Thomas Allibone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Allibone
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Thomas Allibone, sitting left, with RM Chaudhry in Pakistan in 1964
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| Born | 11 November 1903 |
| Died | 9 September 2003 (aged 99) Holyport, Berkshire
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| Nationality | English |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Particle physics |
Thomas Edward Allibone (born November 11, 1903 – died September 9, 2003) was an English physicist. He did important work in areas like particle physics, X-rays, and electron microscopes. He also worked with high voltage equipment.
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Early Life and Education
Thomas Edward Allibone was born in Sheffield, England, in 1903. His father was a schoolteacher. Thomas went to the Central School in Sheffield. He then studied physics at Sheffield University.
In 1925, Thomas won a special scholarship. This allowed him to study the properties of a metal called zirconium. He moved to Cambridge University in 1926. There, he continued his studies at the famous Cavendish Laboratory. He worked with well-known scientists like Rutherford and Cockcroft. He became very interested in using high voltages. This helped to speed up tiny particles and make them crash into each other. After earning a top degree in physics from Cambridge, Allibone went back to a company called Metropolitan-Vickers. He took charge of their high-voltage research lab in Manchester.
Career Highlights
Allibone stayed at Metropolitan-Vickers for many years. He wrote many scientific papers about his research. His work included studies on high voltage and X-ray tubes.
World War II Research
During World War II, Allibone worked on important secret projects. He helped with radar equipment. Radar helps detect objects from a distance. He also worked on the highly secret Tube Alloys project. This project was about developing a powerful new type of weapon. In 1944, Allibone led a team of British scientists. They went to the United States to work on the Manhattan Project. This project created the world's first atomic bomb.
Post-War Research
In 1946, Allibone became a director at the AEI research laboratories. While there, he did new research on nuclear fusion. This is a process that creates energy by joining atomic nuclei. He also worked on electron microscopes. These are powerful microscopes that use electrons to see tiny things. In 1948, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
In 1963, Allibone left AEI. He became the chief scientist for the Central Electricity Generating Board. He held this job until 1970. He also became a professor at the University of Leeds in 1967.
Honors and Recognition
Thomas Allibone was a respected scientist. In 1959, he gave two important talks. One was the Bernard Price Memorial Lecture in South Africa. The other was the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. These lectures are famous for explaining science to a wide audience.
