Louis Néel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis Néel
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Néel in 1970
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| Born |
Louis Eugène Félix Néel
22 November 1904 |
| Died | 17 November 2000 (aged 95) |
| Alma mater | École Normale Supérieure, University of Paris University of Strasbourg |
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| Fields | Solid-state physics |
| Institutions | CNRS, Grenoble |
| Doctoral advisor | Pierre Weiss |
Louis Eugène Félix Néel (born November 22, 1904, died November 17, 2000) was a famous French physicist. He was born in Lyon, France. Néel is best known for his important discoveries about how materials behave magnetically. His work helped us understand how magnets work and led to new technologies.
Contents
A Look at Louis Néel's Life
Louis Néel went to school at the Lycée du Parc in Lyon. Later, he studied at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. He earned his Doctor of Science degree from the University of Strasbourg.
In 1970, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics. He shared this award with Hannes Alfvén, a Swedish astrophysicist. Néel received the prize for his groundbreaking research into the magnetic properties of solid materials.
Understanding Magnetism
Around 1930, Louis Néel suggested that a new type of magnetic behavior could exist. He called this antiferromagnetism. This is different from ferromagnetism, which is the kind of strong magnetism you see in fridge magnets.
In antiferromagnetic materials, the tiny magnetic parts (called magnetic moments) point in opposite directions. This makes the overall magnetic effect very weak or even zero. This behavior stops above a certain temperature, which is now called the Néel temperature.
In 1948, Néel also explained another type of magnetism called ferrimagnetism. In these materials, the magnetic parts also point in opposite directions, but they don't completely cancel each other out. This results in a weaker but still noticeable magnetic effect.
Impact on Technology and Earth Science
Néel's discoveries in solid state physics have been very useful. For example, his work helped create better computer memory units. This means his ideas are part of the technology we use every day!
He also helped explain why some rocks have a very weak magnetic field. This discovery made it possible for scientists to study the history of Earth's magnetic field. By looking at the magnetism in old rocks, scientists can learn how Earth's magnetic field has changed over millions of years.
Louis Néel also started the Polygone Scientifique in Grenoble, a big science research area. The Louis Néel Medal, an award given every year by the European Geophysical Society, is named in his honor.
Awards and Achievements
Louis Néel received many awards and honors for his important scientific work.
Winning the Nobel Prize
The most famous award he received was the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1970. This prize is given to people who have made major discoveries that benefit humanity.
Other Important Awards
He was also recognized by many scientific groups. In 1966, he became a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS) in London, which is a very high honor for scientists.
Néel also received the Legion of Honour, a top award from France. He was recognized for his contributions to national defense, especially for his research on protecting warships from magnetic mines during wartime. He received several levels of this honor, including:
- Knight (1940)
- Officer (1951)
- Commander (1958)
- Grand Officer (1966)
- Grand Cross (1974)
He also received the Croix de Guerre with Palm in 1940 for his military service.
See also
In Spanish: Louis Néel para niños
