David Whiffen facts for kids

David Hardy Whiffen FRS (born August 15, 1922 – died December 2, 2002) was an English scientist. He was a very important physicist. He helped create new ways to study materials using infrared light and a method called Electron Spin Resonance. He is also known for something called the "Whiffen Effect."

A Scientist's Life

David Whiffen was born in Esher, England. His family made chemicals. He went to school in Broadstairs and Oundle. In 1943, he earned a top degree from Oxford University. He studied with a famous physicist, Sir Harold Warris Thompson. David continued his research with Thompson until 1949. During World War II, he even worked on things like Radar.

In 1946, David spent a year in the United States. He worked at the Bell Telephone Research Laboratories. There, he worked with five scientists who later won the Nobel Prize. In just nine months, David created a special experimental device. This device could be used over many different temperatures.

After returning to England, he became a lecturer. He taught in the Chemistry Department at Birmingham University. This was from 1949 to 1959. During this time, much of his work focused on how materials absorb infrared light. This helped push the boundaries of science.

Leading Research and Discoveries

From 1959 to 1968, David led the Molecular Science Division. This was at the National Physics Laboratory (NPL). After that, he moved to Newcastle University. There, he held many important roles. He was Head of Physical Chemistry and Professor of Physics. He also became Dean of Science and Pro-Vice-Chancellor. He worked there from 1968 to 1983.

During these years, David studied radiation. He focused on how materials absorb it. This helped scientists learn about both the radiation and the materials. He figured out how a special signal, called electron-spin resonance, works. This was for a free radical inside a crystal. He was a spectroscopist, which means he studied how light interacts with matter. He was also a chemical physicist. He was a pioneer in ESR (Electron Spin Resonance) and later NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). In 1966, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists.

He retired in 1985 and moved to Somerset. He passed away there at the age of 80. He had married Jean Bell in 1949. They had four sons.

The Whiffen Effect Explained

The "Whiffen Effect" is a scientific idea named after David Whiffen. It helps explain how certain parts of molecules interact. Specifically, it looks at how a proton (a tiny particle) can connect with an orbital (an area where electrons are found). This connection can be made stronger or weaker. It depends on the shape and arrangement of the orbital. This discovery helped other scientists in their research.

Other Important Work

David Whiffen was known as a very practical person. He also had a deep understanding of science. At the NPL, he built a special machine called a 9 GHz Spectrometer. He turned this lab into one of the best in the world. It was used for ESR and NMR research. He was the first to successfully test ideas from Peter Debye. Debye was a Dutch-American physicist who won a Nobel Prize.

David was not someone who liked to brag about himself. When he arrived at Newcastle, another professor, George Roger Clemo, mentioned that some people thought he "shouldn't have come." David simply raised his eyebrows and nodded slightly. This showed he didn't mind what others thought. He was seen as very effective in his work. Today, a special lecture is held in his name to honor his contributions.