Emili FosterEmili Foster

Hannes Olof Gösta Alfvén

LifeLife

Born in Norrköping, Sweden, in 1908.Born in Norrköping, Sweden, in 1908.Parents Johannes and Anna-Clara were Parents Johannes and Anna-Clara were

both practicing physicians. both practicing physicians. Studied at Uppsala University in 1926.Studied at Uppsala University in 1926.Obtained the degree of doctor of Obtained the degree of doctor of

philosophy 1934.philosophy 1934.

Hannes AlfvénHannes Alfvén

1934 appointed lecturer 1934 appointed lecturer in physics at Uppsala in physics at Uppsala University. University.

1937 research physicist 1937 research physicist in Stockholm Nobel in Stockholm Nobel Institute for Physics.Institute for Physics.

1940 appointed 1940 appointed Professor in the Professor in the Theory of Electricity.Theory of Electricity.

Professor of Professor of Electronics in 1945.Electronics in 1945.

PhysicsPhysics

Received a doctors degree from University Received a doctors degree from University of Uppsala.of Uppsala.

Professor of Plasma Professor of Plasma Physics in 1963. Physics in 1963.

Since 1967 visiting Since 1967 visiting professor of Physics at professor of Physics at UCSD. UCSD.

Regarded as a heretic Regarded as a heretic by many physicists.by many physicists.

Contributions to ScienceContributions to ScienceAlfvén made contributions to Alfvén made contributions to

physics that are todayphysics that are todayApplied in the development of Applied in the development of

particle beam accelerators,particle beam accelerators,Controlled Controlled

thermonuclear fusion, thermonuclear fusion, hypersonic flight, rocket hypersonic flight, rocket propulsion,propulsion,

And the braking of And the braking of reentering space reentering space vehicles.vehicles.

Development of PhysicsDevelopment of Physics

Played a central role in development of Played a central role in development of physics.physics.

Including plasma physics, physics of Including plasma physics, physics of charged particle beams, charged particle beams,

Interplanetary and Interplanetary and magnetospheric physics. magnetospheric physics.

Usually regarded as “the Usually regarded as “the father of plasma physics”.father of plasma physics”.

Prediction of the UniversePrediction of the UniversePredicted the large Predicted the large

scale filamentary scale filamentary structure of universe,structure of universe,

A discovery that A discovery that confounded confounded astrophysicists.astrophysicists.

Added to the woes of Added to the woes of Big Bang cosmology.Big Bang cosmology.

Proposed an Proposed an alternative cosmology alternative cosmology to the Big Bang.to the Big Bang.

Alfvén and the Big BangAlfvén and the Big Bang

To Alfvén, the To Alfvén, the Big Bang was Big Bang was a myth.a myth.

The appeal The appeal has been has been more more ideological ideological than scientific.than scientific.

Was there when the Was there when the theory was first proposed.theory was first proposed.

““Key is not to confuse Key is not to confuse myth and results.”myth and results.”

Hannes Olof Gösta AlfvénHannes Olof Gösta Alfvén

Died  peacefully Died  peacefully Sunday evening, April Sunday evening, April 2, 1995.2, 1995.

He was 86 years old.He was 86 years old.

Alfvén wrote popular Alfvén wrote popular science books.science books.

Enjoyed studying the Enjoyed studying the history of science.history of science.

Alfvén WavesAlfvén WavesElectromagnetic-Electromagnetic-

hydrodynamic waves, now hydrodynamic waves, now called Alfvén waves.called Alfvén waves.

Invented the concept of Invented the concept of “frozen-in” magnetic field.“frozen-in” magnetic field.

Equivalent to Equivalent to Helmholtz’s Helmholtz’s theorem for theorem for classical classical inciscid inciscid dynamics.dynamics.

Example of Example of original idea original idea having far-having far-reaching reaching impact.impact.

Alfvén’s TheoremAlfvén’s TheoremThe related Alfvén's theorem (equivalent The related Alfvén's theorem (equivalent

to Kelvin's theorem). to Kelvin's theorem). Stating: for a perfect electrically Stating: for a perfect electrically

conducting fluid,conducting fluid,The magnetic flux of The magnetic flux of

magnetic tubes is magnetic tubes is conserved.conserved.

Long time before his Long time before his discovery was discovery was accepted.accepted.

Won half of the Nobel PrizeWon half of the Nobel Prize

Fundamental work and discoveries in Fundamental work and discoveries in magnetohydro- dynamics.magnetohydro- dynamics.

Fruitful applications in different parts of Fruitful applications in different parts of plasma physics.plasma physics.

In 1970, he received the physics Nobel In 1970, he received the physics Nobel prize.prize.

Founder of the modern field of plasma Founder of the modern field of plasma physics.physics.

Louis Eugène Félix Néel won the Louis Eugène Félix Néel won the other half of the Nobel Prizeother half of the Nobel Prize

Fundamental work Fundamental work and discoveries and discoveries concerning concerning antiferromagnetism antiferromagnetism and and ferrimagnetism.ferrimagnetism.

Led to important Led to important applications in applications in solid state physics.solid state physics.

Swedish Swedish scientist in scientist in Stockholm with Stockholm with interest in interest in plasma physics.plasma physics.

Astrophysicist Astrophysicist with an with an electrical electrical engineer engineer approach.approach.

BibliographyBibliography "The Nobel Prize in Physics 1970." "The Nobel Prize in Physics 1970." The Nobel Prize in Physics The Nobel Prize in Physics

19701970. The Nobel Foundation. Web. 22 Feb. 2010. . The Nobel Foundation. Web. 22 Feb. 2010. <http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1970/>.<http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1970/>.

"Hannes Alfvén." "Hannes Alfvén." The Nobel Prize in Physics 1970The Nobel Prize in Physics 1970. The Nobel . The Nobel Foundation. Web. 22 Feb. 2010. Foundation. Web. 22 Feb. 2010. <http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1970/alfven-<http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1970/alfven-bio.html>.bio.html>.

"Hannes Alfvén (1908-1995)." "Hannes Alfvén (1908-1995)." Hannes Alfvén (1908-1995)Hannes Alfvén (1908-1995). . GEODYNAMO Team, 31 Mar. 2008. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. GEODYNAMO Team, 31 Mar. 2008. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://www-lgit.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/users/talbouss/public_html/REC<http://www-lgit.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/users/talbouss/public_html/RECHERCHE/WebAlfven/HannesAlfven.html>.HERCHE/WebAlfven/HannesAlfven.html>.

Peratt, Anthony L. "Hannes Alfvén (1908-1995)." Peratt, Anthony L. "Hannes Alfvén (1908-1995)." Hannes Alfvén Hannes Alfvén (1908-1995)(1908-1995). Web. 23 Feb. 2010. . Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://public.lanl.gov/alp/plasma/people/alfven.html>.<http://public.lanl.gov/alp/plasma/people/alfven.html>.