What is Mark Oliphant birthday?

Mark Oliphant was born at 1901-10-08

When was Mark Oliphant died?

Mark Oliphant was died at 2000-07-14

Where was Mark Oliphant died?

Mark Oliphant was died in Canberra

Which age was Mark Oliphant died?

Mark Oliphant was died at age 98

Where is Mark Oliphant's birth place?

Mark Oliphant was born in Kent Town

What is Mark Oliphant nationalities?

Mark Oliphant's nationalities is Australian

What was Mark Oliphant universities?

Mark Oliphant studied at University of Adelaide, University of Cambridge

Which company or organization was founded by Mark Oliphant?

Mark Oliphant was the founder/co-founder of ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian Academy of Science

How famous is Mark Oliphant?

Mark Oliphant is famouse as Physicist

Mark Oliphant - Physicists, Timeline and Personal Life

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Table of contents

Personal Details
Photo
Overview
Awards
Timeline
FAQ

Australian Scientists Physicists Libra Celebrities

Mark Oliphant's Personal Details

Mark Oliphant was an Australian physicist who played a vital role in the development of nuclear weapons

Information	Detail
Birthday	October 8, 1901
Died on	July 14, 2000
Nationality	Australian
Famous	Scientists, Physicists
Universities	University of Adelaide University of Cambridge
Founder / Co-Founder	ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering Australian Academy of Science
Birth Place	Kent Town
Gender	Male
Sun Sign	Libra
Born in	Kent Town
Famous as	Physicist
Died at Age	98

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Who is Mark Oliphant?

Sir Marcus "Mark" Laurence Elwin Oliphant was an Australian physicist who played a vital role in the development of nuclear weapons. Credited to have discovered the nuclei of helium-3 (helions) and tritium (tritons), he was instrumental in the first experimental demonstration of nuclear fusion that ultimately led to the development of nuclear weapons. A graduate of the University of Adelaide, his first career aspiration was to become a doctor. However, he shifted his focus to physics on the advice of his physics professor. He excelled in the subject and went on to become a specialist in high-energy physics at the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory where he became known for his work on sub-atomic particles. During the World War II, he worked on the Manhattan Project in the U.S. which culminated in the designing and creation of the first atomic bombs. In addition to being a brilliant scientist, he was also a humanitarian who fiercely opposed the usage of the atomic bombs for warfare and was appalled by the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan. He eventually became a founder member of the Pugwash Movement of scientists against nuclear weapons and avoided all research of a military nature.

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Childhood & Early Life

Mark Oliphant was born on 8 October 1901, in Kent Town, Adelaide, Australia, to Harold George "Baron" Oliphant and Beatrice Edith Fanny Oliphant. His father was a civil servant with the South Australian Engineering and Water Supply Department and part-time lecturer in Economics, while his mother was an artist. He had four younger brothers.

A kind hearted boy, he became a vegetarian after witnessing the slaughter of pigs. He was completely deaf in one ear and had to wear glasses for short-sightedness.

He graduated from Adelaide High School and began studying at the University of Adelaide in 1919. Initially he was interested in a medical career but his physics professor Kerr Grant offered him a cadetship in the Physics Department which Oliphant accepted.

He received his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in 1921. Then he completed his honors degree before working with Roy Burdon to publish two papers on the properties of mercury in 1927.

Career

In 1925, Oliphant had heard a speech given by New Zealand physicist, Sir Ernest Rutherford, which greatly inspired him. In order to work with this great scientist, he applied for a position at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge where he was accepted in 1927.

At the laboratory, he worked with other brilliant scientists like John Cockcroft, Ernest Walton, James Chadwick; and Patrick Blackett. He also enjoyed a close relationship with his mentor, Rutherford, and together they worked on heavy hydrogen reactions.

The 1930s was a highly productive time at the Cavendish laboratory. Oliphant constructed a particle accelerator that could fire protons with up to 600,000 electronvolts of energy. He also produced several important papers.

In collaboration with Rutherford and others, Oliphant discovered the nuclei of Helium-3 (helions) and tritium (tritons). He soon became the first to experimentally demonstrate nuclear fusion which eventually led to the development of the hydrogen bomb.

In 1937, Oliphant was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and also took up the Poynting Chair of Physics at Birmingham University. He became involved with the development of radar the next year and successfully led his team in developing the cavity magnetron used in advanced microwave radar.

During the height of the World War II, he travelled to the U.S. to work on the Manhattan Project in 1943. The project was a joint undertaking that worked to build the first atomic bombs. A humanitarian at heart, he did not expect the bombs to be used for destructive purposes and was shocked by the bombing of Japan in 1945.

Following the bombing he became a harsh critic of nuclear weapons, and eventually became a member of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, an international organization that works toward reducing the danger of armed conflict.

He returned to Australia after the war. The Prime Minister, Ben Chifley, asked him to be a technical advisor to the Australian delegation to the newly formed United Nations Atomic Energy Commission (UNAEC). He accepted this position in 1946.

In 1950, he became the first Director of the Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering at the Australian National University. He created a Department of Particle Physics within the university which he headed himself. He also created a Department of Nuclear Physics and a Department of Theoretical Physics among others.

