John Sealy Townsend
Irish-British mathematical physicist / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Sir John Sealy Edward Townsend, FRS[1] (7 June 1868 – 16 February 1957) was an Irish-British mathematical physicist who conducted various studies concerning the electrical conduction of gases (concerning the kinetics of electrons and ions) and directly measured the electrical charge. He was a Wykeham Professor of physics at Oxford University.[2]
For other people with the same name, see John Townsend (disambiguation).
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
John Townsend | |
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Born | (1868-06-07)7 June 1868 Galway, County Galway, Ireland |
Died | 16 February 1957(1957-02-16) (aged 88) Oxford, England |
Citizenship | United Kingdom |
Alma mater | Trinity College, Dublin University of Cambridge |
Known for | Townsend discharge Ramsauer–Townsend effect Townsend (unit) |
Awards | Hughes Medal (1914) Knighthood (1941) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Physicist |
Institutions | University of Oxford |
Academic advisors | J. J. Thomson |
Doctoral students | Victor Albert Bailey Henry Brose Robert Van de Graaff |
Signature | |
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The phenomenon of the electron avalanche was discovered by him, and is known as the Townsend discharge.