Francis Everitt : An Oral History
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- C. W. Francis Everitt, Professor (Research) in the W.W. Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, shares memories of his career at Stanford as the principle investigator for the Gravity Probe B project. Everitt recalls his childhood in post-World War II England, his education, and his early career as a research associate at University of Pennsylvania. In discussing Gravity Probe B, he shares memories of the figures that worked on the project, the design of the experiment and the challenges they faced, and some of the scientific outcomes of the effort. Other topics include physics at Stanford; Everitt’s writing on the history of science; project funding; and collaborating with NASA. Physicist Mac Keiser, who was co-investigator and chief scientist on the project, also offers his memories of the launch and some of the scientific discoveries catalyzed by Gravity Probe B.
- Summary
- Growing up outside of London during World War II • Education at Imperial College in London and research on paleomagnetism • Deciding between pursuing physics or geology • Working with Kenneth Atkins at University of Pennsylvania on third sound and liquid helium • Significance of education at Sevenoaks School • Physics at Imperial College in the 1950s; impact of P.M.S. Blackett • Summer jobs in Germany; work on electron optic beams • Leaving Imperial College • Responsibilities as a research associate and instructor at Penn • Learning low-temperature techniques • Coming to Stanford through Bill Fairbank • Raising funds and assembling a team for the Gravity Probe B project (GP-B): Fairbank, Leonard Schiff, Robert Cannon • Visa extension with help from Cannon • Anti-Vietnam War movement at Stanford • Promotion to adjunct professor and salary adjustment • Physics research facilities at Stanford in the 1960s, including Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory (HEPL)• Connections with NASA’s Marshall Center • Accelerators at Stanford • Design of Gravity Probe B experiment to test of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity • Geodetic effect • Requirements for building the perfect gyroscope • SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) • Collaboration with NASA, Lockheed, and Ball Aerospace on GP-B • Discussion about shifting the project from NASA’s Marshall Center in Alabama to the Jet Propulsion Lab in California • Building enthusiasm for the project on Capitol Hill • Support from Norman Mineta • Some of the graduate students who worked on GP-B • Dan DeBra and Richard Van Patten’s role in GP-B • Optical challenges and telescope design • Funding sources for GP-B • Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle (STEP) • Unexpected results of work done on GP-B: application of Clark Cohen’s research on GPS-based guidance sensors to aircraft landing, a better technique for joining pieces of fused quartz, and Chang-Huei Wu’s creation of a DC electrostatic gyro suspension system • Gravity Probe B launch day in 2004 • Reflections on why funding agencies continuously supported the project • Probe’s time in space • Design of GP-B’s dewar • Data and analysis of GP-B’s time in space • Technological spin-offs of GP-B • Collaboration with John Turneaure and Alan Schwettman • Working on historical writing in retirement, including biographies of James Clerk Maxwell, Fritz and Heinz London, and Leonard Isaac Schiff • Role of independent labs at Stanford • Destruction of old HEPL building and move to new locations • Participation on NASA committees • Collaboration between Stanford’s Physics Department and the Aero-Astro Department • Loma Prieta earthquake • Weathering Stanford’s financial struggles in the 1990s • Mother’s family and engineering background • Changes observed at Stanford • Admiration for colleagues • History of science dinner club with Stanford and Berkeley professors • Thoughts on the future of gravity research • Memories of Felix Bloch • Science and religious beliefs • Mac Keiser’s memories of the GP-B launch • Tour of Gravity Probe B models and artifacts • Explanation of the pieces of GP-B and how they work together • Superconductivity and GP-B; spheres and gyroscopes • Dewars • Photographs of team members • Proudest moments of the GP-B project • Understanding of Albert Einstein
Description
| Type of resource | moving image, sound recording-nonmusical, text |
|---|---|
| Extent | 4 video files; 4 audio file; 1 text file; 1 photograph |
| Place | Stanford (Calif.) |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
| Date created | May 20, 2019 - 2019-05-21 |
| Language | English |
| Digital origin | born digital |
Creators/Contributors
| Interviewee | Everitt, C. W. F. (C. W. Francis), 1934- | |
|---|---|---|
| Creator | Everitt, C. W. F. (C. W. Francis), 1934- | |
| Interviewer | Fetter, Alexander L., 1937- | |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society | |
| Contributor | Keiser, G. Mac | |
| Contributor | Marine-Street, Natalie |
Subjects
| Subject | Everitt, C. W. F. (C. W. Francis), 1934- |
|---|---|
| Subject | W.W. Hansen Laboratory of Physics. High Energy Physics Laboratory |
| Subject | National Research Council (U.S.) Task Group on Gravity Probe B |
| Subject | Science > History |
| Genre | Interview |
Bibliographic information
| Biographical Profile | Francis Everitt is a Professor (Research), Emeritus, in Stanford’s W.W. Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, as well as a professor by courtesy in the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics. At Stanford, Everitt spent much of his career as the Principal Investigator for the Gravity Probe B experiment, a collaboration between Stanford, NASA, and Lockheed Martin Corporation that tested predictions of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity utilizing four ultra-precise gyroscopes orbiting the earth. In 2005, Everitt was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal for his scientific contributions and leadership of GP-B. Everitt was born in the town of Sevenoaks in Kent, England. He studied physics at the University of London (Imperial College), conducting research under Nobel laureate P.M. S. Blackett and earning his doctorate in 1959. He then spent two years at the University of Pennsylvania working with Kenneth R. Atkins on superfluid helium and third sound. In 1962, Everitt joined William Fairbank and Leonard Schiff in the Stanford Physics Department as the first-full-time researcher on the GP-B experiment. His efforts contributed to advances in the areas of cryogenics, magnetics, quantum devices, telescope design, control systems, quartz fabrication techniques, metrology, and, especially, gyroscope technology. His leadership as the principal investigator for GP-B advanced the program from the concept and technology development stages to the experiment’s launch on April 20, 2004, and its ensuing orbital operations and data analysis. Everitt is a fellow in the American Physical Society and the American Association for Advancement of Science. |
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| Transcript |
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| Finding Aid | |
| Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/ct790tg8917 |
| Location | SC0932 |
| Repository | Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University Archives |
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- The materials are open for research use and may be used freely for non-commercial purposes with an attribution. For commercial permission requests, please contact the Stanford University Archives (universityarchives@stanford.edu).
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.
Collection
Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program interviews, 1999-2022
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