Atkinson, Robert D'escourt (1898-1982)

Welsh astronomer and inventor. His research was in the field of atomic synthesis, stellar energy, and positional astronomy. His contributions were fundamental to our basic understanding of how stars such as the Sun work and how they evolve. He was also involved in instrument design.

Atkinson was born in Rhayader, Wales, and educated at Oxford and Göttingen, Germany. After early research at Oxford and Berlin, he moved to the USA, ending his career at Rutgers University, New Jersey.

In 1924 British astrophysicist Arthur Eddington, to explain the radiation from the Sun, suggested a process whereby atoms were broken down inside the central core of a star, converting matter into energy. He was supported in this view by Atkinson, who in 1932 was working at the Royal Greenwich Observatory. In that year physicists had for the first time succeeded in splitting the nucleus of an atom. Atkinson was able to work out a theoretical model of the way in which matter could be annihilated. Not only did he determine the amount of energy released from atomic reactions within stars, but he was also able to suggest the kinds of reactions necessary to produce the vast quantities of radiation required.