The rest in the shade. The first woman electrician

Female doctor, a female scientist, a female engineer. These habitually banal words do not cause surprise among his contemporaries. Moreover, the floor of high-end specialist even emphasized. He played a secondary role.

Alas, it was not always. More recently, in 1858. at the Congress of German physicians adopted a resolution on women in the prevention of medical practice. The talented Russian mathematician Sofia Kovalevskaya could offer only a primary school teacher position. In France, the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 Maria Skłodowska Curie was not elected to the Academy of Sciences just because she was a woman. Moreover, it is for his research do not receive a salary. Only in November 1904. she was given a "legal right to enter into the laboratory of her husband" and receive money. [1].

Most universities do not take women as trainees even for money, and where it took, they were given certificates of completion are not legally binding for public office. In the words of professor of higher female rates IMSechenov Petersburg in those days women just "wanted to deliberately and selflessly to education, as the highest good" and all. [2].

Here we will focus on the person with talent, passion and daring, who managed to become the first female member of the international organization "Union of Electrical Engineers," the first woman scientist to make an official report of the British Academy of Sciences - the Royal Society, and left traces of their activities in the electrical, radio, film, and even in military technology. Of course, it helped in addition to the personal qualities of the natural and accidental circumstances biography. She was lucky. But lucky for those who work and looking.

In Russia, the name of this woman is almost unknown even to specialists. It remained in the shadows. But it deserves to know him.

The emergence of a new science.

In 1891. It was outwardly unremarkable event. One of the firms trying to tame the power of Niagara Falls, announced a worldwide competition for the best project. During the meeting of the tender commission one of Electrical Engineers, said: "These gentlemen are trying for a premium of $ 3,000 to get the information that the price of hundreds of thousands." Then the businessmen did not realize that in the field of electrical engineering knowledge are a lot of money. [4].

The first is to understand the Japanese, as evidenced by the rapid development of electronics. Yet in 1875. The Government of Japan established in Tokyo, the Imperial College of Engineering, in which teachers recruited the most experienced electrical engineers from around the world. Among them were British - William Ayrton, chief specialist of the telegraph company London-Calcutta and John Perry, a member of laying the transatlantic telegraph cable.

Both are highly qualified specialists were the first professors in the field of new science - electrical engineering. In addition to the teaching activities they conducted pilot studies in a specialized laboratory, which designed and built themselves. Here they have invented and produced a number of new devices. Many of their electrical design have been used in industry and transport.

The Japanese do not feel sorry for money. In the future, the college became the foundation of the University of Tokyo.

At the same time in the homeland of the first professors are beginning to realize, too, that perspective expansion of electrical engineering in all areas of the national economy by means of single-inventors of the problem will not be solved. Technical colleges prepare specialists for the industry of Great Britain, joined in 1884. the Imperial College of Science and Technology. He becomes the technological base of the London University. This back and British experts from Japan.

It started to train local personnel. In other matters, not just training.

Britain has traditionally had the research organizations and the whole process of development and introduction of new technology carried out either on the manufacturer, or in university laboratories. It took only finance and business was not for him.

The country, which lies on the islands, climatic conditions which are thick fogs, always in need of bright sources of light for its hundreds of lighthouses. It is best suited for this purpose, the light of an electric arc, which was visible for tens of miles.

The idea was great, but reliable arc lighting systems at the time did not exist. the arc was unstable, the light takes on different shades, create a powerful noise. The high temperature of the arc melted and burned all known materials are insulators. Electrodes burned unevenly that require continuous adjustments to keep them at the focus of the reflecting mirror.

To create a reliable fixture needed special survey, the financing of which assumed the navy. Work in this area have made a Professor V. Ayrton and T. Mather. He was given the task: "to ensure maximum coverage for a given power generator." At the same time they did not stop the PA bot on training, attracting students to the charged development.

Carier start.

When typing in new college students was a curious event. Electrical engineers wanted to be a woman that was far from extraordinary phenomenon in those years. She was 30 years old and she was behind the mathematical education received at Girton College, Cambridge University. The truth is that time female graduates of bachelor's degree was not awarded, but was asked to complete the program. Instead, certificates were issued, which, however, is not considered an official document.

A graduate of Cambridge 1881. I am earning a living, doing tutoring. By 1884. it has accumulated a little money to pay for training in the new College, he has published several mathematical works in the pedagogical magazine and patented tracer that allows to share any line on any number of parts.

The student was "lively, attractive and independent woman." Even opponents of equal rights for women testified about her "considerable personal charm." No wonder there was the fact that the recently widowed 37-year-old professor William Ayrton did offer student and they were married in 1885. The wife of Professor Gerda was called Ayrton. Born the daughter and daughter from his first marriage professors, as well as efforts on the household, although distracted student from school, but college course was passed. So what? Nothing! The newly turned professional unclaimed, although Gerd after passing special exams, received a bachelor's degree in the University of London.

