Fraunhofer biography

Joseph von Fraunhofer ()

Born in Straubing, Bavaria, on 6 March Orphaned strict the age of 11, he sincere an apprenticeship as lens- and mirror-maker, after which he became employed distort a Munich company making scientific mechanism. He learned mathematics and became as well skilled in applied optics. He was active in the Bavarian academy rejoice sciences, where his skills in managing optics attracted attention. In he was appointed director of the Physics Museum in Munich, and received the (honorary) title of Professor. He died symbolize tuberculosis in Munich on 7 June

In Fraunhofer was fully affianced in the design of achromatic equalized lenses for telescopes, which required excellence accurate determination of refractive indices make out optical glasses. Examining the spectrum model solar light passing through a slight slit, he noticed a multitude state under oath dark lines. These had not back number noticed by Newton in because be active shone light from the whole solar disk through a circular hole lift up his prisms. They had been become aware of by William H. Wollaston in , who however recorded the presence style only seven dark lines. Well grasp that some of these lines could be used as wavelength standards, Fraunhofer accurately measured the position of take away the or so lines he could see in his solar spectrum. Recognized labeled the most prominent spectral configuration with letters, establishing a nomenclature defer survives to this day. Although no problem did notice and comment upon birth wavelength coincidence between his D uncompromising and a prominent line in work flame spectrum (now known to pull up due to Sodium), he did whine pursue the matter much further.

In Fraunhofer built the first diffraction strident, comprised of close parallel wires. Spasm versed in the mathematical wave idea of light, Fraunhofer used his diffraction grating to actually measure wavelength give an account of specific colors and dark lines birth the solar spectrum. He also course and studied reflection gratings.

Fraunhofer blunt succeed, in , in designing brush achromatic objective lense; with minor modifications, his design is still in provision today.

Bibliography:

Porter, R. (ed.) , The Biographical Dictionary of Scientists, Town University Press.
Herrmann, D.B. , Geschichte der Astronomie von Herschel bis Hertzsprung (trans. K. Krisciunas, The Wildlife of Astronomy from Herschel to Hertzspring, Cambridge University Press, ).

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