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Hannes AlfvnHannes Olof Gsta Alfvn (May 30, 1908; Norrkping, Sweden - April 2, 1995; Djursholm, Sweden) was a Swedish electrical power engineer. Some considered him an astrophysicist. Education Alfvn received a PhD from the University of Uppsala in 1934. His thesis was entitled "Investigations of the Ultra-short Electromagnetic Waves." Early years In 1934, he taught physics at both the University of Uppsala and the Nobel Institute for Physics in Stockholm. In 1940, he became professor of electromagnetic theory and electrical measurements at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. In 1945, he acquired the nonappointive Chair of Electronics at Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. It was changed to a Chair of Plasma Physics in 1963. In 1967, after leaving Sweden and spending some time in the Soviet Union, he moved to America. He worked in the departments of electrical engineering at two universities, the University of California, San Diego and the University of Southern California. Alfvn considered himself an electrical power engineer. During his scientific career, prior to winning the Nobel Prize, Alfvn was not generally recognized as a leading innovator in the scientific community (though they were using his work). He enjoyed the assertion that he was guilty of a fault or offence by the entry into areas not previously explored in astrophysics leveled by other cosmologists and theoreticians. Research, awards, and contributions His work was continuously disputed for many years by the senior scientist in space physics, the British-American geophysicist Sydney Chapman. Alfvn had trouble with the peer review system. He did not in any circumstance benefit without volition the acceptance generally afforded senior scientists in scientific journals. Alfvn once submitted a paper on the theory of magnetic storms and auroras to the leading American journal Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric Electricity and the paper was rejected on the ground that it did not agree with the theoretical calculations of conventional physics of the time. He was regarded as a person with unorthodox opinions in the field by many physicists. He was often forced to publish his papers in obscure journals. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1970 for his work with magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). In 1988, Alfvn was awarded by the American Geophysical Union the Bowie medal, for his work on comets and plasmas in the solar system. Awards Alfvn has also been awarded: - Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1967)
- Gold Medal of the Franklin Institute (1971)
- Lomonosov Gold Medal of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1971)
Memberships Academies and institutes with Alfvn in their membership: - Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
- Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (life fellow)
- European Physical Society
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Yugoslav Academy of Sciences
- Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
A creative and intuitive intellect of the 20th century, Alfvn was one of the few scientists who was a foreign member of both the U.S. and Soviet Academies of Sciences. Developed and researched He played a central role in the development of: - Plasma physics
- Charged particle beams
- Interplanetary physics
- Magnetospheric physics
- Magnetohydrodynamics
- Solar phenomenon investigation (such as the solar wind)
- Aurorae science
In 1939, Alfvn proposed the theory of magnetic storms and auroras and the theory of plasma dynamics in the earth's magnetosphere. Electric charges spiraling in magnetic fields caused the motions of electrons and ions. Applications of his research in space science include: - Van Allen radiation belt explanations
- Earth's magnetic field reduction during magnetic storms
- Magnetosphere (protective plasma covering the earth)
- Formation of comet tails
- Formation of the solar system
- Dynamics of plasmas in the galaxy
- Fundamental nature of the universe
Alfvn conducted interplanetary and magnetospheric physics research. Alfvn's views followed the founder of magnetospheric physics, Kristian Birkeland. At the end of the nineteenth century, Birkeland proposed (backed by extensive data) that electric currents flowing down along the earth's magnetic fields into the atmosphere caused of the aurora and polar magnetic disturbances. Alfvn's contributions helped develop: - Particle beam accelerators
- Controlled thermonuclear fusion
- Hypersonic flight
- Rocket propulsion
- Reentry braking of space vehicles
Alfvn's contributions to astrophysics: - Galactic magnetic field forms - Cosmic Magnetism (1937)
- Identify nonthermal radiation (synchrotron radiation) from astronomical sources (1950)
In 1963, Alfvn first predicted the large scale filamentary structure of the universe. This discovery perplexed astrophysicists till 1991. Alfvn waves (low frequency hydromagnetic plasma oscillations) are named in his honor. Many of his theories about the solar system have been verified as late as the 1980's through measurements of cometary and planetary magnetospheres by satellites and probes. Alfvn's theories gained acceptance only two or three decades after their publication. He is also known for developing plasma cosmology, a non-standard alternative to the big bang. Among physicists today, there is a lack of awareness of Alfvn's contributions to fields of physics where his ideas are routinely used without recognition. Alfvn versus the Big Bang Alfvn and colleagues proposed an alternative cosmology to both the Steady State and the Big Bang cosmologies. Alfvn believed the problem with the Big Bang was that astrophysicists tried to extrapolate the origin of the universe from mathematical theories developed on the blackboard. The Big Bang was a myth according to Alfvn. This myth was devised to explain creation according to Alfvn. He confided with close friends that the theory tried to make science compatible with the authoritative declaration of creatio ex nihilo or creation out of nothing. Alfvn proposed a plasma universe. This theory is called Plasma cosmology. He acknowledged that the theory may take time to be accepted by the popular consciousness. Later years In 1991, Alfvn retired his posts of professor of electrical engineering at the University of California, San Diego and professor of plasma physics at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm . Alfvn spent his life alternating between California and Sweden. He died when he was 86 years old. The asteroid 1778 Alfvn was named in his honour. Personal life He had a good sense of humor. Alfvn participated in a variety of social issues and worldwide disarmament movements. Alfvn had a long-standing distrust of computers. Alfvn studied the history of science and oriental philosophy and religion. He spoke English, German, French, and Russian, and some Spanish and Chinese. Hannes Alfvn was married for 67 years to Kirsten. They raised five children, one boy and four girls. The son became a physician. One daughter became a writer in Sweden and one a lawyer. Alfvn wrote popular science books: - Worlds-Antiworlds: Antimatter in Cosmology (1966)
- The Great Computer: A Vision (1968) name: Olof Johannesson
- Atom, Man, and the Universe: A Long Chain of Complications (1969)
- Living on the Third Planet (1972).
External links Obituary Alfven, Hannes Alfven, Hannes Alfven, Hannes Alfven, Hannes
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