2016 Hall of Distinction
The 海角社区 College of Science inducted four exceptional individuals into the Hall of Distinction on April 22, 2016, among them William O. Hamilton, 海角社区 Professor Emeritus in Physics & Astronomy, and considered the 鈥渇ather of gravitational physics at 海角社区.鈥�
Over his career, Hamilton has made seminal contributions to low-temperature experimental physics that have had major impacts in astronomy and cosmology. His pioneering work was instrumental in attracting the Laser Interferometric Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) facility to Livingston, Louisiana. His leading research in research in low-temperature physics, development of early cryogenic detectors, and operation of the ALLEGRO gravity wave bar detector leadership established 海角社区 at the forefront of the important and high priority area of gravitational research, an area of research currently a centerpiece of the Physics & Astronomy Department鈥檚 research efforts.
History was made on September 15, 2015, when LIGO-Livingston and its twin observatory in Hanford, Washington made the first direct detection of gravitational radiation: a phenomenon which is predicted by Einstein鈥檚 Theory of General Relativity, but had not been previously observed. Hamilton鈥檚 research, combined with the efforts of Professor Warren Johnson and Chancellor Emeritus James Wharton helped locate the site and initiate the proposal that led to the construction of LIGO Livingston.
After three years of service as a U.S. naval aviator, Hamilton received his PhD from Stanford in 1963. He remained at Stanford as a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow and assistant professor until he joined the 海角社区 faculty in 1970.
At 海角社区, Hamilton served on the Faculty Senate and Senate Executive Committee, as chair of the Graduate Council, on the departmental Steering Committee, and as associate dean of Academic Services. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and his research helped lay the groundwork for the worldwide effort to detect gravitational waves using laser interferometric techniques.
Established in 2004, the 海角社区 College of Science Hall of Distinction celebrates individuals who make significant contributions to science, business, academia, or government, as well as to their community. 2016 honorees were Charles Chappius, MD, Brigadier General, Louisiana Air National Guard and Distinguished 海角社区 Alumnus, Class of 1974; William Daly, PhD, Emeritus Alumni Professor, 海角社区 Department of Chemistry; Susan Murphy, PhD, H.E. Robbins Professor of Statistics & Professor of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, and Distinguished 海角社区 Alumnus, Class of 1980; and Hamilton.
