A. W. Pryor
A. W. Pryor | |
---|---|
Born | 1928 |
Died | September 2014 Sydney |
Nationality | Australian |
Fields | Crystallography |
Institutions | Australian Atomic Energy Commission Macquarie University |
Alma mater | University of Queensland Durham University |
Known for | Crystalography Neutron diffraction Molecular laser isotope separation |
Arthur William Pryor (1928 – 6 September 2014) was an Australian physicist known for his contributions to neutron diffraction[1][2] and infrared laser isotope separation.[3][4][5] Pryor authored and co-authored a number of papers in the field of crystallography[6][7][8][9] and he also co-authored, with B. T. M. Willis, the book Thermal Vibrations in Crystallography.[10]
Laser isotope separation
Pryor conducted research on laser isotope separation using infrared lasers.[3][4][5] Also, earlier work in this area brought him in contact with J. C. Ward who advocated a phase transition transformation of UF6 known as the Ward process.[5] Pryor provides a unique historical account on laser isotope separation efforts in Australia (during the early 1980s) that included both visible and infrared laser sources (relevant to AVLIS and MLIS, respectively).[5] In this regard, he refers to the reluctance of the Australian authorities, to adopt laser isotope separation, with the sentence... "but the cautious hand refrained".[5] Pryor's account was independently corroborated, albeit with a time lag, by other researchers in the field.[11]
Philosophy
Later in his career, Pryor was interested on historical and philosophical aspects of science and physics. He authored various recordings on this subject, which were broadcast on 2SER-FM in 1980-1983.[12][13][14][15]
Career
Pryor was educated at the University of Queensland and completed his doctoral studies at Durham University. Pryor spent most of his career at Lucas Heights (as a scientist in the former Australian Atomic Energy Commission) and was a faculty visiting fellow at Macquarie University where he lectured on atomic physics. He was a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics.
He died at the age of 86, on 6 September 2014.[16][17]
References
- ↑ R. S. Seymour and A. W. Pryor, Neutron diffraction study of NH4Br and NH4I, Acta Crystallogr. B 26, 1487-1491 (1970).
- ↑ G. L. Paul and A. W. Pryor, The study of sodium nitrate by neutron diffraction, Acta Crystallogr. B 27, 2700-2702 (1971).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.E. Eberhardt, D.A. Johnson, R.B. Knott, A.W. Pryor, A.B. Waugh,Multiphoton dissociation of two vanadyl compounds, Chem. Phys. Lett. 93, 448-452 (1982).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.E. Eberhardt, I.E. Hoare, D.A. Johnson, R.B. Knott, A.W. Pryor, A.B. Waugh, Multiphoton dissociation of some volatile uranyl complexes. I. The phenomena of reversible and permanent dissociation, Chem. Phys. 72, 41-49 (1982).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 A. W. Pryor, Personal memories of two advanced uranium enrichment projects at Lucas Heights in the years 1972-1980, The Australian & New Zealand Physicist 33 (3-4), 53-58 (1997).
- ↑ A. W. Pryor, Debye-Waller factors in crystals of the sodium chloride structure, Acta Crystallogr. 20, 138-140 (1966).
- ↑ M. M. Elcombe and A. W. Pryor, The lattice dynamics of calcium fluoride, J. Phys. C Solid State Phys. 3, 492 (1970).
- ↑ A. W. Pryor and P. L. Sanger, Collection and interpretation of neutron diffraction measurements on urea, Acta Crystallogr. A 26, 543-558 (1970).
- ↑ K. D. Rouse, B. T. M. Willis and A. W. Pryor, Anharmonic contributions to the Debye-Waller factors of UO2, Acta Crystallogr. B 24, 117-122 (1970).
- ↑ B. T. M. Willis and A. W. Pryor, Thermal Vibrations in Crystallography (Cambridge University, Cambridge, 1975).
- ↑ F. J. Duarte, Tunable lasers for atomic vapor laser isotope separation: the Australian contribution, Australian Physics 47 (2), 38-40 (2010).
- ↑ A. W. Pryor, The Oppenheimer case (2SER-FM, August 1980).
- ↑ A. W. Pryor, Lysenko-science and politics (2SER-FM, March 1981).
- ↑ A. W. Pryor, Physics and faith (2SER-FM, July–September 1982).
- ↑ A. W. Pryor, Record century: one hundred years of recorded sound (2SER-FM, March 1983).
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ The Sydney Morning Herald, September 6, 2014.