Background
Thompson, William Bell was born on February 27, 1922 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Son of Herbert Ginnif and Mary (Bell) Thompson.
Thompson, William Bell was born on February 27, 1922 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Son of Herbert Ginnif and Mary (Bell) Thompson.
Bachelor of Arts, University B.C., 1945; Master of Arts, University B.C., 1947; Doctor of Philosophy, University Toronto, 1950; Master of Arts (honorary), Oxford (England) University, 1962.
With, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Commission, Harwell, England, 1950-1960; senior principal science officer, head plasma theory group, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Commission, 1959-1960; head plasma theory division, Culham Laboratory Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Research, Culham, England, 1960-1962; professor plasma physics, U. Oxford, 1962-1965; professor physics, University of California at San Diego, 1965-1990; professor emeritus, University of California at San Diego, 1990; department chairman, University of California at San Diego, 1969-1972. Consultant in field.
Fellow American Physical Society, Royal Astronomical Society. Member Canada Association Physics, American Geophysical Union.
Married Gertrude Helene Goldschmidt, March 24, 1954 (divorced 1971). Children— Kathleen Susan, Graham Jonathan. Married Johanna Elzelina Ladestein Korevaar, January 29, 1972.