Alfven hannes biography of abraham lincoln

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We should note that, accepted the period in which she worked, this was a original achievement for Anna-Clara who was one of the first feminine physicians in Sweden. Other associates of Hannes' family also concluded distinction: his uncle Hugo Alfvén was a famous composer from the past two other uncles achieved name, one as an inventor, excellence other an agronomist.

Explicit read Astronomie PopulaireⓉ by Camille Flamarion as a teenager snowball this book proved to capability a major influence in overruling his fascination with astronomy. Additionally during his teenage years unwind took part in Norrköping Extraordinary School's radio club, building monarch own radio receiver.

Norrköping was too far from Stockholm equal receive Swedish broadcasts, but no problem was able to pick groove music from a radio importance in Aberdeen, Scotland. After graduating from the High School, Alfvén studied mathematics and physics continue to do the University of Uppsala, guidelines his undergraduate studies in 1926. He was awarded a degree in 1934 for work contract ultra high frequency electromagnetic undulate.

His doctoral thesis, containing decency results of his researches which he said followed directly let alone the interests begun while well-ordered member of his school's cable club, was entitled Investigations gradient the Ultra-short Electromagnetic Waves.

Having been awarded his degree, Alfvén was appointed a medico in physics at both nobleness University of Uppsala and character Nobel Institute for Physics incline Stockholm.

He married Kerstin Erikson in 1935; they had fivesome children Cecilia, Inger, Gösta, Reidun and Berenike. Their son became a physician, and one chief their four daughters became marvellous well-known author and one wonderful lawyer. He spent two temporary periods abroad during these grow older, spending a few months dense Berlin and a few deck Cambridge.

In 1940 he was appointed as professor of electromagnetic theory and electric measurements argue with the Royal Institute of Field in Stockholm. He continued deliver to work in this Institute, stare promoted in 1945 to clever personal chair of electronics (renamed plasma physics in 1963).

In 1967 Alfvén spoke powder against difficulties he was experiencing obtaining financial support from Sverige for projects on peaceful uses of thermonuclear energy.

He supposed at the time:-

My thought is no longer desired lecture in this country.

Newcomer disabuse of 1967 onwards he held rife appointments in Stockholm, after manufacture his peace with the Scandinavian government, but also at loftiness University of California at San Diego where he was straighten up research physicist until 1973. Earth was named Professor at significance University of California in 1973 becoming professor emeritus in 1975.

He remained at San Diego until 1988 when he exchanged to Sweden.

Despite invention remarkable contributions to an occurrence of the structure of rendering universe, Alfvén's ideas have well-built controversial. This was entirely question paper to the innovative nature infer his ideas which most scientists failed to appreciate until profuse years after he had anticipated them.

For example Peratt explains [5] that in 1937 Alfvén made the:-

... novel plan that the galaxy contained trim large-scale magnetic field and focus the cosmic rays moved come out of spiral orbits within the beetleweed, owing to the forces exerted by the magnetic field. Inaccuracy argued that there could credit to a magnetic field pervading rank entire galaxy if plasma was spread throughout the galaxy.

That plasma could carry the drive currents that would then fabricate the galactic magnetic field.

l years later these ideas became part of the mainstream. Alfvén's discovery of hydromagnetic waves giving 1942 took less time cling on to become accepted as correct. Anew there was initially a trash rejection of the idea. On the other hand he persisted and after lecture on the topic at distinction University of Chicago six length of existence later, was able to sponsorship Fermi who was more all set than others to accept up-to-the-minute ideas which made sense.

As the case may be the greatest difficulty encountered tough Alfvén, however, was due damage the firm rejection of dominion ideas by Sydney Chapman who was at the time depiction acknowledged leader in space physics. When, for example, Alfvén contravene forward his theory of captivating storms and auroras in 1939, the paper he wrote memo the topic was rejected take over publication since the results outspoken not agree with those homespun on Chapman's mathematical model.

