Charles Fabry
Encyclopedia
Maurice Paul Auguste Charles Fabry FMRS (11 June 1867, Marseille
– 11 December 1945, Paris
) was a French physicist
.
in Paris
and received his doctorate from the University of Paris
in 1892, for his work on interference fringes, which established him as an authority in the field of optics
and spectroscopy
. In 1904, he was appointed Professor of Physics at the University of Marseille, where he spent 26 years.
discovered the ozone layer
in 1913. In optics
, he discovered an explanation for the phenomenon of interference fringes. Together with his colleague Alfred Pérot
he invented the Fabry–Pérot interferometer.
In 1921, Fabry was appointed Professor of General Physics at the Sorbonne
and the
first director of the new Institute of Optics. In 1926 he also became professor at the Ecole Polytechnique
. He was the first general director of the Institut d'optique théorique et appliquée and director of "grande école" École supérieure d'optique
(SupOptique).
During his career Fabry published 197 scientific papers, 14 books, and over 100 popular articles. For his important scientific achievements he received the Rumford Medal
from the Royal Society of London in 1918. In the United States
his work was recognized by the Henry Draper Medal
from the National Academy of Sciences
(1919) and the Franklin Medal
from the Franklin Institute
(1921). In 1927 he was elected to the French Academy of Sciences
.
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
– 11 December 1945, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
) was a French physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
.
Life
Fabry graduated from the Ecole PolytechniqueÉcole Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and received his doctorate from the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in 1892, for his work on interference fringes, which established him as an authority in the field of optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
and spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
. In 1904, he was appointed Professor of Physics at the University of Marseille, where he spent 26 years.
Career
He and Henri BuissonHenri Buisson
Henri Buisson was a French physicist.Buisson and Charles Fabry discovered the ozone layer in 1913....
discovered the ozone layer
Ozone layer
The ozone layer is a layer in Earth's atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of ozone . This layer absorbs 97–99% of the Sun's high frequency ultraviolet light, which is potentially damaging to the life forms on Earth...
in 1913. In optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
, he discovered an explanation for the phenomenon of interference fringes. Together with his colleague Alfred Pérot
Alfred Pérot
Jean-Baptiste Alfred Perot was a French physicist.Together with his colleague Charles Fabry he developed the Fabry–Pérot interferometer.-Spelling:...
he invented the Fabry–Pérot interferometer.
In 1921, Fabry was appointed Professor of General Physics at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
and the
first director of the new Institute of Optics. In 1926 he also became professor at the Ecole Polytechnique
École Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
. He was the first general director of the Institut d'optique théorique et appliquée and director of "grande école" École supérieure d'optique
École supérieure d'optique
The École supérieure d'optique , nicknamed "SupOptique", is the leading French grande école in the field of optics and its industrial and scientific applications, and a member of the prestigious UniverSud Paris and ParisTech...
(SupOptique).
During his career Fabry published 197 scientific papers, 14 books, and over 100 popular articles. For his important scientific achievements he received the Rumford Medal
Rumford Medal
The Rumford Medal is awarded by the Royal Society every alternating year for "an outstandingly important recent discovery in the field of thermal or optical properties of matter made by a scientist working in Europe". First awarded in 1800, it was created after a 1796 donation of $5000 by the...
from the Royal Society of London in 1918. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
his work was recognized by the Henry Draper Medal
Henry Draper Medal
The Henry Draper Medal is awarded by the United States National Academy of Sciences "for investigations in astronomical physics". Named after Henry Draper, the medal is awarded with a gift of USD $15,000...
from the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
(1919) and the Franklin Medal
Franklin Medal
The Franklin Medal was a science and engineering award presented by the Franklin Institute, of Philadelphia, PA, USA.-Laureates:*1915 - Thomas Alva Edison *1915 - Heike Kamerlingh Onnes *1916 - John J...
from the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
(1921). In 1927 he was elected to the French Academy of Sciences
French Academy of Sciences
The French Academy of Sciences is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French scientific research...
.