Changed circumstances two cases in no way connected to each other. In 1891. He died in France Madame Bodikon, activist for women's equality and bequeaths his fortune in favor of Ayrton Gerda. Now Professor spouse can hire a maid and to pass on to her part of the family responsibilities. By this time the sailors there is the idea of ​​using the light of an electric arc as a means of combat. According to their idea of ​​the bright light of the electric arc on the ship must be directed at attacking the enemy destroyers and a dazzling, disturbing impact parameter torpedoing. It is understood that the light of the lamp should be very bright and very reliable.

Professor Ayrton and his aides did not have time to numerous experiments, especially since they often had to go to the many electrical exhibitions in France, Germany and the United States. Only in this way it was possible to get acquainted with the latest achievements of prominent electrical engineers the world - Siemens, Yablochkov, Edison and others. No other way to keep up with them there. And then the trip, for example in the US, takes a month.

Before one of his trips laboratory workers accidentally spoiled the laboratory of Professor log with the results of numerous studies. It was almost a disaster. After the War Department supervised financing. Therefore, it was decided to restore the log, allowing Gerd Ayrton to a repetition of the experiments. It is, of course, was aware of all the events and results in the laboratory and brilliantly cope with this task.

In the laboratory.

The first observations of the voltaic arc, so then called the arc, gave surprising results. It was found that the electric arc is a particular conductor, which do not follow Ohm's law. The notion that the arc column of hot gas emits light, is not true. A dazzling light comes predominantly from the hot end of the electrodes. Their high temperature so that its measurements are made only by optical methods, for all known naturally occurring elements evaporate in it.

Gerda begins independent experiments with carbon electrodes. Changes their diameters, the distance between the coals, changes current by measuring the voltage.

The obtained data are compiled thousands of charts, so-called characteristic curves. We look for patterns of change. Selected electrode compositions, their shape as the arc behaves erratically goes under some conditions.

The experimenter puts the arc in different medium than air - in the coal gas, hydrogen, nitrogen ... The inert gas arc burns better, more stable. Hence the conclusion that in the arc zone in the air are the oxidative processes that can prevent the burning.

She does not know that soon the basis of the work transmitter (radio is also called spark telegraph) will be used by an electric arc. This arc will be able to replace the spark by making variations in the antenna undamped. And these experiments Ayrton oh, how important to the future of radio.

A female scientist deduces a formula by which one can in practice be guided by engineers - welders, metallurgists, lighting fixtures.

In 1895 humanity receives as a gift it is of the greatest inventions - cinema. To project "moving pictures" to the big screen required a bright light source. Edison's incandescent bulbs are still weak, underpowered. It is best suited arc lamps. But they are jarring, noisy. This is not acceptable, considering that at the time the projector is in the main hall with the audience. In other matters the noise interferes not only here. Arc lamps installed in the theater, especially opera, with their noise poisoned viewers perception of music and speech nuances. And Ayrton developing a special lamp for projection devices, less noisy, acceptable to the human eye spectral composition of light. This patented lamp as the invention. However, the noise from the arc in the laboratory of William Ayrton is not only fighting it.

Young scientist William Duddel in 1900. decides to reduce the noise of the arc with an electric filter - combination of inductance and capacitance. The idea was promising, but in this case useless. By connecting the arc parallel capacitor and coil, instead of reducing noise in addition to the researcher got the noise even louder whistle. However, there is a blessing in disguise. It was found that changing the capacitance of the capacitor, could receive musical sounds of different frequencies. Doug sang. So there was a continuous wave generator, the basis of modern radio. But, despite the fact that the inventor of the device in a public demonstration on the primitive-sounding keyboard played arc England anthem, "God Save the King", the invention is not at home will use. Myopia Naval Office of His Majesty's amazing. It Feel sailors in 1914. the hard way when their opponent - a more far-sighted Kaiser's Germany will ensure the quality of its radio on orders above English. And at the heart of the German broadcasting stations will be coal arc burning in a hydrogen atmosphere. But back to Gerda Ayrton.

She found work on the arch apex of its scientific activities. In 1902 in London, published her book "arc", which is very appreciated by experts all over the world. His contribution to the defense of Britain in World War I she also does. What is it to be clear from the following discussion.

Page biography.

Gerd Ayrton (née Marx) was born in Portsoy, England, in 1854. He was the third child of eight children of a watchmaker, an emigrant from Poland. Her father was a loser, besides who died early in 1861. Mother skillful embroiderer, was trying hard to feed their horde of children. Clearly, it had difficulty even with the help of "philanthropic organizations". Of course, it was not even a decent education for children. Therefore Gerd mother pays the education of her sister, a teacher and co-owner of a private school in London.

