Clifford Charles Butler

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Sir

Clifford Charles Butler

FRS
Sir Clifford Charles Butler
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Born(1922-05-20)20 May 1922
Died30 June 1999(1999-06-30) (aged 77)
Alma materUniversity of Reading
SpouseKathleen Betty Collins
ChildrenHilary and Ruth
Scientific career
FieldsParticle physics
InstitutionsUniversity of Manchester
Imperial College London
Doctoral advisorsDr Tom Rymer

Sir Clifford Charles Butler FRS[1] (20 May 1922 – 30 June 1999) was an English physicist, best known for the discovery of the hyperon and meson types of particles. In later life, Butler was involved in educational policy, serving as director of the Nuffield Foundation and vice-chancellor of Loughborough University.

Life

Butler was born in

grocer, and his wife Olive Pembroke. He attended both Reading School and the University of Reading, becoming both a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy there. He was appointed assistant lecturer in physics at the University of Manchester in 1945, and lecturer in 1947. In the same year he married Kathleen Betty Collins. They had two daughters.[2][3] He died in Glenfield Hospital, near Leicester on 30 June 1999.[2]

Work

At Manchester, Butler worked with G. D. Rochester, studying cosmic rays using a cloud chamber. During this research, they found two unexpected events, one in October 1946 and one in May 1947, showing previously unknown particles. These V particles were a thousand times heavier than the electron and long-lived on nuclear timescales. In order to increase the rate of detection with a higher flux of cosmic rays, the equipment was moved to the Pic du Midi de Bigorre observatory in the Pyrenees. The existence of the particles was confirmed by a group from the California Institute of Technology led by Carl Anderson, and the Butler group continued to study them and found that there were two types, hyperons and mesons. Butler's and Rochester's discovery may be seen as the first step towards understanding of the quark structure of matter.[2]

In 1953, Butler left Manchester to lead a high-energy nuclear physics group at

University Grants Committee in 1966. He eventually served on the Schools Council for 19 years.[2]

In 1970, Butler resigned from Imperial College and his active involvement in physical research ceased. He accepted the role of director of the Nuffield Foundation, a charitable foundation influential in education. During his time there he set up a group for research and innovation in higher education, a programme for law and society, and the centre for agricultural strategy at the University of Reading. His role in the establishment of the Open University was also important, since the Nuffield Foundation funded a course on genetics as a test bed for other courses. He was appointed to the council of the Open University in 1971 and stayed as a member until 1995, serving as vice-chairman from 1986 to 1995. In 1975, Butler was appointed vice-chancellor of Loughborough University, retaining that post until he retired in 1985.

Honours

Butler was knighted in 1983 for his services to education.[2]

References

  1. ^
    S2CID 71004018
    .
  2. ^
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/72491. Retrieved 8 February 2010. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  3. ^ "Other Great People of Reading". Reading Borough Libraries. Archived from the original on 4 January 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  4. ^ "Tests of British National Hydrogen Bubble Chamber get under way". CERN Courier. CERN. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Clifford Charles Butler 1922-1999" (PDF). CERN. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
Academic offices
Preceded by Vice-Chancellor of
Loughborough University

1975–1985
Succeeded by
Professor John G. Phillips