In 1954, he, along with several other distinguished Australians, founded the Australian Academy of Science and served as its first president. It was founded with the objective of promoting science and science education through a range of activities. The Academy also runs the 22 National Committees for Science.

He retired from his academic career in the 1960s and served as the governor of South Australia from 1971 to 1976.

Major Works

Mark Oliphant accomplished the first laboratory fusion of hydrogen isotopes in 1932. He also participated in further research on nuclear fusion for military purposes as part of the Manhattan Project following which the first atomic bombs were designed and built.

He played a pivotal role in the development of radar. He headed a group of scientists which included John Randall and Harry Boot to create a radical new design, the cavity magnetron that led to the invention of microwave radar.

Awards & Achievements

Mark Oliphant was awarded the Hughes Medal in 1943 "for his distinguished work in nuclear physics and mastery of methods of generating and applying high potentials."

Mark Oliphant was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1959.

He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1977 "for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in the field of public service and in service to the crown".

Personal Life & Legacy

Mark Oliphant married Rosa Louise Wilbraham, a girl he had known since teenage, in 1925. They had one biological son who died as a child, and two adopted children.

He lived a long life and died on 14 July 2000, at the age of 98.

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Mark Oliphant's awards

Year	Name	Award
Other
0	1943 - Hughes Medal
0	1948 - Faraday Medal

Mark Oliphant biography timelines

// 8th Oct 1901
Mark Oliphant was born on 8 October 1901, in Kent Town, Adelaide, Australia, to Harold George "Baron" Oliphant and Beatrice Edith Fanny Oliphant. His father was a civil servant with the South Australian Engineering and Water Supply Department and part-time lecturer in Economics, while his mother was an artist. He had four younger brothers.
// 1919
He graduated from Adelaide High School and began studying at the University of Adelaide in 1919. Initially he was interested in a medical career but his physics professor Kerr Grant offered him a cadetship in the Physics Department which Oliphant accepted.
// 1921 To 1927
He received his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in 1921. Then he completed his honors degree before working with Roy Burdon to publish two papers on the properties of mercury in 1927.
// 1925 To 1927
In 1925, Oliphant had heard a speech given by New Zealand physicist, Sir Ernest Rutherford, which greatly inspired him. In order to work with this great scientist, he applied for a position at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge where he was accepted in 1927.
// 1925
Mark Oliphant married Rosa Louise Wilbraham, a girl he had known since teenage, in 1925. They had one biological son who died as a child, and two adopted children.
// 1932
Mark Oliphant accomplished the first laboratory fusion of hydrogen isotopes in 1932. He also participated in further research on nuclear fusion for military purposes as part of the Manhattan Project following which the first atomic bombs were designed and built.
// 1937
In 1937, Oliphant was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and also took up the Poynting Chair of Physics at Birmingham University. He became involved with the development of radar the next year and successfully led his team in developing the cavity magnetron used in advanced microwave radar.
// 1943 To 1945
During the height of the World War II, he travelled to the U.S. to work on the Manhattan Project in 1943. The project was a joint undertaking that worked to build the first atomic bombs. A humanitarian at heart, he did not expect the bombs to be used for destructive purposes and was shocked by the bombing of Japan in 1945.
// 1943
Mark Oliphant was awarded the Hughes Medal in 1943 "for his distinguished work in nuclear physics and mastery of methods of generating and applying high potentials."
// 1946
He returned to Australia after the war. The Prime Minister, Ben Chifley, asked him to be a technical advisor to the Australian delegation to the newly formed United Nations Atomic Energy Commission (UNAEC). He accepted this position in 1946.
// 1950
In 1950, he became the first Director of the Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering at the Australian National University. He created a Department of Particle Physics within the university which he headed himself. He also created a Department of Nuclear Physics and a Department of Theoretical Physics among others.
// 1954
In 1954, he, along with several other distinguished Australians, founded the Australian Academy of Science and served as its first president. It was founded with the objective of promoting science and science education through a range of activities. The Academy also runs the 22 National Committees for Science.
// 1959
Mark Oliphant was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1959.
// 1971 To 1976
He retired from his academic career in the 1960s and served as the governor of South Australia from 1971 to 1976.
// 1977
He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1977 "for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in the field of public service and in service to the crown".
// 14th Jul 2000
He lived a long life and died on 14 July 2000, at the age of 98.

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Mark Oliphant's FAQ

What is Mark Oliphant birthday?
Mark Oliphant was born at 1901-10-08
When was Mark Oliphant died?
Mark Oliphant was died at 2000-07-14
Where was Mark Oliphant died?
Mark Oliphant was died in Canberra
Which age was Mark Oliphant died?
Mark Oliphant was died at age 98
Where is Mark Oliphant's birth place?
Mark Oliphant was born in Kent Town
What is Mark Oliphant nationalities?
Mark Oliphant's nationalities is Australian
What was Mark Oliphant universities?
Mark Oliphant studied at University of Adelaide, University of Cambridge
Which company or organization was founded by Mark Oliphant?
Mark Oliphant was the founder/co-founder of ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian Academy of Science
What is Mark Oliphant's sun sign?
Mark Oliphant is Libra
How famous is Mark Oliphant?
Mark Oliphant is famouse as Physicist