Louis Néel

Louis Néel was born on November 22, 1904 in Lyon, France, French, is Physicist. Louis Eugène Félix Néel was a noted French physicist who was jointly awarded the ‘Nobel Prize in Physics’ in 1970 with Swedish astrophysicist Hannes Alfvén for his leading-edge research work on the magnetic properties of solids. A Doctor of Science from the ‘University of Strasbourg’ his scientific contributions in the field of solid state physics led to several significant applications especially in developing advanced memory units of computer. Existence of a new type of magnetic behavior that is anti-ferromagnetism, which is contrary to ferromagnetism, was proposed by him. The behavior ceases to exist after reaching a certain level of temperature, the Néel temperature. He also suggested existence of materials that display ferrimagnetism. His elucidation on weak magnetism of some rocks paved way for the study of magnetic field of the Earth. His contribution in national defence, especially his studies in safeguarding warships through demagnetization against magnetic mines, fetched him several laurels. He was honored with Légion d'honneur and made the Knight (1940) and the Officer (1951), Commander (1958), Grand Officier de la Légion d'honneur (1966) and Grand Cross (1974). The military decoration of France, Croix de Guerre with Palms was conferred upon him in 1940. He also became the ‘Commander of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques’ in 1957; the ‘Knight of the Social Order of Merit’ in 1963; and was made the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit in 1972. He was elected as ‘Foreign Member of the Royal Society’ (ForMemRS) in 1966.
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