Louis Néel - Physicists, Birthday and Family
Louis Néel's Personal Details
Louis Eugène Félix Néel was a noted French physicist who was jointly awarded the ‘Nobel Prize in Physics’ in 1970
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | November 22, 1904 |
| Died on | November 17, 2000 |
| Nationality | French |
| Famous | Scientists, Physicists |
| Spouses | Hélène Hourticq |
| Known as | Louis Eugène Félix Née |
| Childrens | Marguerite, Marie Françoise, Pierre |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Lyon, France |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Scorpio |
| Born in | Lyon, France |
| Famous as | Physicist |
| Died at Age | 95 |
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Louis Néel's photo
Who is Louis Néel?
Louis Eugène Félix Néel was a noted French physicist who was jointly awarded the ‘Nobel Prize in Physics’ in 1970 with Swedish astrophysicist Hannes Alfvén for his leading-edge research work on the magnetic properties of solids. A Doctor of Science from the ‘University of Strasbourg’ his scientific contributions in the field of solid state physics led to several significant applications especially in developing advanced memory units of computer. Existence of a new type of magnetic behavior that is anti-ferromagnetism, which is contrary to ferromagnetism, was proposed by him. The behavior ceases to exist after reaching a certain level of temperature, the Néel temperature. He also suggested existence of materials that display ferrimagnetism. His elucidation on weak magnetism of some rocks paved way for the study of magnetic field of the Earth. His contribution in national defence, especially his studies in safeguarding warships through demagnetization against magnetic mines, fetched him several laurels. He was honored with Légion d'honneur and made the Knight (1940) and the Officer (1951), Commander (1958), Grand Officier de la Légion d'honneur (1966) and Grand Cross (1974). The military decoration of France, Croix de Guerre with Palms was conferred upon him in 1940. He also became the ‘Commander of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques’ in 1957; the ‘Knight of the Social Order of Merit’ in 1963; and was made the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit in 1972. He was elected as ‘Foreign Member of the Royal Society’ (ForMemRS) in 1966.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born on November 22, 1904, in Lyons-la-Forêt, Eure in Upper Normandy, France, in the family of M. Néel.
He attended the ‘Lycée du Parc’ in Lyon and then joined the ‘École Normale Supérieure’ in Paris in 1924.
After completing his studies at the ‘École Normale Supérieure’ in 1928 he was inducted as a lecturer.
He earned a D.Sc. from the ‘University of Strasbourg’ in 1932 under the guidance of French physicist Pierre-Ernest Weiss who in 1907 developed the domain theory of ferromagnetism. It is under Professor Weiss that he started his research in magnetism in the latter’s lab in Strasbourg.
Career
He focussed his research on molecular level, types of magnetism that vary from the most common form of magnetism, the ferromagnetism, in the early 1930s. In case of ferromagnetism, while at low temperature, the electrons spin in same direction.
Néel discovered that in certain substances the magnetic moments of molecules and atoms line up in a common pattern with neighbouring spins and point in opposite directions thus exhibiting a different magnetic property that came to be known as antiferromagnetism. However such behavior ceases to exist at a certain level of temperature or higher than that. The temperature level is named 'Néel temperature' after him.
His investigations on the fine-grain ferromagnetics contributed in elucidating the exceptional magnetic memory of certain mineral deposits that equipped us with data on alterations in the strength as also direction of the magnetic field of Earth.
In 1937 he was appointed a Professor at the Faculty of Science at the ‘University of Strasbourg’ where he served till 1945.
Meanwhile in 1939 he was called upon for defence service and delegated with the responsibility of protecting the French ships from magnetic mines of Germany. He discovered a new procedure of neutralization to safeguard the ships.
Following the Armistice, he relocated to Grenoble in 1940 where he set up the ‘Laboratoire d'Electrostatique et de Physique du Métal’. The lab was included as an external laboratory of ‘Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique’ in 1946.
In 1945 he became a Professor in the university at Grenoble in its science department and served there till 1976.
In 1949 he became a member of the Board of Directors of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, C.N.R.S., and remained so till 1969.
In 1952 he became a scientific adviser to the French Navy. He participated as a representative of France at the ‘Scientific Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’.
The French Academy of Science elected him a member in 1953.
From 1954 to 1970 he served as Director of the Polytechnic Institute in Grenoble and also of Ecole Française de Papeterie. Thereafter in 1970 he was inducted by the ‘Institut National Polytechnique’ in Grenoble as President.
He also contributed in developing the ‘Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Grenoble’ in 1956 as a part of ‘French Atomic Energy Commission’. He remained Director of the Center till 1971.
The ‘International Union of Pure and Applied Physics’ made him its President in 1963, a position he held till 1966.
In 1967 he participated in the decision making of installing the Franco-German high-flux reactor in Grenoble.
Apart from discovering the theories of antiferromagnetism and ferrimagnetism and their ramifications, he shed light on many other facets of magnetism such as superantiferromagnetism, magnetic properties of fine grains, theory of Rayleigh's Laws; and internal dispersion fields among others. Over 200 publications of Néel dealt with theoretical problems and other facets of magnetism elucidating the way magnetic molecules act.
