Frank Low Biography

Frank J. Low was born on November 23, 1933 in Mobile Alabama. He grew up in Houston, Texas with his family before attending Yale University to acquire his undergraduate degree in physics. He later returned to Texas to attend Rice University where he would eventually acquire his Doctor of Philosophy in physics in 1959. Low is most famous for his innovation of and work with the infrared telescope. Low worked at Texas Instruments where one of his first assignments was the development of a low-temperature thermometer that was developed using a germanium semiconductor which measured changes in temperature based on the change in the device's electrical resistance as energy was absorbed. Based on his academic experiences, he came to the conclusion that the technology behind this thermometer could be integrated as the basis for a bolometer that could be used to measure the radiant energy coming from stars as infrared radiation. Low went to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia to test his bolometer, which was more sensitive to infrared than detectors previously in use on the Green Bank Telescope. However, infrared waves are absorbed by molecules such as water vapor in the atmosphere. In order to combat this new challenge, Low developed devices that could be attached to aircraft. His most effective device was a twelve inch telescope placed on a Learjet operated by NASA. He later proposed and joined the international project to build the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS). IRAS was able to discover in excess of 500,000 infrared sources, including many galaxies, and has discovered shells of debris surrounding stars that show the early stages of planetary formation, with debris similar to that later found as the Kuiper belt that encircles our Solar System beyond the orbit of Neptune. Based on these findings, researchers have concluded that the majority of galactic radiation is emitted in the form of infrared radiation that is generated when light from young stars is absorbed by Interstellar dust and then radiated from the dust in the form of heat. Low also worked with NASA on the Spitzer Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. On June 11, 2009, Low died at age 75. He was survived by his wife, three children, and six grandchildren.