Pierre Victor Auger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pierre Victor Auger
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Pierre Victor Auger
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| Born | 14 May 1899 Paris, France
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| Died | 24 December 1993 (aged 94) Paris, France
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| Nationality | French |
| Alma mater | University of Paris |
| Known for | Air shower Cosmic rays Auger effect Auger electron spectroscopy Auger recombination |
| Awards | Kalinga Prize (1971) Three Physicists Prize (1967) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | Académie des sciences (France) |
Pierre Victor Auger (born May 14, 1899 – died December 24, 1993) was a French physicist. He was born in Paris, France. He studied tiny particles in atomic physics and nuclear physics. He also researched cosmic rays, which are high-energy particles from space. Pierre Auger is well-known for discovering something called the Auger effect, which is named after him.
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Early Life and Education
Pierre Auger's father was Victor Auger, a chemistry professor. Pierre studied at the École normale supérieure in Paris from 1919 to 1922. After that, he joined a lab at the University of Paris. There, he worked on the photoelectric effect, which is about how light can make electrons move.
A Career in Science
In 1926, Pierre Auger earned his doctorate degree in physics from the University of Paris. He became an assistant at the university in 1927. He also worked as a chief assistant at the Institute of Physical-Chemical Biology.
By 1937, he was a university lecturer in physics. He taught about the experimental foundations of quantum theory. This theory helps us understand how tiny particles behave. He also directed a physical chemistry laboratory. Later, he held a special position teaching quantum physics and relativity.
After World War II, from 1945 to 1948, he became the director of higher education. This allowed him to help set up the first course on genetics at the Sorbonne.
The Auger Effect Explained
The Auger effect is a process where electrons are released from atoms. This process is used in a method called Auger electron spectroscopy. Scientists use this method to study the elements found on the surface of different materials. The method was named after Pierre Auger. Interestingly, another scientist, Lise Meitner, discovered this same process independently in 1922.
Discoveries About Cosmic Rays
Pierre Auger also did important work with cosmic rays. He found that when cosmic rays hit Earth's atmosphere, they create a burst of many particles. This burst is called an air shower.
He figured out that the original cosmic ray particle must have had a huge amount of energy. He estimated this energy to be at least 1015 electronvolts (eV). This is a very large number, showing how powerful these particles from space are.
Honors and Achievements
Pierre Auger received many honors for his scientific work:
- He was the first Director General of the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO). He also helped in the creation of CERN, a famous particle physics lab.
- He was president of the International Computing Centre in Rome.
- From 1948 to 1959, he led the department of mathematical and natural sciences at UNESCO.
- In 1977, he became a member of the French Academy of Sciences.
- He hosted a popular science radio show called Les Grandes Avenues de la science moderne. It aired on France Culture from 1969 to 1986.
- The world's largest cosmic ray detector is named after him. It is called the Pierre Auger Observatory.
See also
In Spanish: Pierre Victor Auger para niños
- Auger therapy