He became Foreign Member of several prestigious academies including ‘Royal Dutch Academy of Science’ (1959), ‘Soviet Academy of Science’ (1959), ‘Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina’ (1964), ‘Rumanian Academy’ (1965), ‘American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ (1966) and ‘Royal Society’ of London (1966). He was also an honorary member of the ‘Société Française de Physique’ and became its President in 1957.
He was conferred honorary doctorate from several universities including ‘University of Nottingham’ in 1951, ‘University of Oxford’ in 1958 and ‘University of Newcastle’ in 1965.
Major Works
His contributions and discoveries related to magnetic properties aided electronic engineers in developing very small particles that can store data magnetically in the memory core of a computer, which helped enhance the memory units of computer to a great extent.
Such works of Néel made manufacture of ferromagnetic materials of almost any specification possible and that in turn paved the way for developing several new synthetic ferrite materials thereby revolutionizing the world of microwave electronics.
Awards & Achievements
He received the ‘Nobel Prize in Physics’ in 1970 along with Swedish astrophysicist, Hannes Alfvén.
Personal Life & Legacy
He got married to Hélène Hourticq in 1931. They were blessed with three children, Marie Françoise, Marguerite and Pierre.
While Marie Françoise became an Attachée d'Administration at the Conseil d'Etat, Pierre became a television producer and Marguerite got married to Guély, Professeur agrégée d'histoire.
Néel passed away on November 17, 2000, at the age of 95 in Brive-la-Gaillarde, a commune of France.
Trivia
The ‘Louis Néel Medal’ is awarded annually by the ‘European Geophysical Society’ since 1994.
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Louis Néel biography timelines
- // 22nd Nov 1904He was born on November 22, 1904, in Lyons-la-Forêt, Eure in Upper Normandy, France, in the family of M. Néel.
- // 1907 To 1932He earned a D.Sc. from the ‘University of Strasbourg’ in 1932 under the guidance of French physicist Pierre-Ernest Weiss who in 1907 developed the domain theory of ferromagnetism. It is under Professor Weiss that he started his research in magnetism in the latter’s lab in Strasbourg.
- // 1924He attended the ‘Lycée du Parc’ in Lyon and then joined the ‘École Normale Supérieure’ in Paris in 1924.
- // 1928After completing his studies at the ‘École Normale Supérieure’ in 1928 he was inducted as a lecturer.
- // 1931He got married to Hélène Hourticq in 1931. They were blessed with three children, Marie Françoise, Marguerite and Pierre.
- // 1937 To 1945In 1937 he was appointed a Professor at the Faculty of Science at the ‘University of Strasbourg’ where he served till 1945.
- // 1939Meanwhile in 1939 he was called upon for defence service and delegated with the responsibility of protecting the French ships from magnetic mines of Germany. He discovered a new procedure of neutralization to safeguard the ships.
- // 1940 To 1946Following the Armistice, he relocated to Grenoble in 1940 where he set up the ‘Laboratoire d'Electrostatique et de Physique du Métal’. The lab was included as an external laboratory of ‘Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique’ in 1946.
- // 1945 To 1976In 1945 he became a Professor in the university at Grenoble in its science department and served there till 1976.
- // 1949 To 1969In 1949 he became a member of the Board of Directors of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, C.N.R.S., and remained so till 1969.
- // 1952In 1952 he became a scientific adviser to the French Navy. He participated as a representative of France at the ‘Scientific Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’.
- // 1953The French Academy of Science elected him a member in 1953.
- // 1956 To 1971He also contributed in developing the ‘Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Grenoble’ in 1956 as a part of ‘French Atomic Energy Commission’. He remained Director of the Center till 1971.
- // 1963 To 1966The ‘International Union of Pure and Applied Physics’ made him its President in 1963, a position he held till 1966.
- // 1967In 1967 he participated in the decision making of installing the Franco-German high-flux reactor in Grenoble.
- // 1970He received the ‘Nobel Prize in Physics’ in 1970 along with Swedish astrophysicist, Hannes Alfvén.
- // 1994The ‘Louis Néel Medal’ is awarded annually by the ‘European Geophysical Society’ since 1994.
- // 17th Nov 2000Néel passed away on November 17, 2000, at the age of 95 in Brive-la-Gaillarde, a commune of France.
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Louis Néel's FAQ
What is Louis Néel birthday?
Louis Néel was born at 1904-11-22
When was Louis Néel died?
Louis Néel was died at 2000-11-17
Where was Louis Néel died?
Louis Néel was died in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France
Which age was Louis Néel died?
Louis Néel was died at age 95
Where is Louis Néel's birth place?
Louis Néel was born in Lyon, France
What is Louis Néel nationalities?
Louis Néel's nationalities is French
Who is Louis Néel spouses?
Louis Néel's spouses is Hélène Hourticq
Who is Louis Néel childrens?
Louis Néel's childrens is Marguerite, Marie Françoise, Pierre
What was Louis Néel universities?
Louis Néel studied at École Normale Supérieure and University of Strasbourg
What is Louis Néel's sun sign?
Louis Néel is Scorpio
How famous is Louis Néel?
Louis Néel is famouse as Physicist