John Cockcroft (British physicist)

John Cockcroft was a British physicist renowned for his pioneering work in nuclear physics. He, along with Ernest Walton, developed a machine called a particle accelerator that used high-energy particles to probe atomic nuclei. This breakthrough allowed scientists to split atomic nuclei, demonstrating nuclear reactions and advancing understanding of atomic structure. In 1951, Cockcroft received the Nobel Prize in Physics for this achievement. His work laid foundational principles for nuclear science, contributing to both fundamental research and practical applications such as medicine and energy.