Louis Eug�ne F�lix N�el
Louis Eug�ne F�lix N�el (
November 2,
1904 -
November 17,
2000), a
French physicist born in
Lyons, was corecipient (with the
Swedish astrophysicist Hannes Alfv�n) of the
Nobel Prize for
Physics in
1970 for his pioneering studies of the magnetic properties of solids. His contributions to
solid state physics have found numerous useful applications, particularly in the development of improved
computer memory units. About
1930 he suggested that a new form of magnetic behavior might exist - called
antiferromagnetism. Above a certain temperature (the N�el temperature) this behaviour stops. N�el pointed out (
1947) that materials could also exist showing ferrimagnetism. N�el has also given an explanation of the weak magnetism of certain rocks, making possible the study of the past history of
Earth's magnetic field.
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