Robert Woodhouse Crompton (1926-)
Papers 1949-1987
MSS 0223
Biographical Note
Robert Crompton was born in Adelaide on 9 June 1926 and educated at the University of Adelaide (BSc (hons) 1949, PhD 1954). He was appointed Lecturer in Physics at the University of Adelaide 1950-58 and senior lecturer 1959-60.
From 1966-67 he served as senior fellow at the Research School of Physical Sciences, Australian National University, where he was responsible for the establishment and running of the Electron and Ion Diffusion Unit from 1961-65, and was Head from 1966-87. Crompton was appointed professorial fellow 1977-89, and also Head of the Atomic and Molecular Physics Laboratories at the Australian National University 1983-1991, professor 1989-91, and Emeritus Professor and Visiting Fellow, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, from 1992. His research was in the area of electron swarm physics.
He was appointed a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 1979, Chair of the Australian Journals of Scientific Research Board 1982-87, and President, Australian Institute of Physics 1993-95.
Crompton was appointed Member of the Order of Australia in 1999 for service to science.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Australian Science.
These papers were transferred from University Collections in April 2019.
Contents Listing
20 cm
1. Publications
Thesis (PhD)
‘A Study of the collisions between slow electrons and gas molecules.’ The University of Adelaide, 1953. 163 p.
Article: “Experimental Investigation of the Diffusion of Slow Electrons in Nitrogen and Hydrogen” Proceedings of the Royal Society vol. 215 (1952), p. 467-80.
Crompton’s collected papers have been separately catalogued for the University Collection.
2. Other
General reference for Crompton by R.S. Burdon, Reader in Physics, 20/12/1949.
Testimonial for Crompton to support his application for lecturer in Physics Dept, by L.G.H. Huxley, Professor of Physics, 1949.
Article: “Professor Bob Crompton: First Rate Physicist”: Profile by Liz Tynan, from ‘ANU Reporter’, 2/10/1966, p. 9.
Telegram announcing Crompton’s election as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, 1979.
Letter from Susan Ingham 29/11/1987, on Crompton’s retirement from Australian Journals of Scientific Research Board.
Crompton’s business card from ANU Research School of Physical Sciences.
Cheryl Hoskin
May 2019