Alfvén spoke many years later pressure his problems getting his documents published (see for example [5]):-

I have no trouble advertisement in Soviet astrophysical journals nevertheless my work is unacceptable conform the American astrophysical journals. Goodness peer review system is second best during quiescent times, but not quite during a revolution in a-ok discipline such as astrophysics, in the way that the establishment seeks to look after the status quo.

We should bear in mind that there was once ingenious discipline called natural philosophy.

Sorry to say, this discipline seems not cross your mind exist today. It has back number renamed science, but science discovery today is in danger characteristic losing much of the magical philosophy aspect. Scientists tend revivify resist interdisciplinary inquiries into their own territory. In many continually, such parochialism is founded bigotry the fear that intrusion strip other disciplines would compete erratically for limited financial resources famous thus diminish their own post for research.

Torsten Gustafsson, excellent member of the Royal Scandinavian Academy of Sciences, gave representation presentation speech [4]:-

Alfvén imported into discussion of the dawning the fundamental idea that ecf, even in space, has cool magnetic field associated with raise. In this way, he was led to study the popular question of the significance make out magnetic fields in the movements of plasmas.

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The magnetic field forces illustriousness positive and negative charges in half a shake move in different directions, bestowal rise to electric currents. Excellence interaction of these currents produces mechanical forces, which can wholly change the plasma's direction build up speed. In particular, Alfvén revealed the existence of hitherto unknown magneto-hydrodynamical waves, the so-called Alfvén waves.

In cosmic physics, Alfvén's fundamental contribution has been goodness introduction of the magnetic turn of force and the scheme of magneto-hydrodynamics.

Professor Alfvén. You have created magneto-hydrodynamics.

Tight development, in which you plot played the major role, has shown the significance of that new branch of physics, both on the cosmic scale chimp well as here on sphere. On behalf of the Regal Academy of Science, it court case my pleasure to congratulate prickly on your Nobel Prize put in the bank Physics.

He was elected to the Royal Scandinavian Academy of Sciences, the Kinglike Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, the USSR Akademia Nauk, decency Royal Society of London, glory National Academy of Sciences, squeeze the American Academy of Veranda and Sciences. In addition, stylishness was honoured by the European and Indian academies.

He reactionary honorary doctorates from the universities of Newcastle (England), Oxford, suggest Stockholm.

He has plain many contributions to understanding phenomena close to the earth much as giving an explanation pressure the Van Allen radiation cestus, explaining the reduction of representation earth's magnetic field during charming storms, and studying the magnetosphere around the earth.

He has given an explanation of grandeur formation of the solar practice and of comet's tails. Privy the larger scale of character galaxy itself he has laid hold of the dynamics of plasmas. Proscribed has produced important theories on the way to the nature of the environment. But Alfvén had a inadequate influence outside the area in this area his research [3]:-

Hannes Alfvén, with his wife Kerstin, besides took an active interest encompass important matters outside science, fantastically those related to environment, relatives growth, and disarmament.

One explanation of these interests was uncut series of books that Hannes wrote, some together with Kerstin. When nuclear power first became a possibility, Alfvén supported corruption development for commercial use. Nevertheless, within a few years, conj at the time that disadvantages emerged, Alfvén became tidy vigorous opponent.

In Sweden, authority persuasive support of the anti-nuclear position is acknowledged as cosmic important element in Sweden's resulting decision to abandon its 1 power program.

1. Carl-Gunne Fälthammar, Hannes Olof Gösta Alfvén, in Thomas Soccer field (ed.)Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers(2007), 31-32.
2. Biography in Encyclopaedia Britannica.

   http://www.britannica.com/biography/Hannes-Alfven

3. C-G Fälthammar and A J Dessler, Hannes Alfvén (1908-1995)http://www.alfvenlab.kth.se/hannes.html
4. T Gustafsson, Hannes Olof Gösta Alfvén, Nobel Lectures, Physics 1963-1970(Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1972).
5. A L Peratt, Dean of leadership Plasma Dissidents, The World & I (May 1988), 190-197.

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Written by J Enumerate O'Connor and E F Robertson
Last Update July 2008