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Charls BarklaPhysicist
Date of Birth: 26.07.1877
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Charles Glover Barkla
- Cambridge and Research
- Liverpool and Discovery of X-rays
- Characteristic X-ray Radiation
- Nobel Prize and Recognition
- Later Career and Legacy
Charles Glover Barkla
Early Life and EducationCharles Glover Barkla, a renowned English physicist and Nobel laureate, was born on June 7, 1877, in Widnes, Lancashire, England. He was the son of John Martin Barkla, a chemical company clerk, and Sarah (née Glover) Barkla.
Barkla attended Liverpool Institute High School for Boys and later received a scholarship to attend University College, Liverpool, in 1895. There, he excelled in physics and mathematics, graduating with first-class honors in physics in 1898. He subsequently earned a Master of Science degree in 1899.
Cambridge and Research
In 1899, Barkla was awarded a Trinity College scholarship at Cambridge. Under the guidance of George Stokes, he initiated his research at the Cavendish Laboratory under J.J. Thomson. After a year and a half, he transferred to King's College, where he became a renowned soloist in the choir, showcasing his exceptional baritone voice.
Liverpool and Discovery of X-rays
In 1902, Barkla relinquished his choir scholarship at Cambridge and returned to Liverpool as a scholarship holder. He earned his Doctor of Science degree in physics in 1904 and remained at Liverpool until 1909, initially as a demonstrator, then as an assistant, and eventually as a special lecturer.
During his tenure at Liverpool, Barkla dedicated himself to X-ray research, which he had begun in 1901. His groundbreaking experiments in 1904 provided conclusive evidence that X-rays were electromagnetic waves, not particles. This finding corroborated classical electromagnetic theory and demonstrated the existence of X-ray polarization.
Characteristic X-ray Radiation
In 1903, Barkla observed that exposure of matter to X-rays produced secondary radiation. His subsequent research revealed that the intensity of this scattered radiation was proportional to the atomic weight of the scattering substance, supporting the electron theory of matter.
Barkla's further investigations detected a new type of radiation, called characteristic radiation, emitted by heavy elements. This radiation had a penetrating power that increased with the element's atomic number, a finding that would later help G.J. Moseley establish the concept of atomic numbers.
Nobel Prize and Recognition
Barkla's pivotal discovery of characteristic X-ray radiation earned him international acclaim and the Nobel Prize in Physics for 1917. His groundbreaking work deepened the understanding of atomic structure and the nature of X-rays. He was hailed as a prominent figure in the field by renowned scientists such as H.D. Grenquist.
Later Career and Legacy
From 1913 until his death, Barkla served as the Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. While his Nobel Prize brought him fame, his scientific career declined later in life due to his resistance to modern theories and his self-isolation from the scientific community.
Barkla remained a devout Methodist and a respected examiner for British universities. He enjoyed singing, golf, and driving through the Scottish countryside. He passed away in Edinburgh on October 23, 1944.
Barkla was a respected member of the Royal Society of London and a recipient of their Hughes Medal in 1917. Honorary degrees were bestowed upon him by Liverpool University and several other institutions. His legacy lives on as a pioneer in X-ray research and a contributor to the development of atomic physics.
