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Pol Swings | |
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| Born | Polydore F. Swings 24 September 1906 |
| Died | 28 October 1983(1983-10-28) (aged 77) Esneux, Belgium |
| Alma mater | University of Liège |
| Known for | spectroscopy |
| Awards | Francqui Prize for Exact Sciences(1948) Janssen Medal(1961) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | astrophysicist |
| Institutions | University of Chicago |
Pol F. Swings (24 September 1906 – 28 October 1983) was a Belgianastrophysicist who was known for his studies of the composition and structure of stars and comets. He usedspectroscopy to identify the elements in astronomical bodies, and, in particular, comets. Swings studied at theUniversity of Liège, where he was professor of spectroscopy and astrophysics from 1932 to 1975. He was also a visiting professor at theUniversity of Chicago in theUnited States (1939–43, 1946–52).
From his study of cometary atmospheres, he is credited with the discovery of theSwings bands and theSwings effect. Swings bands are emissionlines resulting from the presence of certain atoms of carbon; the Swings effect was discovered with the aid of a slit spectrograph and is attributed tofluorescence resulting partly from solar radiation.
Moreover, Swings studiedspectroscopy of interstellar space and investigated the rotation of stars, as well as nebulae, novae, and variable stars. Pol Swings was awarded theFrancqui Prize for Exact Sciences in 1948. He was elected to theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1965,[1] and theAmerican Philosophical Society and the United StatesNational Academy of Sciences in 1966.[2][3]
In 1981, Swings became a founding member of theWorld Cultural Council.[4]
1637 Swings, anasteroid of theMain belt is named after him.
