Author Description

By 1911, Manchester had become the central powerhouse of physics on the planet, with the discovery of the atomic nucleus. With the departure of W L Bragg in 1937, a new colossus arrived to keep Manchester at the forefront of physics research. Patrick Maynard Stuart Blackett began a programme of cosmic ray research, which reached its apex with the discovery of V-particles, which in turn, led directly to the quark model. This volume covers the story from 1937 to 1967. Blackett diversified, encouraging geophysics and putting Bernard Lovell in charge of radio astronomy at Jodrell Bank. A designated theory group was established, first with Douglas Hartree in charge and then Léon Rosenfeld. Emil Wolf made great strides in quantum optics, especially in collaboration with Brian Richards at the College of Technology. One of Bragg's protégés, Henry Solomon Lipson, became Head of Physics at the Manchester College of Technology, where he created a strong research group in X-ray crystallography, becoming the first physicist at the Tech to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.1953 brought an intermediate period, with the appointment of Sam Devons. He did not stay long, but brought Manchester back onto the path of nuclear physics, which it still treads today. This volume ends with the appointment of Brian Hilton Flowers, later Lord Flowers, as Langworthy Professor. He oversaw the construction of the new physics building in Brunswick Street, 67 years after Schuster did the same on the West Side of Oxford Road. The two nuclear accelerators planned by Devons were brought into service under the dynamic foresight of Flowers and the Jodrell Bank telescope arose from a Cheshire meadow, to become a dominant feature of the landscape and eventually, a listed building.