Fresnel's wave theory of diffraction; transverse light waves
Teoría matemática de la difracción y luz como onda transversal
- Date
- 1818 · confidence high
- Place
- Paris, France
- Credited to
- Augustin-Jean Fresnel; François Arago
- People
- 👤 Augustin Fresnel1788–1827👤 François Arago1786–1853
- Field
- Communication
What was discovered
Fresnel combines Huygens' principle with interference to quantitatively predict diffraction; the 'Poisson spot', predicted as an absurdity and observed by Arago, establishes the wave theory. Light is a transverse wave, which explains polarisation.
Memoir awarded by the Paris Academy of Sciences in 1819 after Poisson's objection.
What it led to
- Definitive victory of the wave theory
- Luminiferous aether as a problem (Michelson-Morley)
- Maxwell's transverse electromagnetic waves
- Modern physical optics
Built on
- Wave theory of light and Huygens' principle1678-1690
- Young's double-slit interference experiment1801-1803
- Polarization of light by reflection (Malus' law)1808
- Young's double slit
- Malus's polarisation
Made possible
- Fresnel equations1821-1823
- Fresnel lens1819-1823
- diffraction optics and microscopy