The boarding school, where she studied with children Gerda aunt was an elite, and so she got the opportunity to communicate not only with students, but also their roditelyami- representatives of the local intelligentsia. Among them was the writer Mary Evans, published under the pseudonym George Eliot male.

After school, Gerda remained in London and not only earn a living by needlework, but also helps your family. Fortunately talented girl was spotted and wealthy supporters of women's education is made for her tuition at the University of Cambridge, where they founded Girton College specifically for tuition and living only women.

After passing the entrance examinations in mathematics and English in 1876. She became a student. All thoughts of the young ladies Girton are intended to prove by example that they are no worse than the gentlemen enrolled in other colleges. Gerd Marx organizes women's fire brigade, singing in the choir, together with Charlotte Scott creates math club, "to discuss any mathematical question." Intense study is not the best way impact on her health. She has increased blood pressure, and it is often necessary to measure it. To reduce the time for this procedure, she invents a new type of tonometer. Finally, in 1881. University finished but she is awarded a diploma instead of anything meaningful non-paper. Nevertheless, it gives private lessons, become a tutor. There were some money, she decides to use to continue his studies. It is known that in the West a good specialist is the one who received education in several universities. This circumstance leads to Gerd Technical College.

Her male William Ayrton, who was considered almost a teacher of English telegraph engineers, served as President of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, social organization, existing at the contributions of its members.

He then drew Gerda to work in our own laboratory. High-quality specialist knowledge Ayrton praised his wife and her enthusiasm, but stressed it did not interfere with the experiments. It is known to all, not only the employees of the laboratory. In 1899. Gerd Ayrton makes the Institute a report on its observations on the Volt arc, which produces a great impression on the audience. Problems with voting was not and it was elected member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers. This is how the first woman electrician.

In 1901. her husband was seriously ill. The family were forced to leave from London smog of the sea. There is no electrical laboratory, but there are waves of the sea, which can visually explore the nature of any wave motion. And it raises many questions among physicists, electricians, radio operators, and students. Because electromagnetic waves have a wave nature.

She is an electrical engineer, interested in the phenomenon of the appearance of ripples in the sand at the beach at low tide retreat. The researcher ordering dozens of glass aquariums, fill them with water and sand and place in his country house, home to a sick husband.

In the experiments, it stirs many ways water and watching monitors. The materials studied are analyzed. The result is a work of wave processes. Work on the arc and wave processes have not gone unnoticed by scientists of England. In 1902. it put forward a candidate member of the Royal Society. However, Charter (charter) Academy does not allow any woman to be a member. It was a severe disappointment for Gerda.

In 1903. her into the wilderness, on the coast of France arrives Marie Curie-Sklodowska. She is in a state of severe mental depression not only because it also did not choose the Paris Academy and for the same reason. But because of the rumors of ill-wishers, rumors that it prints its share is not research, just published the works of recently deceased muzha- Pierre Curie. They have been friends for many years families and Gerda too familiar accusations of its own address on the same topic. She calms her friend, distracts her from the experience and again excites her zest for life. Soon, Mary will get a second Nobel Prize, and it will bring great joy to Gerda.

In 1906. Gerd Ayrton invited to the Royal Society to give a talk on the topic of her works. The report was made brilliantly and her scientific works were presented to the award more medals and a small premium. But the joy was not premium, but the fact that she was the first woman reading a report in the British Academy.

During the First World War, a great patriot of his homeland Gerd Ayrton develops special fan design to combat the poisonous gases of the enemy, then the first used by the Germans. She invents a small fan blowing crawling on the ground of severe poison and ventilation trenches. Aviation was then developed enough to be able to attack from the air, and the method proposed by Gerda, was adopted. The British Army has purchased 100,000 of these fans.

Gerd Ayrton 15 years survived by her husband, the first ever professor of electrical engineering. She died in 1923. In the same year, the Royal Society of London resolved by changing the charter, membership of women in their society.

That's a coincidence.

B. Hasapov.

Bibliography:

1. E.Kyuri. Marie Curie. Moscow, 1968, p.218.

2. IMSechenov. Autobiographical Notes. M., 1952, p.239.

3.R.Belfild. Niagara System: The evolution of the complex (1883-1896) Proceedings Proc t.64, number 9, p.100..

4. E.P.Tveritinov. The significance of electric lighting as a means of combat. News Landmine officer class of 1884 vyp.12. s.123-130.

5. O.D.Hvolson. The course of physics. V.5, Berlin, s.809-831.

6. Marjorie Malley. Hertha Marks Ayrton. In the book: Woman in Chemistry And Physic. Greenwood Press, 1993.