John Randolph Winckler (October 27, 1916 – February 6, 2001) was an American experimental physicist notable for his discovery of sprites in 1989[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] and other discoveries in the fields of solar, magnetospheric, auroral, and atmospheric physics.
First color image of a sprite, taken from an aircraft.
[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] He was also notable for designing new methods and apparatus to collect scientific data from high altitude flying objects such as balloons, rockets, and spacecraft.[6] This data collection led Winckler and his staff to major discoveries, such as: discovering that high-energy electrons accompany auroras.[6] Winckler was an advisor to NASA,[14] and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.[6]
Notable awards and distinctions
- 1953 Fellow of the American Physical Society[18]
- 1962 American Institute for Aviation and Astronautics, Space Science Award[6]
- 1965-66 Guggenheim fellow, France[6]
- 1972 Doctor honoris causa, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France[6]
- 1978 Arctowski Medal, National Academy of Sciences[6]
- 1985 Soviet Geophysical Committee International Geophysical Year Commemorative Medal[6]
- 1991 NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement[6]
- 1996 Member, the National Academy of Sciences[6][7]
Chronology
- October 27, 1916, born, North Plainfield, New Jersey
- 1942: B.S., Rutgers University
- 1946: Ph.D., Princeton University[6][8]
- 1946: joins faculty of Princeton University[6]
- 1949–1986: University of Minnesota, assistant professor to professor of physics[7]
- 1986–2001: University of Minnesota, emeritus professor of physics[7]
References
- ↑ Star Tribune:Obituary: John Winckler, 84, physicist;by: Kavita Kumar; February 8
- ↑ Invisible Lights in the Sky;David Schneider
- ↑ Penn State Online:Electric Moments;By Charles Fergus
- ↑ Sprites, Blue Jets, Elves and Superbolts Archived 2012-01-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ physicists explain thunderstorm sprites
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 National Academy of Sciences:Biographical Memoirs;V.81;JOHN RANDOLPH WINCKLER;BY KINSEY A. ANDERSON
- 1 2 3 4 "Array of Contemporary physicists:John Winckler". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
- 1 2 New York Times:8 GET PRINCETON DEGREES; Ph.D. Awarded to 3 Graduate Students;John Randolph Winckler;April 19, 1946
- ↑ New York Times:HEAVY PARTICLES FROM SUN CAUGHT; Balloons and Rockets Trap Elements Close to Earth;These developments were described today to a news conference at the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. John R. Winckler of the University of Minnesota.April 21, 1961
- ↑ New York Times:SCIENCE WATCH; Rare Lightning;July 17, 1990;Scientists from the University of Minnesota say they have made the first image of an uncommon form of lightning flashing between cloud tops and the clear air above
- ↑ New York Times:Balloon With Cosmic Ray Gear From Midwest Found in Atlantic;November 3, 1961
- ↑ New York Times:POLAR BALLOONS TO STUDY SPACE; Cosmic Rays and Northern Lights to Be Observed 5,000-Mile Circle Heat Radiation Test;December 11, 1963
- ↑ New York Times:PIONEER PIERCED MAGNETIC CLOUD; Particles Hit Earth 4 to 8 Hours Later -- Other Data Confirm Electric Ring;By WALTER SULLIVAN;March 23, 1960,
- 1 2 New York Times:25 ADVISERS NAMED FOR SPACE AGENCY; The National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced today the appointment of twenty-five scientists as consultants in five fields of space science;September 4, 1960
- ↑ New York Times:Pioneer V Challenges Theory On Causes of Magnetic Storms; Pioneer V Casts Doubts on Magnetic Storm Theory;By WALTER SULLIVAN;April 30, 1960,
- ↑ New York Times:New Class of Lightning Found High Above Clouds;January 17, 1995;Page 3 of 5;Dr. John R. Winckler, a retired physicist at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, was helping a colleague try out a new low-light video camera on a clear summer night
- ↑ SCIENCE NEW STUDY OF SUN; Changes in Atmosphere During Low Solar Activity to Be Examined;By WALTER SULLIVAN;January 05, 1964,
- ↑ "APS Fellow Archive". American Physical Society. (search on year=1953 and institution=University of Minnesota)
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