Daniel Joseph Bradley
Encyclopedia
Daniel Joseph Bradley FRS, (18 January 1928 – 7 February 2010) was an Irish
physicist
, and Emeritus Professor of Optical Electronics, at Trinity College, Dublin
.
He won many awards including the Royal Irish Academy
's Cunningham Medal (2001) and the Royal Society
's Royal Medal
in 1983.
. He left school to work as a telegraph boy but returned to education at St Columb's College. Having trained as a teacher at St Mary’s College
, Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, he qualified in 1947.
While teaching in a primary school in Derry he studied for a degree in mathematics as an external student of the University of London
, and was awarded a degree in 1953.
Moving to London where he taught mathematics in a grammar school, he decided to register for an evening course at Birkbeck College. His first choice was mathematics but as he already had a degree in the subject the admissions staff suggested that he should study physics, which they said was “a bit like mathematics”.
In 1957, after four years of part-time study, he was awarded a BSc in physics by Birkbeck, achieving the highest marks in his final exams in the University of London overall.
, and his work on the development of ultra-fast pulsed lasers added a new and vitally important element to the capabilities of this new type of light source. In particular, working on dye-lasers, he produced pulses of light as short as one picosecond – one picosecond is to a second as a second is to 31,800 years – and his work paved the way for the completely new field of non-linear optical interactions. In addition, he inspired a new generation of laser scientists in Ireland and the UK, many of whom are international leaders in their fields.
He next joined Royal Holloway College as an assistant lecturer and simultaneously enrolled as a PhD student, working on Fabry-Perot etalon-based high-resolution spectroscopy under the supervision of Professor Sam Tolansky, and received a PhD in 1961.
Appointed to a lectureship in the physics department at Imperial College, he set up a research programme in UV solar spectroscopy using rocket technology to reach high altitudes.
In 1963 he began work in laser physics but returned to Royal Holloway College as a reader one year later. In 1966 he was appointed professor and head of department at Queen’s University, Belfast.
There he quickly established a space research group of international standing to do high-resolution solar spectroscopy. He attracted significant funding from a variety of agencies, allowing him to build his department into one of the world’s leading laser research centres, involving a total of 65 scientists.
However, he left Belfast because of fears for his family’s safety as political violence escalated in the early 1970s.
He returned in 1973 to Imperial College to a chair in laser physics, and headed a group in optical physics, laser physics and space optics. But he was frustrated by cutbacks and a rule governing the ratio of senior to junior positions, one consequence of which was that he was unable to maintain a long-established chair in optical design.
He was also critical of the college administration’s handling of some departmental grant applications. He resigned in 1980 and moved to Dublin.
Among his many lasting contributions to laser research in the UK was the setting up of one of the world’s leading research facilities for laser research, the Central Laser Facility at the Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory.
Arriving at Trinity College, Dublin
, he decided the time was ripe to move on from laser research and development into laser applications. In 1982, with Dr John Kelly, a chemist, and Dr David McConnell, a geneticist, he formed a team which won funding for a project using laser techniques to explore the structure of organic molecules like DNA and proteins.
Unfortunately, however, his work at Trinity was cut short by ill health and he retired in 1984. But his research on semiconductor lasers was carried on, and this work on developing widely tuneable lasers for optical communications systems continues.
In the course of a relatively short academic career he supervised over 60 PhD students, one of whom described his former mentor as an “inspiration” and a “great role-model for any researcher”.
A member of the Royal Irish Academy, he was Fellow Emeritus of TCD, and held fellowships of the Royal Society, Optical Society of America
and Institute of Physics
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
physicist
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, and Emeritus Professor of Optical Electronics, at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
.
He won many awards including the Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
's Cunningham Medal (2001) and the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
's Royal Medal
Royal Medal
The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
in 1983.
Early life and education
Born on 18 January 1928, he was one of four surviving children of John and Margaret Bradley, Lecky Road, DerryDerry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
. He left school to work as a telegraph boy but returned to education at St Columb's College. Having trained as a teacher at St Mary’s College
St. Mary's University College (Belfast)
St Mary's University College was established in 1985, but can directly trace its existence to 1900 and the foundation of St Mary's Training College, which focused mainly on the training of women as teachers...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, he qualified in 1947.
