Alan Andrew Watson

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

Alan Watson
Watson at the Pierre Auger Observatory, Malargue, Argentina in 2008
Born
Alan Andrew Watson

(1938-09-26) 26 September 1938
NationalityScottish
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
Known forHaverah Park, Pierre Auger Observatory
Scientific career
FieldsUltra-high energy cosmic rays, ultra-high energy gamma-rays and high energy astrophysics
InstitutionsUniversity of Leeds
ThesisPhysics of condensation of water vapour (1964)
Websitewww.ast.leeds.ac.uk/Auger/augerpeople/Watson/

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.[1] His main areas of interest were high-energy cosmic rays, ultra high-energy gamma rays and high-energy astrophysics.

Career

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.[2]

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 3000 square km with 1,600 particle detectors each placed at 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) intervals.[3] 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.[4]

He was awarded the Institute of Physics Michael Faraday Medal and Prize in 2011.[5]

References
  1. Watson, Alan A (1964). Examination and possible exploitation of certain unexplored features in the operation of high pressure cloud chambers. University of Edinburgh.
  2. "Curriuculum Vita of Alan Andrew Watson, FInstP, FRS" (PDF). 17 May 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  3. "Pierre Auger Observatory". Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  4. "Alan Andrew Watson". The Royal Society. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  5. "Fellow wins IoP Faraday Medal". Astronomy & Geophysics. 52 (5): 5.39. 1 October 2011. doi:10.1111/j.1468-4004.2011.52539_3.x – via academic.oup.com.
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