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Physicist's Radar Research Revolutionized Displays
15 Oct
Summary
- Developed stable liquid crystals for flat-panel screens.
- Government research paved way for ubiquitous modern displays.
- Invented Gunn diode, impacting radar speed guns.
Cyril Hilsum, a physicist whose groundbreaking work with liquid crystals led to the development of flat-panel displays, has died at the age of 101. His research, initiated in the late 1960s for the Ministry of Defence's Royal Radar Establishment, aimed to create flat screens for radar systems, replacing bulky cathode-ray tubes.
Hilsum identified liquid crystals as the key to this technology and collaborated with George Gray and Peter Raynes. By 1972, they developed a stable liquid crystal mixture that allowed for durable screens. Although initially for military radar, these liquid crystal displays (LCDs) found widespread commercial use.
The Ministry of Defence patented the technology, but Hilsum encouraged its manufacture, ultimately generating over £100 million in royalties from its application in watches, calculators, and later, laptops and phones.
Beyond LCDs, Hilsum's significant contributions include work on semiconductors, infrared lasers crucial for fiber optic telecommunications, and the development of the Gunn diode. This high-frequency oscillator is used in motion detectors and police radar speed guns.
Hilsum also led the development of miniature radar systems, including Claribel, a bullet trajectory detection device used in Northern Ireland. He held the UK's chief scientific officer position for two decades before moving to GEC, where he promoted gender equality in hiring.
Throughout his career, Hilsum received numerous accolades, including the CBE and the Royal Society's Royal Medal. He remained inventive late into life, patenting an electrically conductive ink at age 97. He passed away at 101, survived by his daughter Lindsey and grandson Alexander.
