Alexander Smakula
Encyclopedia
Olexander Smakula (1900, Dobrovody
, Austria–Hungary, today Ukraine
– 17 May 1983, Auburn, Massachusetts
, USA) was a Ukrainian
physicist known for the discovery of anti-reflective coating
of lenses.
, Ukraine
) in a family of peasants. After finishing his studies at the Ternopil gymnasium he applied to the Georg-August University of Göttingen
from which he graduated in 1927. Afterwards he worked as an assistant of Prof. Robert Pohl
.After his short stay at the Odessa University
Olexander Smakula returned to Germany as a head of an optics laboratory in Heidelberg
. From 1934 he worked at the Carl Zeiss AG company in Jena
. At those times, in 1935, Smakula invented and patented anti-reflective coating
for lenses, which appeared to be a serious improvement in many optical devices. After the end of World War II Smakula went to the USA, where he first worked in Virginia investigating materials for infrared technology. In 1951 he got an offer of professorship at the MIT
, where he mainly did research on crystals. Olexander Smakula died on May 17, 1983 and is buried in Auburn, Massachusetts
, USA.
Dobrovody
Dobrovody is a village located within the Uman Raion of the Cherkasy Oblast , Ukraine.Dobrovody is a 4th millennium BC site of the Cucuteni-Trypillian culture, with up to 10,000 citizens, and was one of the largest cities in the world in its day. The total area is about 2.5 km2...
, Austria–Hungary, today Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
– 17 May 1983, Auburn, Massachusetts
Auburn, Massachusetts
Auburn is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,188 at the 2010 census.- History :Auburn was first settled in 1789 and was officially incorporated in 1808 as the town of Ward, in honor of American Revolution General Artemas Ward...
, USA) was a Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
physicist known for the discovery of anti-reflective coating
Anti-reflective coating
An antireflective or anti-reflection coating is a type of optical coating applied to the surface of lenses and other optical devices to reduce reflection. This improves the efficiency of the system since less light is lost. In complex systems such as a telescope, the reduction in reflections also...
of lenses.
Biography
Smakula was born in Dobrovody village, Austria–Hungary (today Ternopil OblastTernopil Oblast
Ternopil Oblast is an oblast' of Ukraine. Its administrative center is Ternopil, through which flows the Seret River, a tributary of the Dnister.-Geography:...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
) in a family of peasants. After finishing his studies at the Ternopil gymnasium he applied to the Georg-August University of Göttingen
Georg-August University of Göttingen
The University of Göttingen , known informally as Georgia Augusta, is a university in the city of Göttingen, Germany.Founded in 1734 by King George II of Great Britain and the Elector of Hanover, it opened for classes in 1737. The University of Göttingen soon grew in size and popularity...
from which he graduated in 1927. Afterwards he worked as an assistant of Prof. Robert Pohl
Robert Pohl
Robert Wichard Pohl was a German physicist.In 1938 Robert Pohl and Rudolf Hilsch, from the University of Göttingen, built the first functioning solid-state amplifier using salt as the semiconductor ....
.After his short stay at the Odessa University
Odessa University
The I. I. Mechnikov Odessa National University , located in Odessa, Ukraine, is one of the country's major universities. It was founded in 1865, by an edict of Czar Alexander II of Russia, reorganizing the Richelieu Lyceum of Odessa into the new Imperial Novorossiya University. In the Soviet...
Olexander Smakula returned to Germany as a head of an optics laboratory in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
. From 1934 he worked at the Carl Zeiss AG company in Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
. At those times, in 1935, Smakula invented and patented anti-reflective coating
Anti-reflective coating
An antireflective or anti-reflection coating is a type of optical coating applied to the surface of lenses and other optical devices to reduce reflection. This improves the efficiency of the system since less light is lost. In complex systems such as a telescope, the reduction in reflections also...
for lenses, which appeared to be a serious improvement in many optical devices. After the end of World War II Smakula went to the USA, where he first worked in Virginia investigating materials for infrared technology. In 1951 he got an offer of professorship at the MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, where he mainly did research on crystals. Olexander Smakula died on May 17, 1983 and is buried in Auburn, Massachusetts
Auburn, Massachusetts
Auburn is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,188 at the 2010 census.- History :Auburn was first settled in 1789 and was officially incorporated in 1808 as the town of Ward, in honor of American Revolution General Artemas Ward...
, USA.