Antoine Henri Becquerel was not only a researcher who made a significant contribution to the discovery and study of a number of physical phenomena. He was actively involved in teaching, bringing up talented students who continued his work. In 1908 Becquerel and the Curies won the Nobel Prize for the discovery of radioactivity.
From the biography of the scientist
The future Nobel laureate in physics was born on December 15, 1852 in the capital of France. Becquerel's grandfather and father were eminent scientists, they were in the French Academy of Sciences. Both taught at different times at the Natural History Museum of Paris.
Antoine Henri received his secondary education at the prestigious Lyceum of Louis the Great. In 1872 he began his studies at the Metropolitan Polytechnic School. Two years later, the young man transferred to another educational institution - the Higher School of Bridges and Roads. Here he diligently studied engineering, then taught and conducted research.
Becquerel's scientific career began
In 1875 Becquerel became interested in the effects of magnetic forces on polarized light. A year later, he was already actively involved in teaching at the Ecole Polytechnique in the capital of France.
In 1877, Antoine earned a degree in engineering and began active work at the National Bureau of Bridges and Roads. Subsequently Becquerel assisted his father in the Natural History Museum, combining this activity with teaching.
In collaboration with his father, Antoine Henri prepared a series of publications on the temperature of the Earth in four years. In 1882, he completed his research on polarized light and began his research in the field of luminescence.
In the mid-80s of the XIX century, Becquerel developed a method for analyzing spectra, sets of light waves. In 1888, the scientist became a doctor of sciences. The academic degree was awarded to Becquerel from the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Paris. The topic of the dissertation was the absorption of light in crystal structures.
After the death of his father, Antiuan took over his business, heading a department at the Museum of Natural Sciences. A little later, he received a respectable position of chief engineer in the Bureau of Bridges and Roads, which he had known for a long time, and at the same time began to head the Department of Physics at the Polytechnic School.
Study of X-rays and the discovery of radioactivity
In 1895, Roentgen discovered radiation, later called X-rays, which had a high penetrating power. Becquerel decided to test whether the luminescent material was capable of emitting such rays. For several months, the scientist repeated experiments with many luminescent substances and found that uranium compounds spontaneously emit radiation. The mysterious phenomenon inherent in uranium is called Becquerel's rays.
Maria Curie, a student of Becquerel, found that the same rays emits radium and gave the radiation the name "radioactivity". In 1903, the couple Curies and Becquerel shared the Nobel Prize, which they received for the discovery of spontaneous radioactivity.
Becquerel's personal life
Becquerel married in 1874. His chosen one was Lucy Zoë Marie Jamen, whose father was a professor of physics. Four years later, Becquerel's wife died in childbirth, leaving her husband a son. The boy was named Jean, later he also became a physicist.
In 1890 Antoine Henri remarried. Louise Desira Laurier became his companion in life.
The famous scientist passed away on August 25, 1908 during a trip to his wife's family estate.
