Alfred Kastler

Facts

Alfred Kastler

Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.

Alfred Kastler
The Nobel Prize in Physics 1966

Born: 3 May 1902, Guebwiller, Germany (now France)

Died: 7 January 1984, Bandol, France

Affiliation at the time of the award: École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France

Prize motivation: “for the discovery and development of optical methods for studying Hertzian resonances in atoms”

Prize share: 1/1

Work

Electrons in atoms and molecules have fixed energy levels, according to the principles of quantum physics. When there are transitions among different energy levels, light with certain frequencies is emitted or absorbed. In 1950 Alfred Kastler presented the idea that electrons, with the help of light or other electromagnetic radiation, can be pumped up to fixed higher energy levels and then fall back to fixed lower levels. This made precise determination of energy levels possible and also was of fundamental importance for development of the laser.

To cite this section
MLA style: Alfred Kastler – Facts. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2023. Mon. 2 Oct 2023. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1966/kastler/facts/>

Back to top Back To Top Takes users back to the top of the page

Watch the 2023 Nobel Prize announcements

Don't miss the Nobel Prize announcements 2-9 October!

Watch the live stream of the announcements.
Illustration

Explore prizes and laureates

Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize.