Evan James Williams: Atomic Physicist

By Rowland Wynne

This book presents the life and work of Professor Evan James Williams, described as one of Wales’s most eminent scientists. Williams played a prominent part in the early twentieth-century revolution in physics with the emergence of quantum science, and was an able experimentalist and accomplished theoretician who made notable contributions in atomic physics and the discovery of a new elementary particle. From humble beginnings in rural Cardiganshire, his stellar career is charted in this book as he climbed the academic ladder at a number of universities, culminating in his appointment as Professor of Physics at Aberystwyth, and election to a Fellowship of the Royal Society. During the Second World War, Williams was instrumental in applying Operational Research to thwart the threat of German submarines in the Atlantic; his career was cut short, however, by his early death in 1945.

• Language: English
• Publisher: University of Wales Press
• Release date: Jun 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781786835734

Book preview

PREFACE

Like many others, I have fond memories of my time studying physics at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, at the beginning of the 1960s. This is not surprising, bearing in mind the vibrancy of student life. But in addition to ‘extra-curricular’ activities, memories remain of a number of lectures and laboratory sessions. Among them, I remember a lecture given by Morrice Job – on atomic physics, I believe – in which he drew our attention to one of the previous heads of department who had been seconded on government service during the Second World War, but who had died tragically before he would return to Aberystwyth. His name was Evan James Williams, and the lecturer’s pride in his brilliance was evident. I imagine that this is what impressed me. Every one of those present received copies of two reprints describing Williams’s pioneering work at Aberystwyth; the copies I was given then remain in my possession.

Over the years, I came across Williams’s name from time to time. Shortly after leaving Aberystwyth, I read an article on Williams by Idris Jones in one of the early numbers of Y Gwyddonydd. Some time later, I obtained a second-hand copy of a book edited by J. Tysul Jones comprising a series of articles and tributes marking twenty-five years since Williams’s death. Reading the book deepened my awareness of, and respect for, him. Then, in 1995, fifty years after his death, I learnt that the Institute of Physics had placed a plaque on the house where Williams had grown up in Cwmsychbant, Cardiganshire, marking his birthplace and the role he played in the development of physics in the twentieth century.

A few years ago, whilst on holiday in Copenhagen, a friend and I took the opportunity to visit the Niels Bohr Archive, which houses documents including correspondence related to the world-renowned physicist after whom it is named. The archive is located in the Niels Bohr Institutet, the University of Copenhagen’s physics department, and it was a pleasant surprise to see a photograph of Williams on one of the archive walls. The photograph recorded the year spent by Williams working with Bohr at the Institutet in Copenhagen, and we also read the correspondence between Bohr and Williams (more than fifty letters) held in the archive. The visit led to the preparation of an article outlining the relationship between Bohr and three scientists from Wales, with Williams being one of the three. Whilst preparing the article, I came across a book by Goronwy Evans about Williams and his family, in which there is a picture of a seminar held at the Institutet (known prior to Bohr’s death as Universitetets Institut for teoretisk Fysik), with Williams sitting in amongst some of the foremost physicists of the time.

Williams was a name, therefore, that recurred over the years. There was also a family link in that I am distantly related to William Lewis, headmaster at Llandysul County School during the time Williams was a pupil, and who was an important influence in guiding the boy towards mathematics and physics. For me, there was also a certain poignancy in relating that had Williams not died prematurely, and had he stayed at Aberystwyth, it is more than likely that I would have attended his lectures.

When I was invited to prepare Williams’s biography, I had little idea where the journey would take me, and there was some concern as to whether I would be able to find sufficient material for the book. Slowly, however, pursuing numerous trails, doors began to open and new information gradually emerged. Nevertheless, evidence pertaining to certain periods in Williams’s life remains sparse; this is particularly true of aspects of his personal life and, accordingly, there are gaps that remain unfilled.

Williams’s career was influenced not only by the revolution in physics at the beginning of the twentieth century, but also by the conflicts of that century – this is not surprising, given the prominent role played by German physicists in that revolution. As many of them were German Jews, the spread of fascism during the 1930s cast a deep shadow. Later, the role of scientists on both sides of the conflict was crucial during the Second World War, and the biography attempts to reflect this.

The following is a brief summary of the contents.

Chapter 1 outlines Williams’s rural upbringing and his time at school before becoming a student at the newly established University College Swansea. Here his interest in physics blossomed and the opportunity to undertake research gave him a taste for the challenges and rewards involved.

Placing Williams’s achievements in context, Chapter 2 turns to the revolution in physics that occurred during the first decades of the twentieth century. This revolution stemmed from the development of quantum physics that formed a backdrop to Williams’s career. The chapter concentrates on the basic concepts of the new physics and also introduces some of the most prominent scientists with whom Williams corresponded and subsequently worked.

Chapters 3, 4 and 5 return to Williams’s life and work. Chapter 3 describes the completion of his apprenticeship at the universities of Manchester and Cambridge, and his emergence as an atomic physicist. As a consequence, he was awarded three doctorates and was appointed to his first post as lecturer in the Department of Physics at the University of Manchester. Chapter 4 describes the year Williams spent on sabbatical leave at the University of Copenhagen, after gaining a Rockefeller fellowship that allowed him to work with Niels Bohr. This period proved to be crucial in his development as a physicist of note, and also gave him the opportunity to meet and get to know some of the most distinguished physicists of the time.

Chapter 5 charts his return to Manchester, where he continued to gain prominence. Williams was appointed to a senior post in the Department of Physics at the University of Liverpool, and subsequently to the Chair of Physics and Head of the Department of Physics at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. Recognition of his standing amongst British scientists came with his election to a fellowship of the Royal Society. In addition, he played a prominent part in the discovery of a new fundamental particle.

Williams’s world changed with the onset of the Second World War, and this is the subject of Chapter 6. He was invited to join the campaign to withstand and overcome the threat of German submarines in the Atlantic, and this was to be his responsibility throughout the war. It is generally accepted that Williams played a crucial role in the success of that campaign.

With the end of the Second World War, Williams and fellow physicists could look forward to a flourishing future as governments recognised the role of physics in developing new weapons. But, as outlined in Chapter 7, he soon became seriously ill and, unable to resume his duties at Aberystwyth, he died at the early age of 42. Chapter 8 brings the story to a close, and provides an overview of Williams’s life as a scientist and as an individual.

Naturally, aspects of physics discussed during the course of the book are likely to be challenging for many readers; this is particularly true of Chapter 2. Nevertheless, this need not be an obstacle since it should be possible to follow the flow of the narrative without having to wrestle with unfamiliar concepts. The reader is urged to do this where necessary.

In collecting material, the contents of the biographies of eminent scientists proved beneficial. Even where there were no direct references to Williams, they provided descriptions of events, locations and the careers of those scientists, all of which influenced his career. I have also taken the opportunity to refer where relevant to other scientists from Wales. Information about the publications that were of particular assistance is listed in the Bibliography at the end of the book.

It is a pleasure to record the help and willing assistance that I received during my researches. In particular, I would like to thank Julie Archer, records manager, Hugh Owen Library, Aberystwyth University (where Williams’s archive is located); Susan Thomas, Richard Burton Archives, Swansea University; and Finn Aaserud and Felicity Pors, Niels Bohr Archive, Copenhagen. I would also like to thank the archivists and administrators at the following institutions: Cardiff University; the University of Cambridge and Gonville and Caius College, Queens’ College and Trinity College; University of Wales Trinity Saint David; the University of Liverpool; the University of Manchester; University of Wales Registry; the Science Museum Library in London (where some of the material held in the Niels Bohr Archive may be viewed); the Royal Society (where Patrick Blackett’s papers are held); the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851; the Royal Institution; BBC Archive Service; and Cardiganshire County Council.

