Alfred Charles Bernard Lovell English astronomer. Date of Birth: 31.08.1913 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Alfred Charles Bernard Lovell
2. Early Career
3. Director of Jodrell Bank Observatory
4. Contributions to Radio Astronomy
5. Discoveries and International Collaborations
6. Recognition and Honors
7. Assassination Attempt

Biography of Alfred Charles Bernard Lovell

Alfred Charles Bernard Lovell was an English astronomer who played a significant role in the field of radio astronomy. He was born in Oldland Common, South Gloucestershire, and completed his studies at the University of Bristol in 1934.

Early Career

After graduating, Lovell taught physics at the University of Manchester from 1936 to 1939. During the years of World War II, from 1939 to 1945, he worked as a research scientist at the Telecommunications Research Establishment.

Director of Jodrell Bank Observatory

In 1945, Lovell joined the University of Manchester and became a professor of astronomy and the director of the Experimental Station of the Jodrell Bank Observatory (now known as the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics). He was the driving force behind the creation of the largest radio astronomy observatory in the world at that time.

Contributions to Radio Astronomy

Under Lovell's leadership, the Jodrell Bank Observatory constructed several essential instruments, including the landmark 76-meter movable parabolic dish that became operational in 1957. Lovell focused his research on meteor studies and non-stationary stars using radio astronomical methods. He conducted numerous experiments on meteor radar and made significant contributions to the theoretical understanding of radio echoes from meteor trails.

Discoveries and International Collaborations

In 1958, Lovell discovered radio emissions from flash stars of the UV Ceti type. He organized international simultaneous optical and radio observations of these objects and determined the characteristics of their radio emissions. He found that the ratio of energy generated in the radio range to the optical energy for these stars was approximately 1000 times greater than that of the Sun during chromospheric flares.

Under Lovell's guidance, the Jodrell Bank Observatory actively participated in tracking space vehicles and satellites, including those launched by the Soviet Union. The observatory also collaborated with international radio interferometric observations using very long baselines. Lovell authored the monograph "Meteor Astronomy" in 1954.

Recognition and Honors

Lovell was a member of the Royal Society of London (1955) and an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1955), the New York Academy of Sciences (1960), and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (1962). He served as the President of the Royal Astronomical Society from 1969 to 1971 and as the Vice-President of the International Astronomical Union from 1970 to 1976.

For his contributions to astronomy, Lovell received several prestigious awards, including the Royal Medal from the Royal Society of London (1960), the D. and F. Guggenheim Medal from the International Astronautical Federation (1961), and the Gold Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society (1981). He was also knighted in 1961.

Assassination Attempt

In 2009, Lovell revealed an incident that occurred during the Cold War. He reported an assassination attempt on him while visiting the Dnipro Deep Space Communications Center near Yevpatoria. Allegedly, the KGB attempted to kill him by exposing him to a powerful signal from one of the center's antennas. Lovell documented the incident in a report, which will only be published after his death.