Antony Hewish
Early Life and Education
Antony Hewish was born on May 11, 1924, in Fowey, Cornwall, England. He attended the King's College in Taunton, Somerset, before going on to study at the Cambridge University where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Natural Sciences in 1948.
Hewish continued his studies at Cambridge, focusing on radio astronomy, a relatively new field at the time. He completed his Ph.D. under the supervision of Martin Ryle, a pioneer in the development of radio astronomy techniques.
Career and Research
Hewish began his career at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. His early work involved studying cosmic rays and their interaction with the Earth's atmosphere. However, his primary focus was on the investigation of the intensity variations of radio sources, which led to the development of the innovative technique of aperture synthesis.
In the early 1960s, Hewish and his team constructed a large radio telescope array, known as the "One-Mile" telescope, to further investigate radio sources. This telescope was instrumental in the discovery of the first pulsars, rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit regular pulses of radiation.
In 1967, Hewish's research student, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, detected a series of regular pulses in the radio data. Initially dubbed "Little Green Man 1" (LGM-1) due to its regularity, this signal was later identified as the first known pulsar, PSR B1919+21. This discovery was a significant breakthrough in astrophysics and led to a new understanding of the life cycle of stars.
Hewish's research on pulsars and their properties, such as their rotation and magnetic fields, has contributed significantly to our understanding of the extreme conditions in these celestial objects. His work has also provided indirect evidence for the existence of gravitational waves, as predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity.
Awards and Honours
In recognition of his significant contributions to the field of radio astronomy, Hewish has received numerous awards and honours. In 1974, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, becoming the first astronomer to receive this prestigious award. The Nobel Prize was awarded for his decisive role in the discovery of pulsars.
Hewish was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1968, and he received the Eddington Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society in 1969. In 1982, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to astronomy.
Legacy
Antony Hewish's pioneering work in radio astronomy has had a profound impact on the field. His innovative techniques and the discovery of pulsars have opened up new avenues of research and have contributed to our understanding of the universe.
Hewish's legacy also extends to his role as a mentor and teacher. His guidance and support of Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who made the initial discovery of pulsars, highlights his commitment to fostering the next generation of astronomers.