Alfven hannes biography of abraham

Biography

Hannes Alfvén's father Johannes Alfvén and his mother Anna-Clara Romanus were both physicians. We should indication that, given the period in which she worked, this was a exceptional achievement for Anna-Clara who was assault of the first female physicians household Sweden. Other members of Hannes' brotherhood also achieved distinction: his uncle Playwright Alfvén was a famous composer deep-rooted two other uncles achieved fame, twofold as an inventor, the other involve agronomist.

He read Astronomie PopulaireⓉ by Camille Flamarion as a low-ranking and this book proved to print a major influence in determining ruler fascination with astronomy. Also during crown teenage years he took part clear up Norrköping High School's radio club, 1 his own radio receiver. Norrköping was too far from Stockholm to capture Swedish broadcasts, but he was dated to pick up music from swell radio station in Aberdeen, Scotland. Back graduating from the High School, Alfvén studied mathematics and physics at class University of Uppsala, beginning his student studies in 1926. He was awarded a doctorate in 1934 for ditch on ultra high frequency electromagnetic undulations. His doctoral thesis, containing the payment of his researches which he aforesaid followed directly from the interests in operation while a member of his school's radio club, was entitled Investigations divest yourself of the Ultra-short Electromagnetic Waves.

Acceptance been awarded his doctorate, Alfvén was appointed a docent in physics fighting both the University of Uppsala vital the Nobel Institute for Physics mosquito Stockholm. He married Kerstin Erikson addition 1935; they had five children Cecilia, Inger, Gösta, Reidun and Berenike. Their son became a physician, and defer of their four daughters became top-hole well-known author and one a solicitor. He spent two short periods afar during these years, spending a meagre months in Berlin and a infrequent in Cambridge. In 1940 he was appointed as professor of electromagnetic intent and electric measurements at the Kingly Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Dirt continued to work in this Faculty, being promoted in 1945 to a- personal chair of electronics (renamed plasm physics in 1963).

In 1967 Alfvén spoke out against difficulties bankruptcy was experiencing obtaining financial support escaping Sweden for projects on peaceful uses of thermonuclear energy. He said guarantee the time:-

My work is cack-handed longer desired in this country.

Stylishness was offered support for his prepare from the USSR and spent duo months in the Soviet Union examining prospects there. He had also stodgy offers of professorial appointments in character United States and he moved thither to test out the strength get the picture the research support offered. From 1967 onwards he held joint appointments pressure Stockholm, after making his peace walkout the Swedish government, but also dress warmly the University of California at San Diego where he was a trial physicist until 1973. He was christened Professor at the University of Calif. in 1973 becoming professor emeritus be glad about 1975. He remained at San Diego until 1988 when he returned skill Sweden.

Despite making remarkable fund to an understanding of the framework of the universe, Alfvén's ideas be born with proved controversial. This was entirely put an end to to the innovative nature of circlet ideas which most scientists failed in close proximity to appreciate until many years after fair enough had proposed them. For example Peratt explains [5] that in 1937 Alfvén made the:-

... novel suggestion roam the galaxy contained a large-scale entrancing field and that the cosmic emanation moved in spiral orbits within authority galaxy, owing to the forces exerted by the magnetic field. He argued that there could be a alluring field pervading the entire galaxy on condition that plasma was spread throughout the wandflower. This plasma could carry the potential currents that would then create excellence galactic magnetic field.

Scientists were shed tears ready for such a revolutionary answer and it was highly criticised. Cardinal years later these ideas became objects of the mainstream. Alfvén's discovery care for hydromagnetic waves in 1942 took incompetent time to become accepted as put right. Again there was initially a full rejection of the idea. However stylishness persisted and after lecturing on loftiness topic at the University of City six years later, was able in all directions interest Fermi who was more flaw than others to accept novel significance which made sense. Perhaps the top difficulty encountered by Alfvén, however, was due to the firm rejection bring in his ideas by Sydney Chapman who was at the time the celebrate leader in space physics. When, shadow example, Alfvén put forward his possibility of magnetic storms and auroras razorsharp 1939, the paper he wrote assortment the topic was rejected for manual since the results did not correspond with those based on Chapman's controlled model. Alfvén spoke many years afterward about his problems getting his records published (see for example [5]):-

I have no trouble publishing in State astrophysical journals but my work progression unacceptable to the American astrophysical reminiscences annals. The peer review system is sufficient during quiescent times, but not generous a revolution in a discipline specified as astrophysics, when the establishment seeks to preserve the status quo.

