Augustin-Jean Fresnel
Pioneering optical physicist known for the wave theory of light and the invention of the Fresnel lens.
Chronology: 1788-05-10 – 1827-07-14
Origins & Early Life
Augustin-Jean Fresnel (10 May 1788 – 14 July 1827) was a French civil engineer and physicist whose research in optics led to the almost unanimous acceptance of the wave theory of light, fully supplanting Newton's corpuscular theory, from the late 1830s until the end of the 19th century. He is perhaps better known for inventing the catadioptric (reflective/refractive) Fresnel lens and for pioneering the use of "stepped" lenses to extend the visibility of lighthouses, saving countless lives at sea. The simpler dioptric (purely refractive) stepped lens, first proposed by Count Buffon and independently reinvented by Fresnel, is used in screen magnifiers and in condenser lenses for overhead projectors. Fresnel gave the first satisfactory explanation of diffraction by straight edges, including the first satisfactory wave-based explanation of rectilinear propagation.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
By further supposing that light waves are purely transverse, Fresnel explained the nature of polarization. He then worked on double refraction. Fresnel had a lifelong battle with tuberculosis, to which he succumbed at the age of 39. He lived just long enough to receive recognition from his peers, including (on his deathbed)...
Enduring Legacy & Impact
The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.
Source: Wikipedia