Arthur Lindo Patterson
Early Life and Education
Arthur Lindo Patterson was born on July 23, 1902, in Nelson, New Zealand. He was the son of a Scottish father and an English mother, both of whom had a profound influence on his early education and intellectual development. Patterson's family moved to England when he was a child, and he attended the prestigious University of Cambridge, where he studied physics. His early academic pursuits were characterized by a keen interest in the emerging field of crystallography, which would later define his career.
Academic Career
After completing his undergraduate studies, Patterson pursued a Ph.D. at the University of Manchester, where he worked under the guidance of Sir Lawrence Bragg, a pioneer in the field of X-ray crystallography. Patterson's doctoral research focused on the diffraction of X-rays by crystals, a topic that would become central to his later work. His dissertation laid the groundwork for what would become known as the Patterson function, a mathematical tool used to interpret X-ray diffraction patterns.
Contributions to Crystallography
Patterson's most significant contribution to crystallography was the development of the Patterson function, which he introduced in a seminal paper published in 1934. This function is a mathematical technique used to determine the positions of atoms within a crystal by analyzing the intensities of X-ray diffraction patterns. The Patterson function transformed the field of crystallography by providing a method to solve the phase problem, a major challenge in the interpretation of diffraction data.
The Patterson function is particularly useful in cases where direct methods of phase determination are not applicable. It allows crystallographers to deduce the relative positions of atoms in a crystal lattice, thereby facilitating the determination of the crystal's three-dimensional structure. Patterson's work laid the foundation for numerous advances in the field, including the determination of complex biological macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids.
Later Career and Legacy
Following his groundbreaking work on the Patterson function, Arthur Lindo Patterson held various academic positions, including a professorship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). During his tenure at MIT, Patterson continued to refine his methods and collaborated with other leading scientists in the field of crystallography. His work was instrumental in the development of new techniques for analyzing crystal structures, and he mentored a generation of crystallographers who would go on to make significant contributions to the field.
Patterson's legacy in crystallography is enduring. His methods are still widely used today, and his contributions have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In addition to his scientific achievements, Patterson was known for his dedication to teaching and his ability to inspire students and colleagues alike.
Personal Life
Arthur Lindo Patterson was known for his modest and unassuming personality. Despite his significant contributions to science, he remained humble and focused on his work. Patterson was married and had two children, and he enjoyed spending time with his family when he was not engaged in research. He was also an avid reader and had a deep appreciation for the arts, particularly music and literature.