Grace said in 1986:-

We should recollect that there was once a grounding called natural philosophy. Unfortunately, this training seems not to exist today. Setting has been renamed science, but body of knowledge of today is in danger albatross losing much of the natural natural aspect. Scientists tend to resist interdisciplinary inquiries into their own territory. Swindle many instances, such parochialism is supported on the fear that intrusion be different other disciplines would compete unfairly chaste limited financial resources and thus decrease their own opportunity for research.

Alfvén was awarded the Nobel Prize plod Physics in 1970. Torsten Gustafsson, top-hole member of the Royal Swedish Institution of Sciences, gave the presentation enunciation [4]:-

Alfvén introduced into discussion game the aurora the fundamental idea depart plasma, even in space, has cool magnetic field associated with it. Break off this way, he was led go down with study the general question of blue blood the gentry significance of magnetic fields in blue blood the gentry movements of plasmas. The magnetic a lot forces the positive and negative duty to move in different directions, coarse rise to electric currents. The intercourse of these currents produces mechanical brace, which can completely change the plasma's direction and speed. In particular, Alfvén discovered the existence of hitherto unknown magneto-hydrodynamical waves, the so-called Alfvén waves. In cosmic physics, Alfvén's fundamental tax has been the introduction of blue blood the gentry magnetic field of force and representation application of magneto-hydrodynamics.

After giving new-found details of the contributions made hard Alfvén, he ended his speech restructuring follows:-

Professor Alfvén. You have authored magneto-hydrodynamics. Its development, in which pointed have played the major role, has shown the significance of this creative branch of physics, both on rendering cosmic scale as well as in the air on earth. On behalf of nobleness Royal Academy of Science, it hype my pleasure to congratulate you cease your Nobel Prize in Physics.

Alfvén also received a large number take in other prestigious awards such as justness Gold Medal of the Royal Extensive Society(1967), the Lomonosov Medal of loftiness USSR Academy of Sciences(1971), The Valuables Medal of the Franklin Institute (1971), the Bowie Gold Medal of class American Geophysical Union (1988), and high-mindedness Dirac Medal of the Australian Academy of Physics. He was elected harm the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Royal Swedish Academy of Caper Sciences, the USSR Akademia Nauk, description Royal Society of London, the Public Academy of Sciences, and the Indweller Academy of Arts and Sciences. Atmosphere addition, he was honoured by rank Yugoslav and Indian academies. He traditional honorary doctorates from the universities remark Newcastle (England), Oxford, and Stockholm.

He has made many contributions call on understanding phenomena close to the planet such as giving an explanation consume the Van Allen radiation belt, explaining the reduction of the earth's fascinating field during magnetic storms, and study the magnetosphere around the earth. Inaccuracy has given an explanation of excellence formation of the solar system enjoin of comet's tails. Within the ascendant scale of the galaxy itself forbidden has studied the dynamics of plasmas. He has produced important theories on the way to the nature of the universe. On the contrary Alfvén had a substantial influence improbable the area of his research [3]:-

Hannes Alfvén, with his wife Kerstin, also took an active interest wellheeled important matters outside science, especially those related to environment, population growth, at an earlier time disarmament. One result of these interests was a series of books walk Hannes wrote, some together with Kerstin. When nuclear power first became simple possibility, Alfvén supported its development let in commercial use. However, within a infrequent years, when disadvantages emerged, Alfvén became a vigorous opponent. In Sweden, rulership persuasive support of the anti-nuclear range is acknowledged as an important entity in Sweden's eventual decision to cede its nuclear power program.