Hannes Alfvén

Hannes Olof Gösta Alfvén (May 30, 1908; Norrköping,

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. Alfvén 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. Alfvén 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.

Related Topics:
British - American - Geophysicist - Sydney Chapman - Peer review - Scientific journal - Magnetic storm - Aurora - Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric Electricity - Unorthodox opinion

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He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1970 for his work with magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). In 1988, Alfvén was awarded by the American Geophysical Union the Bowie medal, for his work on comets and plasmas in the solar system.

Related Topics:
Nobel Prize in Physics - 1970 - Magnetohydrodynamics - 1988 - American Geophysical Union - Bowie medal - Comet - Plasma - Solar system

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Awards

Alfvén has also been awarded:

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: Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1967)

Related Topics:
Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society - 1967

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: Gold Medal of the Franklin Institute (1971)

Related Topics:
Franklin Institute - 1971

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: Lomonosov Gold Medal of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1971)

Related Topics:
Lomonosov Gold Medal - USSR Academy of Sciences - 1971

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Memberships

Academies and institutes with Alfvén in their membership:

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: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

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: Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences

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: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (life fellow)

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: European Physical Society

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: American Academy of Arts and Sciences

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: Yugoslav Academy of Sciences

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: Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs

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A creative and intuitive intellect of the 20th century, Alfvén was one of the few scientists who was a foreign member of both the U.S. and Soviet Academies of Sciences.

Related Topics:
20th century - U.S. - Soviet

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Developed and researched

He played a central role in the development of:

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: Plasma physics

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: Charged particle beams

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: Interplanetary physics

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: Magnetospheric physics

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: Magnetohydrodynamics

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: Solar phenomena investigation (such as the solar wind)

Related Topics:
Solar phenomena - Solar wind

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: Aurorae science

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In 1939, Alfvén 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.

Related Topics:
1939 - Magnetic storm - Plasma dynamics - Earth - Magnetosphere - Electron - Ion

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Applications of his research in space science include:

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: Van Allen radiation belt explanations

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: Earth's magnetic field reduction during magnetic storms

Related Topics:
Earth's magnetic field - Magnetic storm

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: Magnetosphere (protective plasma covering the earth)

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: Formation of comet tails

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: Formation of the solar system

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: Dynamics of plasmas in the galaxy

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: Fundamental nature of the universe

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Alfvén conducted interplanetary and magnetospheric physics research.

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Alfvén'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.

Related Topics:
Kristian Birkeland - Nineteenth century

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Alfvén's contributions helped develop:

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: Particle beam accelerators

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: Controlled thermonuclear fusion

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: Hypersonic flight

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: Rocket propulsion

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: Reentry braking of space vehicles

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Alfvén's contributions to astrophysics:

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: Galactic magnetic field forms - Cosmic Magnetism (1937)

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: Identify nonthermal radiation (synchrotron radiation) from astronomical sources (1950)

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In 1963, Alfvén first predicted the large scale filamentary structure of the universe based on his experience of the filamentary nature of plasma. This discovery perplexed astrophysicists in 1991.

Related Topics:
1963 - 1991

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Alfvén 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. Alfvén'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 general lack of awareness of some of Alfvén's contributions to fields of plasma physics (eg. the electric field description of plasmas, Birkeland currents, plasma circuits), and his ideas have routinely been used without recognition (eg. see the History of the discover of Birkeland currents, and Stephen G. Brush's article "Alfvén's Programme in Solar System Physics" (IEEE Trans. Plasma Science, Vol. 20 No. 6, Dec 1992).).

Related Topics:
Alfvén wave - Frequency - Plasma - Oscillations - 1980 - Plasma cosmology - Big bang - Birkeland current

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