Obituary - David Binnie

Emeritus Professor Gareth Jones (Physics) pays tribute to his colleague David Binnie, Emeritus Professor of Physics, who died on 31 May 2012.

David Binnie, Emeritus Professor of Physics, who died on 31 May 2012, was Deputy Head of the Department of Physics from October 1992 for three years. Emeritus Professor Gareth Jones (Physics) pays tribute to his colleague:

“David first joined Imperial in 1961. He helped to pioneer new types of detectors of fundamental particles in experiments carried out at what was then the new CERN laboratory in Geneva using its first accelerator, the synchrocyclotron, which was tiny compared with today’s Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Later he became head of the ‘Counter Group’ in the High Energy Nuclear Physics Group and developed a new technique for studying fundamental particles. The approach involved detecting neutrons and measuring their velocity using accurate timing devices, thereby computing the mass of the particles produced. David and his team went on to develop high resolution cylindrical multiwire drift chambers which were used on the LEP electronpositron collider in CERN. David was an inspiring teacher and developed the ‘Quantum Lab’ which enabled students to confront some deeply puzzling aspects of quantum mechanics through making their own observations and measurements. Following his retirement in 1996 David joined a medical physics group at the Royal Marsden Hospital and his contributions to solving physics problems in diagnostic imaging resulted in better treatment for cancer patients. David continued his association with the College as a Senior Research Investigator and, latterly, as a Distinguished Research Fellow. He will be sorely missed by his many colleagues and ex-