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Pol SwingsBelgian astronomer.
Date of Birth: 24.09.1906
Country:  Belgium |
Content:
- Paul Swings: Belgian Astronomer
- Academic Career
- Spectroscopy
- Comets and Molecular Fluorescence
- Interstellar Molecules and Stellar Spectra
- Discovery of Interstellar Molecules
- Honors and Legacy
Paul Swings: Belgian Astronomer
Early Life and EducationBorn in Ransart, Belgium, Paul Swings was a brilliant young astronomer who graduated from the University of Liège in 1927. He continued his education in France, Poland, and the United States, specializing in spectroscopy.
Academic Career
In 1936, Swings returned to the University of Liège as a professor and eventually became the director of its Institute of Astrophysics. He held a professorship at the University of Chicago from 1939 to 1942.
Spectroscopy
Swings's primary research focused on experimental spectroscopy and astrospectroscopy. He investigated the laboratory spectra of diatomic molecules, iron, neon, and argon in various ionization states.
Comets and Molecular Fluorescence
In 1941, Swings made a groundbreaking discovery that explained the anomalous intensity distribution in the molecular bands of comet spectra. He attributed it to the uneven distribution of energy in the fluorescent solar radiation caused by absorption lines. This phenomenon, known as the Swings effect, not only explained comet spectra but also those of polar auroras and the twilight sky.
Interstellar Molecules and Stellar Spectra
Swings also studied atomic spectra in comets and, in 1956, co-authored an atlas of comet spectra. He investigated non-stationary stars, planetary nebulae, and the radiation and absorption mechanisms of nitrogen and carbon ions in hot stellar atmospheres.
Discovery of Interstellar Molecules
In 1937, Swings and Leo Rosenfeld discovered molecular lines in the spectrum of interstellar absorption. This marked the first detection of molecules in the interstellar medium.
Honors and Legacy
Swings received numerous awards, including the Franki Prize (1948) and the Solvay Prize (1970). He was elected a member of several prestigious scientific academies and served as president of the International Astronomical Union (1964-1967). The asteroid 1637 Swings is named in his honor.
