About
Alfred Kastler (1902-1984) was a French physicist, born in Guebwiller, Alsace. He studied at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris and earned his doctorate in 1935. With Jean Brossel, he developed the double resonance method and the technique of optical pumping, which enabled the study of Hertzian resonances in atoms. These works earned Kastler the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1966 and contributed to the development of lasers and atomic clocks. He taught at the ENS Paris from 1941 to 1968 and trained several renowned physicists. Politically engaged, he campaigned for peace and against nuclear weapons.
* 1902-05-03 — † 1984-01-07
Major works
- Europe, ma patrie: Deutsche Lieder eines französischen Europäers (1971)poetry collection
Key milestones
- 1966Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery and development of optical methods for studying Hertzian resonances in atoms.
- 1951Co-founded the Laboratoire de Spectroscopie Hertzienne at ENS with Jean Brossel.
- 1964Elected to the French Academy of Sciences.
Themes
Atomic physicsOpticsOptical pumpingPeace and disarmamentPoetry
Sources: beta.nobelprize.org · britannica.com · optica.org