Appleton, Sir Edward Victor, 1892-1965 (physicist and principal of the University of Edinburgh)
Dates
- Existence: 1892 - 1965
Biography
Appleton was born in Bradford and educated at local schools and St John's College, Cambridge where he was awarded first class honours and several prizes in both parts of the Natural Sciences Tripos (1913, 1914). He began research at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge with W.L. Bragg, but during his service in the Army Signals in the First World War he developed the interest in valves and 'wireless' signals which informed his subsequent research career. He returned to the Cavendish Laboratory in 1919, continuing to work on valves and, with B. van der Pol, on non-linearity, and on atmospherics. In 1924, in collaboration with M.F. Barnett, he performed a crucial experiment which enabled a reflecting layer in the atmosphere to be identified and measured; subsequent research indicated the existence of more than one reflecting layer. From 1924 to 1936 Appleton was Wheatstone Professor of Physics at King's College, London, directing research teams and, in 1932, heading an expedition to Tromsö in northern Norway as part of the programme of observations scheduled for the Second International Polar Year
He was President of the International Union of Scientific Radio (URSI), 1934-1952. In 1936 he succeeded C.T.R. Wilson in the Jacksonian Chair of Natural Philosophy at Cambridge, where he continued collaborative research on many ionospheric problems, including solar and lunar tides in the E-layer. From September 1936 he served on the re-constituted Committee for the Scientific Survey of Air Defence (the 'Tizard Committee'), and in October 1938 was appointed successor to Sir Frank Smith as Secretary to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). He remained at the DSIR throughout the Second World War and until 1948 when he was appointed Principal of Edinburgh University. He took up the appointment in May 1949 and remained in office until his death in 1965. Appleton was elected FRS in 1927 (Bakerian Lecture 1937, Hughes Medal 1933, Royal Medal 1950) and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1947 for his investigations into the ionosphere. He was knighted in 1941.
Topics
Found in 833 Collections and/or Records:
h't measurements on six frequencies, 1932-1933
h't measurements on six frequencies. The material consists of graphs dated 1932-1933, sent to Edward Appleton by J. Zenneck.
Humorous or mock-heroic poems about Appleton and his activities, and other verses, 1951, 1953
Humorous or mock-heroic poems about Sir Edward Appleton and his activities and other verses, dated 1951 and 1953.
I.C.S.U. [International Council of Scientific Union] Circular and draft of paper, 'Solar Radio Noise', March 1947-April 1947
'I.G.Y. [International Geological Year] fF2 diurnal sheets', c. 1957-1958
The material consists of an original file of data for ionospheric stations worldwide, entitled 'I.G.Y. [International Geological Year] fF2 diurnal sheets'. The International Geological Year covered 1957-1958 so presumeably this is when the data is from.
Incomplete lecture notes by Edward Appleton on a range of subjects, c. 1924-1965
Incomplete lecture notes by Edward Appleton on a range of subjects. The material includes talk on experimental proof of the existence of the ionosphere, c.1924, talk to Danish Natural Science Association, notes for talks on space exploration, scientific research, etc.
'Introduction to the Reports on the Propagation of Waves and on Directional Wireless Experiments', 1926
'Introduction to the Reports on the Propagation of Waves and on Directional Wireless Experiments', The material consists of a draft for a U.R.S.I. [Union Radio-Scientifique International] report by Edward Appleton dated 1926, 2 pages and includes a letter from R.L. Smith Rose.
Introductory remarks at Gifford Lecture by Niels Bohr and 2 lectures by Edward Appleton, 1949
The material consists of introductory remarks at Gifford Lecture by Niels Bohr, dated October 1949, 2 pages, typescript; 'Geomagnetism and the Ionosphere', Edward Appleton’s address at Inaugural Meeting of Edinburgh University Physical Society, October 1949, and summary for press release; and Appleton’s Address to General Council, University of Edinburgh, October 1949, Offprint only.
Invitation for Appleton to serve on the re-constituted Committee for the Scientific Survey of Air Defence (the 'Tizard Committee'), September 1936
Invitation for Edward Appleton to serve on the re-constituted Committee for the Scientific Survey of Air Defence (the 'Tizard Committee'), dated September 1936. A mock-heroic poem is included referring to the last meeting of the previous C.S.S.A.D. on 15 July 1936.
Ionisation, c. 1927-1938
Ionograms, 1946 and no date
Ionograms, one dated 1946. One has a note on verso in the hand of W.R. Piggott which begins 'From Mr. Naismith. The interference pattern on the lower E echo is of great interest and has never been observed before'
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