Andrew Lang (physicist)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Richard Lang FRS CBE
(9 Feb 1924 - 30 Jun 2008) was a British scientist and crystallographer.
He was born in St Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire, UK. He obtained a First-Class Honours London External BSc in Physics at Exeter in 1944, a London External MSc in 1947 and a Cambridge PhD in 1953.
He worked in industrial research in the UK for Lever Brothers and Unilever Ltd and in the USA for Philips Laboratories, Irvington-on-Hudson, New York. He was Assistant Professor of Physical Metallurgy at Harvard University
(1954-1959) before moving to a Lectureship in Physics at the University of Bristol
in 1960. He spent the remainder of his career in Bristol, gaining promotion to Reader in 1966 and to Professor of Physics in 1979. He retired in 1987.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1975. His candidature read "Dr. A. R. Lang has made valuable contributions to X-ray crystallography in general, especially in original developments of instrumental method which combine economy with precision; and most notably in developing the technique of X-ray topography which is the method of choice for observing the internal imperfections of highly perfect crystals. Being applicable to specimens of a convenient size for investigation by a variety of other means, this method is a powerful adjunct to experimental techniques in the physics and chemistry of the solid state. The same work furnishes experimental material from which Lang and his collaborators have been able to verify, extend, and place on a more directly observational basis the dynamical theory of X-ray diffraction. Important innovations in this earlier work were the adaptation and development of the X-ray proportional counter with pulse-height discrimination for use with X-ray diffraction. And his methods of X-ray diffracted beam monochromatization. Among his recent achievements are the observation by X-ray diffraction of internal magnetic domains, the determination of the relative phases of distinct X-ray reflexions from one crystal, and the production of X-ray Moire fringes between separate crystal slices."
He won the 1997 Hughes Medal
of the Royal Society
"for his fundamental work on X-ray diffraction physics and for his developments of the techniques of X-ray topography, in particular in studying defects in crystal structures".
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(9 Feb 1924 - 30 Jun 2008) was a British scientist and crystallographer.
He was born in St Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire, UK. He obtained a First-Class Honours London External BSc in Physics at Exeter in 1944, a London External MSc in 1947 and a Cambridge PhD in 1953.
He worked in industrial research in the UK for Lever Brothers and Unilever Ltd and in the USA for Philips Laboratories, Irvington-on-Hudson, New York. He was Assistant Professor of Physical Metallurgy at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(1954-1959) before moving to a Lectureship in Physics at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
in 1960. He spent the remainder of his career in Bristol, gaining promotion to Reader in 1966 and to Professor of Physics in 1979. He retired in 1987.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1975. His candidature read "Dr. A. R. Lang has made valuable contributions to X-ray crystallography in general, especially in original developments of instrumental method which combine economy with precision; and most notably in developing the technique of X-ray topography which is the method of choice for observing the internal imperfections of highly perfect crystals. Being applicable to specimens of a convenient size for investigation by a variety of other means, this method is a powerful adjunct to experimental techniques in the physics and chemistry of the solid state. The same work furnishes experimental material from which Lang and his collaborators have been able to verify, extend, and place on a more directly observational basis the dynamical theory of X-ray diffraction. Important innovations in this earlier work were the adaptation and development of the X-ray proportional counter with pulse-height discrimination for use with X-ray diffraction. And his methods of X-ray diffracted beam monochromatization. Among his recent achievements are the observation by X-ray diffraction of internal magnetic domains, the determination of the relative phases of distinct X-ray reflexions from one crystal, and the production of X-ray Moire fringes between separate crystal slices."
He won the 1997 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"...
"for his fundamental work on X-ray diffraction physics and for his developments of the techniques of X-ray topography, in particular in studying defects in crystal structures".