Stuart Thomas Butler AAS (4 July 1926 – 15 May 1982) was an Australian nuclear physicist who served as Director of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission from 1977 until 1982, and was noted for his contributions to theoretical physics including stripping reactions, energy loss of particles in plasma and atmospheric tides induced by absorption of solar radiation in the ozone layer.
When he completed high school he considered studying piano at the Conservatorium of Music, but he received a scholarship to do his undergraduate studies at the University of Adelaide, here he was greatly influenced by physicist Kerr Grant and mathematician Hans Schwerdtfeger.
At Birmingham he formed a close relationship with his thesis advisor, the famous physicist Rudolf Peierls.
During his time at the University of Sydney, Butler continued his research on stripping reactions, and also studies energy loss of particles in a plasma, superconductivity and atmospheric tides induced by absorption of solar radiation in the ozone layer; for these contributions he was awarded the Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal from the Australian Academy of Science and a DSc from the Australian National University.
[2] In 1977 Butler was appointed Director of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment in Lucas Heights.