Fresnel, Augustin-Jean

Fresnel, Augustin-Jean

▪ French physicist

born May 10, 1788, Broglie, Fr.
died July 14, 1827, Ville-d'Avray
 French physicist who pioneered in optics and did much to establish the wave theory of light advanced by Thomas Young.

      Fresnel served as an engineer in various departments of France but lost his post temporarily during the period following Napoleon's return from Elba (1814). About that time he seems to have begun his researches in optics. He studied the aberration of light, created various devices for producing interference fringes, and, by applying mathematical analysis to his work, removed a number of objections to the wave theory.

      With François Arago he studied the laws of the interference of polarized light. He obtained circularly polarized light and developed the use of compound lenses instead of mirrors for lighthouses. Although his work in optics received scant public recognition during his lifetime, Fresnel maintained that not even acclaim from distinguished colleagues could compare with the pleasure of discovering a theoretical truth or confirming a calculation experimentally.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Fresnel, Augustin-Jean — • Physicist; b. at Broglie near Bernay, Normandy, 10 May, 1788; d. at Ville d Avray, near Paris, 14 July, 1827 Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Fresnel,Augustin Jean — Fres·nel (frā nĕlʹ), Augustin Jean. 1788 1827. French physicist who supported the wave theory of light, investigated polarized light, and developed a compound lens for use in lighthouses. * * * …   Universalium

  • Fresnel , Augustin Jean — (1788–1827) French physicist Fresnel was born in Broglie, France, and grew up in the time of the French Revolution; by the time he was 26, Napoleon had been exiled and Louis XVIII was on the throne. At this time Fresnel was a qualified engineer… …   Scientists

  • Fresnel, Augustin Jean — ► (1788 1827) Físico francés. Afianzó la teoría ondulatoria de la luz. Mejoró decisivamente la iluminación de los faros mediante la invención de las lentes escalonadas …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • FRESNEL, AUGUSTIN JEAN —    French physicist, born at Broglie, Eure; as an engineer he rose to be head of the Department of Public Works at Paris; in 1825 he was elected an F.R.S. of London; he made discoveries in optical science which helped to confirm the undulatory… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Augustin-Jean Fresnel — [ogysˈtɛ̃ ʒɑ̃ fʀɛˈnɛl] (* 10. Mai 1788 in Broglie (Eure); † 14. Juli 1827 in Ville d’Avray bei Paris) war ein französischer …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Augustin Jean Fresnel — [oɡysˈtɛ̃ ʒɑ̃ fʀɛˈnɛl] (* 10. Mai 1788 in Broglie (Eure); † 14. Juli 1827 in Ville d’Avray bei Paris) war ein französischer Physiker und Ingenieur, der wesentlich …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Augustin Jean Fresnel — Augustin Fresnel Pour les articles homonymes, voir Fresnel. Augustin Fresnel Augustin Jean Fresnel, né le 10 mai  …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Augustin-Jean Fresnel —     Augustin Jean Fresnel     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Augustin Jean Fresnel     Physicist; b. at Broglie near Bernay, Normandy, 10 May, 1788; d. at Ville d Avray, near Paris, 14 July, 1827. His early progress in letters was slow though he… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Augustin-Jean Fresnel — Infobox Scientist name = Augustin Jean Fresnel box width = image width =150px caption = Augustin Jean Fresnel birth date = Birth date|1788|5|10 birth place = Broglie (Eure) death date = death date and age|1827|7|14|1788|5|10 death place =… …   Wikipedia

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