M. J. Seaton
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Seaton FRS (16 January 1923 - 29 May 2007) was an influential British
mathematician, atomic physicist and astronomer.
He was born in Bristol
, and educated at Wallington County Grammar School
(WCGS), a grammar school
in Surrey
, where he won prizes for his achievements in chemistry.
From 1941 to 1946 he served in the wartime Royal Air Force
as a Flight Lieutenant. In this capacity he served first in RAF Bomber Command
, navigating Lancaster Bombers, and later in one of the elite Pathfinder
squadrons, such was his capacity to apply his understanding of mathematics to the task before him.
After demobilisation, he returned to his studies, and the start of a long career at University College London
. Gaining a First Class BSc
in physics just two years later, he continued, obtaining his PhD
on Quantal Calculations of certain reaction rates with applications to Astrophysical and Geophysical problems in 1951. He later did important work on the Quantum Defect Theory
.
With a break as Chargé de Recherche at the Institut d'astrophysique de Paris
from 1954-55, he rose through the ranks at the Department of Physics at UCL, becoming a Reader in 1959, and Professor of Physics in 1963. He was made a Fellow of the College in 1972, the year in which the Departments of Physics and Astronomy merged. He held the status of Professor Emeritus and Honorary Research Fellow from 1988 until his death.
In 1964 he became Fellow-Adjoint at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics
(JILA) in Boulder, Colorado
, a combined venture between the American National Institute of Standards and Technology
and the University of Colorado
.
In 1967 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society
. He held Honorary Membership of the American Astronomical Society
, awarded in 1983, and was made Foreign Associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences
in 1986.
Seaton held the Presidency of the Royal Astronomical Society
[RAS] between 1979 and 1981, and was awarded its Gold Medal in 1983. This was followed by the Guthrie Medal and Prize
, from the Institute of Physics
in 1984, and the Hughes Medal
of the Royal Society
in 1992.
Seaton served as Senior Fellow to the Science and Engineering Research Council EPSRC, 1984-88.
Other honours include: Honorary Doctorate, Observatoire de Paris, 1976; Honorary DSc
QUB, 1982.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
mathematician, atomic physicist and astronomer.
He was born in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, and educated at Wallington County Grammar School
Wallington County Grammar School
Wallington County Grammar School is a state-funded boys' grammar school located in Wallington, Sutton, London. Places at the school are invariably oversubscribed and entrance is via competitive exam...
(WCGS), a grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, where he won prizes for his achievements in chemistry.
From 1941 to 1946 he served in the wartime Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as a Flight Lieutenant. In this capacity he served first in RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
, navigating Lancaster Bombers, and later in one of the elite Pathfinder
Pathfinder (RAF)
The Pathfinders were elite squadrons in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They located and marked targets with flares, which a main bomber force could aim at, increasing the accuracy of their bombing...
squadrons, such was his capacity to apply his understanding of mathematics to the task before him.
After demobilisation, he returned to his studies, and the start of a long career at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. Gaining a First Class BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
in physics just two years later, he continued, obtaining his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
on Quantal Calculations of certain reaction rates with applications to Astrophysical and Geophysical problems in 1951. He later did important work on the Quantum Defect Theory
Quantum defect
The term quantum defect is ambiguous. Various meanings are discussed below. Characteristic is that the defect deals with the loss on the smallest energy scale of light: that of the quantum.-Quantum defect in laser science:...
.
With a break as Chargé de Recherche at the Institut d'astrophysique de Paris
Institut d'astrophysique de Paris
The Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris is a research institute of the CNRS, located at 98bis, Boulevard Arago in Paris, France.Among its research priorities, there are strong groups involved in extragalactic astronomy and physical cosmology....
from 1954-55, he rose through the ranks at the Department of Physics at UCL, becoming a Reader in 1959, and Professor of Physics in 1963. He was made a Fellow of the College in 1972, the year in which the Departments of Physics and Astronomy merged. He held the status of Professor Emeritus and Honorary Research Fellow from 1988 until his death.
In 1964 he became Fellow-Adjoint at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics
Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics
JILA, formerly known as the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, is one of the leading physical science research institutes in the United States. Its faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral research associates explore some of today's most challenging and fundamental scientific questions...
(JILA) in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, a combined venture between the American National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology , known between 1901 and 1988 as the National Bureau of Standards , is a measurement standards laboratory, otherwise known as a National Metrological Institute , which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce...
and the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
.
In 1967 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. He held Honorary Membership of the American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
, awarded in 1983, and was made Foreign Associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1986.
Seaton held the Presidency of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
[RAS] between 1979 and 1981, and was awarded its Gold Medal in 1983. This was followed by the Guthrie Medal and Prize
Guthrie Medal and Prize
The Faraday Medal and Prize is a prize awarded annually by the Institute of Physics. The prize is awarded for "outstanding contributions to experimental physics, to a physicist of international reputation in any sector."...
, from the Institute of Physics
Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics is a scientific charity devoted to increasing the practice, understanding and application of physics. It has a worldwide membership of around 40,000....
in 1984, and the Hughes Medal
Hughes Medal
The Hughes Medal is awarded by the Royal Society of London "in recognition of an original discovery in the physical sciences, particularly electricity and magnetism or their applications". Named after David E. Hughes, the medal is awarded with a gift of £1000. The medal was first awarded in 1902 to...
of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1992.
Seaton served as Senior Fellow to the Science and Engineering Research Council EPSRC, 1984-88.
Other honours include: Honorary Doctorate, Observatoire de Paris, 1976; Honorary DSc
DSC
-in academia:* D.Sc., Doctor of Science* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine* Dalton State College, Georgia* Daytona State College, Florida* Deep Springs College, California* Dixie State College of Utah...
QUB, 1982.
External links
- Obituary, The Times, 7 June 2007
- Obituary, The Guardian, 31 August 2007
- Obituary, UCL, September 2007
- Obituary, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 31 December 2007
- Biographical Notes, Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics, August 2006
- Atomic Physics & Astrophysics Group - section in: From Lardner to Massey, by JW Fox
- Atoms and Astrophysics: Mike Seaton's legacy - Research meeting held at UCL, April 2008