Henri Becquerel
Early Life and Education
Henri Becquerel was born on December 15, 1852, in Paris, France. He was the son of Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel, a notable French physicist, and grandson of Antoine César Becquerel, a pioneer in the study of electric and luminescent phenomena. From a young age, Henri was exposed to scientific research and developed a keen interest in the natural sciences.
He pursued his education at the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand and later at the École Polytechnique, a renowned higher education institution in France. After graduating, Becquerel continued his studies at the École des Ponts et Chaussées (School of Bridges and Roads), where he graduated as an engineer in 1877.
Career and Discoveries
Becquerel began his career as an engineer at the Department of Bridges and Highways. However, his passion for science led him to join his father at the Museum of Natural History in Paris, where he conducted research on luminescence and phosphorescence.
In 1892, Becquerel was appointed as the Professor of Applied Physics at the École Polytechnique. He also held the chair of Physics at the Museum of Natural History, succeeding his father.
In 1896, Becquerel made his most significant discovery while investigating the properties of uranium. He found that uranium salts emitted rays that could penetrate solid matter, fog photographic plates, and cause air to conduct electricity. This phenomenon, which he initially attributed to phosphorescence, was later recognized as a property of radioactivity, a term coined by Marie and Pierre Curie.
Contribution to Science and Legacy
Becquerel's discovery of natural radioactivity was a groundbreaking contribution to physics. It opened up new avenues of research in the field of atomic physics and laid the foundation for the development of nuclear energy and medical applications such as radiotherapy.
In 1903, Becquerel shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Marie and Pierre Curie for their joint research on the radiation phenomena discovered by Becquerel.
Becquerel's work has had a profound impact on our understanding of the atomic world. The unit of radioactivity, the Becquerel (Bq), was named in his honor by the International Commission on Radiological Units and Measurements in 1975.
Death and Posthumous Recognition
Becquerel died on August 25, 1908, in Le Croisic, France. His contributions to science continue to be recognized and celebrated. In 1995, the European Physical Society honored him by establishing the Becquerel Prize for outstanding contributions to the field of solar energy.