George Keith Batchelor. 8 March 1920 – 30 March 2000

George Batchelor was a pioneering figure in two branches of fluid dynamics: turbulence, in which he became a world leader over the 15 years from 1945 to 1960; and suspension mechanics (or ‘microhydrodynamics’), which developed under his initial impetus and continuing guidance throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He also exerted great influence in establishing a universally admired standard of publication in fluid dynamics through his role as founder Editor of the Journal of Fluid Mechanics , the leading journal of the subject, which he edited continuously over four decades. His famous textbook, An introduction to fluid dynamics , first published in 1967, showed the hand of a great master of the subject. Together with D. Küchemann, F.R.S., he established in 1964 the European Mechanics Committee (forerunner of the present European Society for Mechanics), which over the 24-year period of his chairmanship supervised the organization of no fewer than 230 European Mechanics Colloquia spanning the whole field of fluid and solid mechanics; while within Cambridge, where he was a Fellow of Trinity College and successively Lecturer, Reader and Professor of Applied Mathematics, he was an extraordinarily effective Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics from its foundation in 1959 until his retirement in 1983.

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GEORGE KEITH BATCHELOR 8 March 1920–30 March 2000 Founding Editor, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1956

Journal of Fluid Mechanics ◽

10.1017/s0022112000001968 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 421 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

HERBERT E. HUPPERT

Keyword(s):

Fluid Mechanics ◽

International Organizations ◽

Solid Mechanics ◽

Applied Mathematics ◽

Fluid Flows ◽

Theoretical Physics ◽

Founding Editor ◽

Number Of Factors ◽

Quantitative Understanding ◽

The Subject

George Batchelor was one of the giants of fluid mechanics in the second half of the twentieth century. He had a passion for physical and quantitative understanding of fluid flows and a single-minded determination that fluid mechanics should be pursued as a subject in its own right. He once wrote that he ‘spent a lifetime happily within its boundaries’. Six feet tall, thin and youthful in appearance, George's unchanging attire and demeanour contrasted with his ever-evolving scientific insights and contributions. His strongly held and carefully articulated opinions, coupled with his forthright objectivity, shone through everything he undertook.George's pervasive influence sprang from a number of factors. First, he conducted imaginative, ground-breaking research, which was always based on clear physical thinking. Second, he founded a school of fluid mechanics, inspired by his mentor G. I. Taylor, that became part of the world renowned Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) of which he was the Head from its inception in 1959 until he retired from his Professorship in 1983. Third, he established this Journal in 1956 and actively oversaw all its activities for more than forty years, until he relinquished his editorship at the end of 1998. Fourth, he wrote the monumental textbook An Introduction to Fluid Dynamics, which first appeared in 1967, has been translated into four languages and has been relaunched this year, the year of his death. This book, which describes the fundamentals of the subject and discusses many applications, has been closely studied and frequently cited by generations of students and research workers. It has already sold over 45 000 copies. And fifth, but not finally, he helped initiate a number of international organizations (often European), such as the European Mechanics Committee (now Society) and the biennial Polish Fluid Mechanics Meetings, and contributed extensively to the running of IUTAM, the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. The aim of all of these associations is to foster fluid (and to some extent solid) mechanics and to encourage the development of the subject.

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Linden, Prof. Paul Frederick, (born 29 Jan. 1947), G. I. Taylor Professor of Fluid Mechanics, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, 2010–14, now Emeritus, and Director of Research, since 2014, University of Cambridge; Fellow, Downing College, Cambridge, 2010–14, now Emeritus

10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.246209 ◽

2007 ◽

Keyword(s):

Fluid Mechanics ◽

Applied Mathematics ◽

Theoretical Physics ◽

University Of Cambridge

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Pedley, Prof. Timothy John, (born 23 March 1942), G. I. Taylor Professor of Fluid Mechanics, 1996–2009, now Emeritus, and Head of Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, 2000–05, University of Cambridge; Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, 1973–89 and since 1996

10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.30439 ◽

2007 ◽

Keyword(s):

Fluid Mechanics ◽

Applied Mathematics ◽

Theoretical Physics ◽

University Of Cambridge ◽

Head Of Department

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Rays, Waves, and Scattering

10.23943/princeton/9780691148373.001.0001 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John A. Adam

Keyword(s):

Graduate Students ◽

Seismic Waves ◽

Applied Mathematics ◽

Ocean Waves ◽

Theoretical Physics ◽

Mathematical Concepts ◽

Light Waves ◽

Technical Material ◽

The Subject ◽

Ptolemy’S Theorem

This book presents many of the mathematical concepts, structures, and techniques used in the study of rays, waves, and scattering. It includes discussions of how ocean waves are refracted around islands and underwater ridges, how seismic waves are refracted in the earth's interior, how atmospheric waves are scattered by mountains and ridges, how the scattering of light waves produces the blue sky, and meteorological phenomena such as rainbows and coronas. This book is a valuable resource for practitioners, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates in applied mathematics, theoretical physics, and engineering. Bridging the gap between advanced treatments of the subject written for specialists and less mathematical books aimed at beginners, this unique mathematical compendium features problems and exercises throughout that are geared to various levels of sophistication, covering everything from Ptolemy's theorem to Airy integrals (as well as more technical material), and several informative appendixes.

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Moffatt, Prof. (Henry) Keith, (born 12 April 1935), Professor of Mathematical Physics, University of Cambridge, 1980–2002, now Professor Emeritus (Head of Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, 1983–91); Fellow, Trinity College, Cambridge, 1961–76, and since 1980

10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.27771 ◽

2007 ◽

Keyword(s):

Trinity College ◽

Applied Mathematics ◽

Mathematical Physics ◽

Theoretical Physics ◽

Professor Emeritus ◽

University Of Cambridge ◽

Head Of Department

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A survey of the origins and physical importance of soliton equations

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.1985.0043 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 315 (1533) ◽

pp. 335-365 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Keyword(s):

Significant Role ◽

Integrable Systems ◽

Applied Mathematics ◽

Theoretical Physics ◽

Completely Integrable Systems ◽

Soliton Equations ◽

Completely Integrable ◽

Physical Importance ◽

The Subject

An introduction to the subject is given in an elementary way for the non-specialist, outlining why many completely integrable systems, although special, play a significant role in wave motions in applied mathematics and theoretical physics.

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