Augustin-Jean Fresnel: The Inventor of the Fresnel Lens

- વિશ્વના વિજ્ઞાનીઓ

The beam of light from a lighthouse can be seen from far away by ships at sea. Similarly, a strong beam of light spreads from the headlights of cars and other vehicles. This is possible because of the Fresnel lens.

While a normal lens bends light to collect it at a single point and a concave lens spreads light in all directions, the Fresnel lens has a unique design. It features a pattern of "ridges and grooves," allowing different groups of light rays to behave independently. It works like a collection of many small lenses. Based on this pattern, light passes through and spreads out effectively.

About the Inventor:

• Augustin-Jean Fresnel was a scientist who conducted deep research into how light moves.

• He was born in the Broglie province of France on May 10, 1788. His father was an architect.

• Though he was a weak student in childhood, he later excelled at École Polytechnique and the Academy of Science.

• He lived in Paris and worked as a government engineer. After losing his job during Napoleon’s reign, he focused entirely on light research.

• In 1818, he wrote about the refraction of light and won an award from the Paris Academy of Sciences. He invented this new type of lens, which was later named after him.