Arthur B. C. Walker Jr.
Arthur B.C. Walker Jr. | |
---|---|
Born | U.S. Air Force | August 24, 1936
Thesis | Photo meson Production from Neutrons Bound in Helium and Deuterium |
Notable students | Sally Ride, Hakeem Oluseyi |
Arthur Bertram Cuthbert Walker Jr. (August 24, 1936 – April 29, 2001) was an African-American
Early life and education
Walter was born in
Both his master's degree and doctorate in astrophysics came from the University of Illinois, in 1958 and 1962 respectively.[4] His dissertation for his doctorate titled, “Photo meson Production from Neutrons Bound in Helium and Deuterium,”[5] focused on the atomic binding of protons and neutrons, as well as the radiation and force carriers involved in this process.[4]
Career
In 1962, Walker began his scientific career in the
He also worked at the
He was a professor at Stanford University from 1974 until his death in 2001. Walker started as the associate professor of applied physics in January 1974 and became a full professor in 1982. By 1991 he became a joint professor in applied physics and physics.[4] Walker was a member of the Stanford's Center for Space and Astrophysics, as well as the Astronomy Program, for all his time at the school. He also chaired the Astronomy Program from 1977 to 1980.[6]
Walker mentored thirteen graduate students over his career at Stanford, and a majority of these students came from underrepresented groups in science.[3] His first graduate student, Sally Ride, went on to become the first American woman in space.[7] Walker also set up an informal advocacy association with other black faculty members called the "Banneker Group".[2]
He was instrumental in building Congressional approval for the
Research
Walker, alongside H.R. Rugge, completed early studies, from 1965 to 1975, to view the Sun's atmosphere with X-ray imaging.[4] After coming to Stanford, Walker began working with Troy Barbee of the school's Material Sciences Department to observe the Sun's corona.[3] Walker believed that Barbee's multilayered thin films would provide improved images for a X-ray telescope.[3] In 1987, Barbee and Walker's satellites captured some of the first images of the Sun corona.[3]
Before his death, Walker was researching X-ray spectroscopy technology. He and his colleagues used this technology to develop three-dimensional images of celestial objects.[5] This new technology was the basis of the dark matter detection method advanced by Professor Blas Cabrera of Stanford's physics department.[3]
Death and legacy
Walker died on April 29, 2001, at home on the Stanford campus, following a battle with cancer.[8] Walker was survived by his second wife Victoria, a daughter, Heather M. M. Walker; two stepsons, Nigel D. Gibbs and Eric D. Gibbs; and four grandchildren.[1]
In 2016, the
References
- ^ a b James Glanz, Arthur Walker, 64, Scientist and Mentor, Dies, The New York Times (May 9, 2001).
- ^ a b Dawn Levy, Art Walter: 'favorite sun' of solar physics, Stanford Report (October 4, 2000).
- ^ a b c d e f g h Petrosian, Vahé (December 2001). "Arthur B. C. Walker (1936–2001)". American Astronomical Society. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Williams, Scott (2008). "Arthur Bertram Cuthbert Walker, Jr". math.buffalo.edu. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ a b Fikes, Robert. "Walker, Arthur Bertram Cuthbert, Jr. (1936–2001) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed". www.blackpast.org. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
- ^ a b Petrosian, Vahe (May 18, 2005). "Memorial Resolution: Arthur B.C. Walker, Jr". news.stanford.edu. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ a b Aceves, Ana (August 4, 2016). "Arthur B. C. Walker II: X-ray Astrophysicist – Sky & Telescope". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
- ^ Dawn Levy, Solar physicist Art Walker dies at 64; pioneer in X-ray optics, Stanford Report (May 2, 2001).
- ^ "Katherine Johnson to receive the ASP's new Arthur B.C. Walker II Award". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on October 16, 2016.