While teaching in a primary school in Derry he studied for a degree in mathematics as an external student of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and was awarded a degree in 1953.
Moving to London where he taught mathematics in a grammar school, he decided to register for an evening course at Birkbeck College. His first choice was mathematics but as he already had a degree in the subject the admissions staff suggested that he should study physics, which they said was “a bit like mathematics”.
In 1957, after four years of part-time study, he was awarded a BSc in physics by Birkbeck, achieving the highest marks in his final exams in the University of London overall.
Career
Bradley was a pioneer of laser physicsLaser Physics
Laser Physics is an international scientific journal published by Nauka/Interperiodica. It is distributed through the Springer.-Topics covered:The journal specializes in laser physics, but also publishes papers about:...
, and his work on the development of ultra-fast pulsed lasers added a new and vitally important element to the capabilities of this new type of light source. In particular, working on dye-lasers, he produced pulses of light as short as one picosecond – one picosecond is to a second as a second is to 31,800 years – and his work paved the way for the completely new field of non-linear optical interactions. In addition, he inspired a new generation of laser scientists in Ireland and the UK, many of whom are international leaders in their fields.
He next joined Royal Holloway College as an assistant lecturer and simultaneously enrolled as a PhD student, working on Fabry-Perot etalon-based high-resolution spectroscopy under the supervision of Professor Sam Tolansky, and received a PhD in 1961.
Appointed to a lectureship in the physics department at Imperial College, he set up a research programme in UV solar spectroscopy using rocket technology to reach high altitudes.
In 1963 he began work in laser physics but returned to Royal Holloway College as a reader one year later. In 1966 he was appointed professor and head of department at Queen’s University, Belfast.
There he quickly established a space research group of international standing to do high-resolution solar spectroscopy. He attracted significant funding from a variety of agencies, allowing him to build his department into one of the world’s leading laser research centres, involving a total of 65 scientists.
However, he left Belfast because of fears for his family’s safety as political violence escalated in the early 1970s.
He returned in 1973 to Imperial College to a chair in laser physics, and headed a group in optical physics, laser physics and space optics. But he was frustrated by cutbacks and a rule governing the ratio of senior to junior positions, one consequence of which was that he was unable to maintain a long-established chair in optical design.
He was also critical of the college administration’s handling of some departmental grant applications. He resigned in 1980 and moved to Dublin.
Among his many lasting contributions to laser research in the UK was the setting up of one of the world’s leading research facilities for laser research, the Central Laser Facility at the Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory.
Arriving at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, he decided the time was ripe to move on from laser research and development into laser applications. In 1982, with Dr John Kelly, a chemist, and Dr David McConnell, a geneticist, he formed a team which won funding for a project using laser techniques to explore the structure of organic molecules like DNA and proteins.
Unfortunately, however, his work at Trinity was cut short by ill health and he retired in 1984. But his research on semiconductor lasers was carried on, and this work on developing widely tuneable lasers for optical communications systems continues.
In the course of a relatively short academic career he supervised over 60 PhD students, one of whom described his former mentor as an “inspiration” and a “great role-model for any researcher”.
A member of the Royal Irish Academy, he was Fellow Emeritus of TCD, and held fellowships of the Royal Society, Optical Society of America
Optical Society of America
The Optical Society is a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light—optics and photonics—in theory and application, by means of publishing, organizing conferences and exhibitions, partnership with industry, and education. The organization has members in more than 100 countries...
and Institute of Physics
Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics is a scientific charity devoted to increasing the practice, understanding and application of physics. It has a worldwide membership of around 40,000....
.
Awards
- Institute of Physics Young Medal and Prize (1975)
- Royal Society Royal Medal (1982)
- Optical Society of America Charles Hard Townes Medal (1989)
- Royal Irish Academy Cunningham Medal (2001)
- Honorary degrees from the University of UlsterUniversity of UlsterThe University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
(1983) and Queen's University Belfast (1986).