Alan Andrew Watson

Alan Watson
Watson at the Pierre Auger Observatory, Malargue, Argentina in 2008
Born Alan Andrew Watson
(1938-09-26) 26 September 1938
Residence Leeds
Nationality Scottish
Alma mater University of Edinburgh
Known for Haverah Park, Pierre Auger Observatory
Scientific career
Fields Ultra-high energy cosmic rays, ultra-high energy gamma-rays and high energy astrophysics
Institutions University of Leeds
Thesis Physics of condensation of water vapour (1964)
Website www.ast.leeds.ac.uk/Auger/augerpeople/Watson/

Alan Andrew Watson, FRS, (born 26 September 1938 in Edinburgh) is physicist and an Emeritus Professor at the University of Leeds, England.[1]

Education

Watson was educated at the University of Edinburgh (BSc 1960 first class honours in physics) and was awarded the degree of PhD in 1964 for his thesis on the physics of condensation of water vapour: Examination and possible exploitation of certain unexplored features in the operation of high pressure cloud chambers[2]. His main areas of interest were high-energy cosmic rays, ultra high-energy gamma rays and high-energy astrophysics.

Career and research

Watson was Professor of Physics at the University of Leeds from 1984, having previously been Reader in Particle Cosmic Physics there, and retired in 2003 with the title Emeritus Professor.[3]

Watson was instrumental in the creation of the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina (begun 1999) which gathered the data that led to major discoveries in cosmic-ray astronomy. The Observatory covers an area of 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) with 1,600 particle detectors each placed at 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) intervals.[4] Watson was serving as the spokesperson of the Pierre Auger collaboration and was later given the title of Spokesperson Emeritus.

Awards and honours

Watson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2000.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Alan Watson Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  2. ↑ Watson, Alan A (1964). Examination and possible exploitation of certain unexplored features in the operation of high pressure cloud chambers. University of Edinburgh.
  3. ↑ University of Leeds, List of Emeritus Professors Archived 2012-09-26 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ "{title}". Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Royal Society, List of Fellows
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