Williams, W. L. (William Lee), 1937-

University of Michigan physicist whose work concentrated in atomic physics, notably hydrogen parity experiments; also participated in astrophysics research with Arthur Rich, dean for research at the University of Michigan College of Literature, Science and the Arts, 1985-1986.

William L. Williams was born on May 28, 1937 in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He received his B.S. in physics from Rice University in 1959 and his M.S. from Dartmouth in 1961, with his master's thesis research resulting in a Physics Review article and, in collaboration with W.T. Doyle, a Physics Review Letters article.

Williams received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1965, working with his thesis director Vernon Hughes. Their 'Experimental Test for Mass Anisotropy Based on Magnetic Resonance' essay won first prize in the Gravity Research Foundation Competition in 1969.

Williams came to the University of Michigan as an instructor with the Department of Physics in 1965. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1966, associate professor in 1969, and professor in 1976. The bulk of Williams' research focused on atomic physics, notably work with hydrogen as exemplified by his hydrogen parity experiment.

For the first half of the 1970s, Williams was also involved in astrophysics research. This included work at the Cerro-Tololo International Observatory in Chile where he and Arthur Rich researched the electromagnetic properties of white dwarfs.

Williams' final project was his work on the Muon g-2 experiment at Yale University. Williams was again working with Vernon Hughes, and a sizeable group representing the national and international physics community, to establish a new measurement of the magnetic moment of the muon. The project was funded after Williams' death.

Williams was also involved in academic affairs at the University of Michigan. He served on the Department of Physics Executive Committee and as Associate Chairman. In 1985 he was named associate dean for research in the college of Literature, Science and the Arts (LSA).

Williams died in a plane crash, November 11, 1986.