John Alexander Simpson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 3, 1916 |
| Died | August 31, 2000 (aged 83) |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | Reed College New York University |
| Known for | Cosmic Ray Nuclear physics high-energy astrophysics Space Exploration |
| Awards | Gagarin Medal (1986) Bruno Rossi Prize (1991) Arctowski Medal (1993) Leo Szilard Lectureship Award (1999) William Bowie Medal (2000) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | University of Chicago Laboratory for Astrophysics and Space Research (LASR) Washington D.C. |
| Thesis | Reduction of the natural insensitive time in Geiger–Müller counters (1944) |
| Doctoral advisor | Serge Alexander Korff |
| Doctoral students | Sam Treiman Edward C. Stone George Gloeckler Brian Cartwright Glenn M. Mason James J. Beatty Douglas C. Hamilton |
John Alexander Simpson (November 3, 1916 – August 31, 2000) was an American physicist and science educator. He was deeply committed to educating the public and political leaders about science and its implications, most notably as a principal founder of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and a long-time member of the organizations Board of Sponsors.[1]
He is known for inventions such as the gas flow α-particle proportional counter (for measuring plutonium yields in the presence of high intensity fission products), and the neutron monitor,[1] and for having several of the instruments he created launched into space, such a dust flux monitor[broken anchor] aboard the Stardust spacecraft.[2]
Simpson spent his career as an instructor and researcher for the University of Chicago's Enrico Fermi Institute and Department of Physics, where he conducted experiments in nuclear physics and with cosmic rays. His research continued up until a few weeks prior to his death.[1][3][4] He died of pneumonia which he contracted in the hospital following a successful heart surgery.[1][3][4] The year he died, his instruments in space had been sending data back for nearly 40 years.[3]
- ^ a b c d Eugene N. Parker, National Academies Press. "John Alexander Simpson BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS". Visited 10 February 2020.
- ^ Pearce Wright, The Guardian. "John Simpson", Thursday 14 September 2000. Visited on August the 28th, 2010.
- ^ a b c National, The New York Times. "John Alexander Simpson, 83, Nuclear and Cosmic Scientist", September 7, 2000. Visited on September 1st, 2010.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
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