How the laser happened: adventures of a scientist, by C H Townes' in NR 2003 vol 57 pp 257-258 The Royal Society Fellows Directory, Professor Wilson Sibbett CBE FRS, [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/wilson-sibbett-12275/; last accessed: 02/04/2025] The Courier, Renowned St Andrews physicist, golfer and New Picture House chairman Professor Wilson Sibbett dies at 76, Michael Alexander, 29 October 2024, [last accessed: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/obituaries/5110957/professor-wilson-sibbett-standrews-university-physics-obituary/; last accessed: 02/04/2025] International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Sibbett%2C+W RCN 52156 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 02/04/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA4411 21/11/2001 Andyg Martind 28/01/2026 RS_NET\katherinem Yes 9b78eeae-1994-45aa-bd90-047fa97e73c7