Walker, Arthur Bertram Cuthbert Jr.

Impact on the world

His multilayer telescope technology produced some of the clearest images ever taken of the Sun's corona, advancing solar physics and the broader field of extreme ultraviolet optics, and he mentored Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, as her doctoral advisor.

Life & background

A solar physicist and pioneer of EUV/XUV optics, Walker developed normal incidence multilayer telescopes capable of photographing the solar corona with unprecedented clarity, advancing the broader scientific understanding of solar physics. A Stanford professor, he was also known for mentoring numerous students who went on to distinguished scientific careers, including astronaut Sally Ride during her doctoral studies.

Sources

1. Academic Influence (Influential Black Physicists); Sky & Telescope; National Society of Black Physicists; BlackPast.org