Arthur B. C. Walker Jr. facts for kids

Arthur Bertram Cuthbert Walker Jr. (born August 24, 1936 – died April 29, 2001) was an amazing African-American scientist. He studied the Sun and its powerful energy. He was a solar physicist, which means he focused on understanding our star.

Dr. Walker was a pioneer in using special light, like ultraviolet and X-rays, to see the Sun. He created advanced telescopes that could take clear pictures of the Sun's outer atmosphere, called the solar corona. This was a big step forward in how we study the Sun. His work helped create technology used in today's solar telescopes and even in making computer chips.

Early Life and Education

Arthur Walker Jr. was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 24, 1936. He was the only child of Arthur and Hilda Walker. When he was five years old, his family moved to New York City.

Arthur attended the famous Bronx High School of Science. After high school, he went to the Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland. In 1957, he earned his bachelor's degree in physics there.

He continued his studies at the University of Illinois. He earned his master's degree in astrophysics in 1958. Then, in 1962, he received his doctorate (Ph.D.). His Ph.D. research looked at tiny particles called neutrons and how they behave.

Amazing Career Highlights

In 1962, Dr. Walker began his scientific career in the U.S. Air Force. He was a first lieutenant and worked in the Weapons Laboratory. There, he helped design a satellite to study the Van Allen Belt Radiation around Earth.

After his military service ended in 1965, he joined the Aerospace Corporation. He led the Space Astronomy Program from 1971 to 1973. A lot of his work involved using rockets and satellites. He used them to study the Sun's atmosphere with ultraviolet and X-ray light.

In 1974, Dr. Walker became a professor at Stanford University. He started as an associate professor and became a full professor in 1982. By 1991, he was a joint professor in applied physics and physics. He was also part of Stanford's Center for Space and Astrophysics.

Dr. Walker was a wonderful mentor to many students at Stanford. He guided thirteen graduate students during his time there. Many of these students came from groups not often seen in science. His very first graduate student was Sally Ride, who later became the first American woman in space!

He also played a key role in getting government approval for the National Solar Observatory. In 1986, he served on the Rogers Commission. This group investigated the tragic explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle.

Discovering the Sun's Secrets

From 1965 to 1975, Dr. Walker and his colleague H.R. Rugge studied the Sun's atmosphere. They used X-ray imaging to get a better look.

When he came to Stanford, Dr. Walker teamed up with Troy Barbee. Barbee was an expert in materials science. Dr. Walker believed Barbee's special thin films could make X-ray telescope images much clearer.

In 1987, their satellites captured some of the first clear images of the Sun's corona. This was a huge achievement!

Before he passed away, Dr. Walker was researching X-ray spectroscopy. This technology helps create 3D images of objects in space. His work even helped develop a method to detect dark matter.

His Lasting Legacy

Dr. Walker passed away on April 29, 2001, at his home on the Stanford campus. He had been battling cancer. He left behind his wife Victoria, a daughter, two stepsons, and four grandchildren.

In 2016, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific created an award in his honor. It's called the Arthur B.C. Walker II Award. This award celebrates scientists who do great research in astronomy. It also honors those who help and guide students from groups that are underrepresented in science. The award includes a scholarship for a student chosen by the winner.