I received a courteous and efficient service from a number of libraries, including those of Swansea University, Cardiff University, the National Library of Wales and the British Library. I am particularly grateful to John Tucker at Swansea University, who arranged for me to become a member of the university library, thus providing me with the means to access journals on-line.

Clearly, Goronwy Evans’s and Tysul Jones’s books provided an obvious starting point for my researches. Goronwy was born in Cwmsychbant, and with his childhood recollection of Williams he has been a tireless advocate for keeping his memory alive. Goronwy was particularly obliging in sharing with me the material he holds, and for shining light on a number of areas. It is a matter of considerable pleasure to record my debt to him.

Several other persons were happy to give of their time. In particular, I should like to thank John Dyke, Andrew Evans, Keith Evans, David Falla, Gareth Griffith, Alan Amphlett Lewis, Robin Marshall, Rhys Morris, Patricia Thomas and Geraint Vaughan for their assistance and advice. I should also like to thank the staff at the University of Wales Press for bringing the book to publication.

The chair of the editorial panel of the Scientists of Wales series, Gareth Ffowc Roberts, first drew my attention to the possibility of preparing a biography of Evan James Williams and encouraged me to undertake the task. Being rather hesitant about the responsibility, he willingly elaborated on what the press required and the implications for the author. In this way, he calmed many of my fears. I have appreciated his support and advice throughout, and also the opportunity he and his co-panellists Iwan Morus and John Tucker gave me to prepare the biography.

Naturally I accept responsibility for any factual errors or errors of interpretation.

Finally, I should like to record my gratitude to my wife, Marian, for her patience, encouragement and the invaluable assistance she provided throughout the enterprise. Her support was undoubtedly crucial.

Rowland Wynne

June 2017

The book was first published in Welsh. The editorial panel and the press subsequently decided to adapt the original into English. This task was undertaken by me in conjunction with the author. In so doing, the opportunity was taken to incorporate a number of minor revisions, as well as to include a list of Williams’s research publications at the end of the book.

Gareth Ffowc Roberts, Series Editor

July 2019

1

‘I HAVE A DREAM’

Cwmsychbant is a small village on the main A475 road between the market towns of Lampeter and Newcastle Emlyn, in the county of Ceredigion in rural west Wales (see map ). Its name in Welsh succinctly describes its location in a hollow through which flow neither rivers nor brooks, although various wells and springs are dotted around. The village has no inn, there is no school, and its small shop has long since closed. Its only public building is the village chapel – Capel y Cwm (‘the valley chapel’) – belonging to the Unitarians. Cwmsychbant lies in the heart of a part of Ceredigion that forms a stronghold for Unitarianism in Wales.

Other than the chapel and its adjoining cemetery, the passing traveller’s attention is unlikely to be drawn to any other landmark. However, an observant traveller may well spot a plaque set high up on the gable end of a house opposite the chapel, commemorating the physicist Evan James Williams.

It is in this house, Brynawel, that the story told in this book both starts and ends. It is a story that involves the most important scientific developments of the twentieth century, from the discovery of the smallest particles of which we are aware to the exploration of cosmic phenomena. It also leads us from Cwmsychbant to Moscow in one direction, and to California in another. Of even greater importance is that this is a story of a man of extraordinary ability, widely regarded as one of the most talented scientists that Wales has ever seen. He was also a man who took great pride in his Welsh upbringing and his roots in rural Ceredigion.

The Brynawel family

Evan James Williams was born on 8 June 1903, the youngest of the three sons of James and Elizabeth (Bes) Williams. While James Williams was a native of the parish of Llanwenog, which includes Cwmsychbant, Elizabeth Lloyd had her roots in the village of Llanfihangel-ar-arth in the nearby parish of Llandysul (see map). Following the death of her father two weeks before she was born, her family moved to her grandparents’ home in Cwmsychbant and, as a result, both she and James attended the same primary school in Llanwenog. They came to know each other both through the school and their home village, and got married in their early twenties. Their eldest son, David, was born in 1894 and their other son, John, in 1897.

