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Maurice Paul Auguste Charles Fabry
Charles Fabry.jpg
Born (1867-06-11)11 June 1867
Marseille, France
Died 11 December 1945(1945-12-11) (aged 78)
Paris, France
Education École Polytechnique
University of Paris
Known for Fabry–Pérot interferometer
Ozone layer
Awards Janssen Medal (1916)
Rumford Medal (1918)
Henry Draper Medal (1919)
Franklin Medal (1921)
Prix Jules Janssen (1929)
FRS (1931)
Scientific career
Institutions Sorbonne
University of Marseille
École supérieure d'optique
Notable students Jean Dufay
Yves Rocard
Bernard Lyot
Yan Jici
Sisir Kumar Mitra
Anil Kumar Das
Jean Cabannes
Daniel Chalonge

Maurice Paul Auguste Charles Fabry (born June 11, 1867 – died December 11, 1945) was an important French physicist. He is famous for his work with light and for helping to discover the ozone layer that protects Earth. He also invented a special tool called the Fabry–Pérot interferometer, which is still used today.

Early Life and Education

Delegates to the Fourth Conference International Union for Cooperation in Solar Research at Mount Wilson Observatory
Fabry at a solar research conference in 1910.

Maurice Fabry was born in Marseille, France, on June 11, 1867. He was a very bright student. He went to the École Polytechnique in Paris, which is a famous engineering school.

After that, he continued his studies at the University of Paris. In 1892, he earned his doctorate degree. His early work focused on something called "interference fringes." This work made him a leading expert in the study of optics (how light behaves) and spectroscopy (studying light to learn about materials).

In 1904, Fabry became a Professor of Physics. He taught at the University of Marseille for 16 years.

Key Discoveries and Inventions

Fabry-3
Portrait of Fabry from 1938.

Maurice Fabry made several big contributions to science.

Understanding Light Waves

He helped explain how light waves interact with each other. This is known as interference. Imagine two waves meeting; they can either combine to make a bigger wave or cancel each other out. Fabry's work helped us understand these patterns, called interference fringes.

The Fabry–Pérot Interferometer

In 1899, Fabry worked with his colleague Alfred Pérot. Together, they invented a special device called the Fabry–Pérot interferometer. This tool is used to measure very small distances and to study the properties of light with great accuracy. It's still an important tool in many scientific fields today.

Discovering the Ozone Layer

One of Fabry's most famous discoveries happened in 1913. Working with Henri Buisson, he discovered the ozone layer. This is a part of Earth's atmosphere that contains a lot of ozone gas. The ozone layer is super important because it protects us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Without it, life on Earth would be very different!

Later Career and Recognition

Fabry-7
A table from one of Fabry's scientific books.

In 1921, Fabry moved back to Paris. He became a Professor of General Physics at the Sorbonne, which is a very old and respected university. He also became the first director of the new Institute of Optics. This institute focused on teaching and research about light and optical instruments.

Later, in 1926, he also became a professor at the École Polytechnique, where he had studied. He was also the first general director of the Institut d'optique théorique et appliquée. This school is known for training experts in optics.

Fabry was highly respected by other scientists. He published 197 scientific papers and 14 books. He also wrote over 100 articles for the general public, explaining science in an easy-to-understand way.

Awards and Honors

Maurice Fabry received many awards for his important work:

Fabry was also the President of the Société astronomique de France, the French astronomical society, from 1931 to 1933. His work continues to influence scientists today, especially in fields like astronomy and atmospheric science.

See also

In Spanish: Charles Fabry para niños

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