Fresnel

Augustin Jean Fresnel

Born: 10 May 1788 in Broglie, France
Died: 14 July 1827 in Ville-d'Avray, France

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Augustin Fresnel was educated at the École Polytechnique and was active in the Corps des Ponts et Chaussées. He lost his engineering post temporarily during Napoleon's return from Elba in 1814 and around this time he did important work on optics where he was one of the founders of the wave theory of light.

By applying mathematical analysis to his work Fresnel removed many of the objections to the wave theory of light. With Arago he rediscovered interference of polarised light and gave a theory of diffraction of light. He obtained circularly polarised light and developed the use of compound lenses instead of mirrors for lighthouses.

References:

  1. Dictionary of Scientific Biography
  2. Biography in Encyclopaedia Britannica
  3. G A Boutry, Augustin Fresnel : His Time, Life and Work 1788-1827, Science Progress 36 (1948), 587-604.
  4. P Blaise, Augustin Fresnel [article] : a l'occasion du 200e anniversaire de sa naissance 10 mai 1788-14 juillet 1827, Annales des ponts et chaussees 46 (1988), 22-25.
  5. P Blaise, Augustin Fresnel 10th May, 1788 - 14th July, 1827, Bulletin of the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (1988), 30-37.
  6. C Dawson, Augustin-Jean Fresnel (1788-1827), Bulletin Liverpool Nautical Research Society 38 (1994), 72-76. 
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JOC/EFR February 1996