Philip Moon
Encyclopedia
Philip Burton Moon FRS (17 May 1907 – 9 October 1994) was a British nuclear physicist. He is most remembered for his research work in atomic physics
and nuclear physics. He is one of the British scientist who participated in United States Manhattan Project
, Tube Alloys
and was involved in nuclear weapon development. Dr. P.B. Moon made outstanding and original experimental contributions which stimulated the development of whole fields of research involving neutrons, gamma rays and novel methods of studying chemical reactions.
in the mid-1930s, where he shared a room with Australian physicist Mark Oliphant
. Both later joined the University of Birmingham
; Moon in 1938.
that confirmed the feasibility of an atomic bomb and then became part of the British delegation to the Manhattan Project
, where amongst other things he did work on designing instrumentation for measuring the eventual bomb test.
In 1950 Moon was the first person to detect gamma ray
fluorescence
. However his results were not considered statistically significant enough and it would be several years before they were proven.
In 1991, Moon was the recipient of the Hughes Medal
from the Royal Society
.
His Papers are held at the University of Birmingham Special Collections.
Atomic physics
Atomic physics is the field of physics that studies atoms as an isolated system of electrons and an atomic nucleus. It is primarily concerned with the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus and...
and nuclear physics. He is one of the British scientist who participated in United States Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
, Tube Alloys
Tube Alloys
Tube Alloys was the code-name for the British nuclear weapon directorate during World War II, when the development of nuclear weapons was kept at such a high level of secrecy that it had to be referred to by code even in the highest circles of government...
and was involved in nuclear weapon development. Dr. P.B. Moon made outstanding and original experimental contributions which stimulated the development of whole fields of research involving neutrons, gamma rays and novel methods of studying chemical reactions.
Early life and education
Philip Burton Moon was born in 1907, attended Leyton County High School, and in 1925 entered Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He became a research student in the Cavendish Laboratory under Sir Ernest (later Lord) Rutherford. From 1928 to 1931 he worked with MLE (now Sir Mark) Oliphant on the collision of atoms with solids. Rutherford called him 'Oliphant's satellite' and that influence remained with him for decades.Cavendish Laboratory
He worked at Cavendish LaboratoryCavendish Laboratory
The Cavendish Laboratory is the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, and is part of the university's School of Physical Sciences. It was opened in 1874 as a teaching laboratory....
in the mid-1930s, where he shared a room with Australian physicist Mark Oliphant
Mark Oliphant
Sir Marcus 'Mark' Laurence Elwin Oliphant, AC, KBE, FRS was an Australian physicist and humanitarian who played a fundamental role in the first experimental demonstration of nuclear fusion and also the development of the atomic bomb.During his retirement, Oliphant was appointed as the Governor of...
. Both later joined the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
; Moon in 1938.
Tube Alloys and Manhattan Project
During World War II Moon was part of the MAUD CommitteeMAUD Committee
The MAUD Committee was the beginning of the British atomic bomb project, before the United Kingdom joined forces with the United States in the Manhattan Project.-Frisch & Peierls:...
that confirmed the feasibility of an atomic bomb and then became part of the British delegation to the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
, where amongst other things he did work on designing instrumentation for measuring the eventual bomb test.
Career at Birmingham University
After the war he was made Poynting Professor of Physics at Birmingham in 1946, succeeding Oliphant but receiving the appointment only after the first choice (Cecil Powell) had been rejected at the last minute for being a communist. He held the position until 1973.In 1950 Moon was the first person to detect gamma ray
Gamma ray
Gamma radiation, also known as gamma rays or hyphenated as gamma-rays and denoted as γ, is electromagnetic radiation of high frequency . Gamma rays are usually naturally produced on Earth by decay of high energy states in atomic nuclei...
fluorescence
Fluorescence
Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation of a different wavelength. It is a form of luminescence. In most cases, emitted light has a longer wavelength, and therefore lower energy, than the absorbed radiation...
. However his results were not considered statistically significant enough and it would be several years before they were proven.
In 1991, Moon was the recipient of 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...
from 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"...
.
His Papers are held at the University of Birmingham Special Collections.