In his book on the Williams family, Goronwy Evans describes James Williams as a man of stature in the community, a strong character not shy of expressing his opinion. Elizabeth Williams is described as a kindly woman full of energy and animation, the focal point of the home, around whom there was always much humour and laughter. Evan James remembered his father as a serious man and faithful chapel-goer, and that their lively discussions on religious matters could sometimes rile his father. His mother was less pedantic in her religious views, and more tolerant than her husband.

The father was a stonemason by trade and it was he, with the help of his brother-in-law, who built Brynawel. He had the misfortune of injuring his knee at work, an injury that grew progressively worse to the extent that he eventually had to have part of his leg amputated, relying on the use of an artificial leg for the rest of his life. This, however, failed to deter him from walking two miles with the family every Sunday morning to the Congregational chapel in Brynteg, where he served as both a deacon and the treasurer. On Sunday evenings, the family attended Capel y Cwm across the road from their home. Daily Bible readings at home reinforce the impression of a family in whose life religion played a central part.

It appears that James Williams’s elder brother showed an interest in mathematics; he became a teacher in the subject, and found the opportunity to do just that at his old school in Llanwenog – a possible portent of the talents of his nephews.

According to D. Jacob Davies, a minister in Cwmsychbant’s Unitarian chapel during the 1950s, Elizabeth Williams’s lineage included a number of prominent Unitarian ministers, as well as the world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. She enjoyed reading any book that came to hand, and devoured the daily newspapers. As a result, a dictionary was one of the three books that were central to life in the home, the other two being the Bible and a popular nineteenth-century volume by David Watkin Jones (whose bardic name was Dafydd Morgannwg) setting out the rules governing the use of strict metre in Welsh poetry.

James Williams delighted in composing poems, and a chapter in Goronwy Evans’s book is devoted to discussing his work. He was an enthusiastic competitor at local eisteddfodau, particularly for the best englyn (a four-line strict-metre poem), and frequently won first prize for his efforts. He was equally successful with his entries in competitions for the best lyric poem.

Within the Welsh tradition, James Williams’s poetic prowess was often in demand to celebrate local events, and Goronwy Evans notes in particular that he had composed over a hundred poems that were used at concerts to greet soldiers returning home from military duties.

The poems provide an insight into the way of life of a Welsh rural community at that time – a community, despite being materially poor, that was culturally rich and where the Welsh language was the lingua franca. As Goronwy Evans suggests, the poems also illuminate life at Brynawel and the atmosphere in which the three sons were raised and the expectation that, as Welsh speakers, they would grow up to respect their language and culture.

Evan James Williams later recalled that his father believed strongly in the importance of education, even should that require sacrifice, and Goronwy Evans recalls hearing the mother advising families in the area to provide books for their children so as to instil in them a desire for reading and a passion for education. The sentiment is encapsulated in a sampler that she worked as an 18-year-old, a colourful composition with a peacock at the centre surrounded by flowers and other birds, and the message Gwell Dysg na Golud (‘Better Education than Riches’) stitched underneath – the perfect title for Goronwy Evans’s book.

1 Sampler by Elizabeth Williams, E. J. Williams’s mother

(with the kind permission of the Department of Physics, Aberystwyth University)

Following their parents, the three brothers also attended the primary school at nearby Llanwenog. David – Dai to his brothers and friends – was the first, and he went on in due course to continue his education at Llandysul County School. After matriculating at fifteen years old, David left Llandysul to return as a pupil teacher at his old school in Llanwenog. He was there for two years, spending his evenings studying to sit entrance examinations for the civil service. His success in those examinations led to him being appointed to a post with the South Shields Customs and Excise office. The work bored him and, in 1914, he decided to join the army and was posted to fight in northern France. He married that same year and, at the end of the war, the family moved to Aberystwyth. A year later, David was admitted to study engineering at the