FRAUNHOFER Joseph (Fraunhofer Joseph von)

(1787-1826)
Born March 6, 1787 in Straubing. Since 1806 he worked in the optical shop (in Munich, then in Benedikbeyerne), in 1809 became its manager in 1818 - the director and owner. From 1823 - Professor, University of Munich. Famous for his work in the field of physical and practical optics. Improved methods of manufacturing lenses, invented a method for determining their shape and designed a machine for grinding of achromatic lenses, a spectrometer, achromatic microscope eyepiece micrometer and heliometer. In 1814 described (regardless of U. Wollaston) dark lines in the solar spectrum (later called Fraunhofer lines). Studied in parallel to the diffraction of light (a so-called. Fraunhofer diffraction), first from one slot, followed by many. Applied the diffraction grating for the study of spectra. Died Fraunhofer in Munich June 7, 1826.