Alexander Edgar Douglas facts for kids
Alexander Edgar Douglas was an important Canadian scientist. He was born on April 12, 1916, in Melfort, Saskatchewan. He passed away on July 26, 1981, in Ottawa. Douglas was a physicist, which means he studied how matter and energy work. He was especially known for his work in something called molecular spectroscopy. This is a way to study molecules by looking at the light they give off or absorb. He even led the Canadian Association of Physicists for a year.
About His Life
Alexander Douglas grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan. He went to the University of Saskatchewan for his first two university degrees. A famous scientist named Gerhard Herzberg was his teacher and helped him with his master's degree.
During World War II, Douglas paused his studies. He worked on research for the military at the NRC. After the war, he earned his PhD in physics from Pennsylvania State University.
In 1949, Douglas became the head of the Spectroscopy Section at the NRC. This section was part of the Physics Division. He later became the director of the entire Physics Division from 1969 to 1973. He then returned to lead the Spectroscopy Section until he retired in 1980.
What He Discovered
Douglas was a pioneer in studying molecules. He was the first to see the light patterns, or spectra, of many different molecules. These included molecules like B2, Si2, and CH+.
He also figured out that a special group of light lines seen in comets came from a molecule called C3. This was a big discovery for understanding comets.
Douglas also developed a new way to study the Zeeman effect in larger molecules. The Zeeman effect is when light from atoms or molecules changes when they are in a magnetic field.
The Douglas Effect
One of Douglas's most important findings is now called the Douglas effect. He realized why some molecules seemed to have "anomalous lifetimes." This means they didn't behave as expected when they absorbed light.
He found that this strange behavior was linked to how energy moves inside larger molecules. This process is called internal conversion. His work helped scientists better understand how molecules react to light.
Douglas's work in molecular spectroscopy also helped astronomers. He identified molecules like CH+ in space. He also helped explain the light patterns from comets and other space objects.
Awards and Recognition
Alexander Douglas received many honors for his scientific work:
- 1956 – He was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
- 1970 – He received the Medal for Achievement in Physics. This award came from the Canadian Association of Physicists.
- 1979 – He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. This is a very high honor for scientists.
- 1980 – The NRC held an international meeting about molecular spectroscopy in his honor.
- 1981 – He was awarded the Henry Marshall Tory Medal.
