John Randolph Winckler (October 27, 1916 – February 6, 2001) was an American experimental physicist notable for his discovery of sprites in 1989[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] and other discoveries in the fields of solar, magnetospheric, auroral, and atmospheric physics.

First color image of a sprite, taken from an aircraft.

[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17][excessive citations] He was also notable for designing new methods and apparatus to collect scientific data from high altitude flying objects such as balloons, rockets, and spacecraft.[6] This data collection led Winckler and his staff to major discoveries, such as: discovering that high-energy electrons accompany auroras.[6] Winckler was an advisor to NASA,[14] and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.[6]

Notable awards and distinctions

edit

Chronology

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Star Tribune:Obituary: John Winckler, 84, physicist;by: Kavita Kumar; February 8
  2. ^ Invisible Lights in the Sky;David Schneider
  3. ^ Penn State Online:Electric Moments;By Charles Fergus
  4. ^ Sprites, Blue Jets, Elves and Superbolts Archived 2012-01-09 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ physicists explain thunderstorm sprites[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m National Academy of Sciences:Biographical Memoirs;V.81;JOHN RANDOLPH WINCKLER;BY KINSEY A. ANDERSON
  7. ^ a b c d "Array of Contemporary physicists:John Winckler". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
  8. ^ a b New York Times:8 GET PRINCETON DEGREES; Ph.D. Awarded to 3 Graduate Students;John Randolph Winckler;April 19, 1946
  9. ^ New York Times:HEAVY PARTICLES FROM SUN CAUGHT; Balloons and Rockets Trap Elements Close to Earth;These developments were described today to a news conference at the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. John R. Winckler of the University of Minnesota.April 21, 1961
  10. ^ New York Times:SCIENCE WATCH; Rare Lightning;July 17, 1990;Scientists from the University of Minnesota say they have made the first image of an uncommon form of lightning flashing between cloud tops and the clear air above
  11. ^ New York Times:Balloon With Cosmic Ray Gear From Midwest Found in Atlantic;November 3, 1961
  12. ^ New York Times:POLAR BALLOONS TO STUDY SPACE; Cosmic Rays and Northern Lights to Be Observed 5,000-Mile Circle Heat Radiation Test;December 11, 1963
  13. ^ New York Times:PIONEER PIERCED MAGNETIC CLOUD; Particles Hit Earth 4 to 8 Hours Later -- Other Data Confirm Electric Ring;By WALTER SULLIVAN;March 23, 1960,
  14. ^ a b New York Times:25 ADVISERS NAMED FOR SPACE AGENCY; The National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced today the appointment of twenty-five scientists as consultants in five fields of space science;September 4, 1960
  15. ^ New York Times:Pioneer V Challenges Theory On Causes of Magnetic Storms; Pioneer V Casts Doubts on Magnetic Storm Theory;By WALTER SULLIVAN;April 30, 1960,
  16. ^ New York Times:New Class of Lightning Found High Above Clouds;January 17, 1995;Page 3 of 5;Dr. John R. Winckler, a retired physicist at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, was helping a colleague try out a new low-light video camera on a clear summer night
  17. ^ SCIENCE NEW STUDY OF SUN; Changes in Atmosphere During Low Solar Activity to Be Examined;By WALTER SULLIVAN;January 05, 1964,
  18. ^ "APS Fellow Archive". American Physical Society. (search on year=1953 and institution=University of Minnesota)