Frank Matthews Leslie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Matthews Leslie
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| Born | March 8, 1935 |
| Died | June 15, 2000 |
| Occupation | mathematician, physicist, mathematical physicist |
| Spouse(s) | Ellen Reoch (1965-2000) |
Professor Frank Matthews Leslie (March 8, 1935 – June 15, 2000) was a Scottish scientist. He was a mathematical physicist, which means he used math to understand how things work in the physical world. He is best known for his work on liquid crystals.
He helped create the Ericksen–Leslie Theory with Jerald Ericksen. This theory helps explain how liquid crystals flow and behave. You might see liquid crystals in things like LCD screens! The special numbers that describe how these crystals flow are even named after him, called "Leslie coefficients."
Contents
Frank Leslie's Early Life and Studies
Frank Leslie was born in Dundee, Scotland, on March 8, 1935. His family loved books, and he grew up around a large library. He went to Harris Academy for school.
After school, he studied at University College, Dundee. He earned his first degree in 1957. Then, he received a special scholarship. This allowed him to continue his studies at the University of Manchester.
Frank was very good at explaining difficult ideas. He soon became an assistant lecturer there in 1959. He earned his advanced degree in 1961. His research looked at how liquids flow and how they can be both liquid and solid-like.
Working with Liquid Crystals
After his studies, Frank Leslie went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States. He was very interested in fluids that behave differently depending on the direction you look at them. These are called anisotropic fluids.
He contacted another scientist, Jerald Ericksen, who was also studying these types of fluids. They started working together. This teamwork led to their famous "Ericksen–Leslie Theory."
In 1965, Frank Leslie wrote an important paper. It talked about a "director" field. This is like an invisible arrow that shows the direction of the particles in an anisotropic fluid. This idea was key to understanding liquid crystals.
Family Life and Career
In 1965, Frank Leslie married Ellen Reoch. They moved to the United States so Frank could keep working with Jerald Ericksen. They had two children, a daughter named Sheena and a son named Calum. Frank and Ellen also enjoyed playing golf together.
In 1968, Frank Leslie returned to Scotland. He took a permanent job at Strathclyde University. He became a professor there in 1979. He often invited other scientists, like Ericksen, to visit and work with him.
His work became very important. Other scientists said that the Ericksen–Leslie approach was the most widely used way to understand liquid crystals.
Helping Others and His Community
Frank Leslie also helped British companies that made LCD screens. He gave them advice on how to improve their technology.
He cared a lot about mathematics education. For 20 years, he worked as a tutor for the Open University. This university helps people learn from home.
He was also a Justice of the Peace (JP) for 15 years. This meant he helped with local legal matters in his community. Frank Leslie also supported the Scottish National Party, a political group in Scotland. He was their treasurer for 14 years. In 1971, he became an Elder in the Church of Scotland.
In 1995, Frank Leslie was recognized for his amazing scientific work. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
Frank Leslie passed away on June 15, 2000. He was 65 years old.
