Obituary: Dr Alexander Low Thomson
Dr Alexander Low Thomson, of the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, died on 10 September at the age of 81 after a progressive illness.
Dr Low Thomson
Low Thomson, as he was generally known, took his first degree at the University of St Andrews and went on to take his doctorate at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
In early 1963, a few months after Science began at Sussex with the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences in October 1962, he came to Sussex as a postdoctoral Research Assistant.
His doctoral research had been on the nuclear magnetic resonance properties of liquid helium -3 at absolute zero (-273°C or 0K), and this exactly matched that of the research “group” (myself and one research student) he joined.
He continued with this work for the whole of his career, but also developed a strong interest in teaching - mainly in practical laboratories - which he continued well into his retirement.
I believe Low Thomson’s greatest pleasure was in spending time with his family. His wife and three children in particular spoke at his funeral service in happy recollection of him and the times they spent together. The service was held at The Church of the Good Shepherd on Thursday 29 September, and was attended by his family, friends, colleagues and former research students.
Douglas Brewer (Professor Emeritus, MPS)