Ştefan Procopiu (1890-1972)
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| Ştefan Procopiu | ||
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| Birth: | 18 January 1890 Bârlad, Vaslui County, Romania | |
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| Death: | 22 February 1972 Iaşi, Iaşi County, Romania | |
| Remains: | Iaşi, Iaşi County, Romania | |
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Sources and notes
Ştefan Procopiu (b. January 19, 1890 in Bârlad, Romania, d, August 22, 1972 in Iaşi, Romania) was a Romanian physicist.
Biography
Ştefan Procopiu was born on January 19, 1890 in Bârlad. His father, Emanoil Procopiu, was employed at the Bârlad courthouse. His mother, Ecaterina Taşcă was the daughter of Gheorghe I. Taşcă (see Taşcă family) [1] He attended the Gheorghe Roşca Codreanu High School in Bârlad from 1901 to 1908, continuing his studies at the Faculty of Sciences of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi from 1908 to 1912. After graduation he became assistant to professor Dragomir Hurmuzescu.[2]
In 1919 he obtained a scholarship to continue his studies in Paris, attending courses of famous scientists, such as Gabriel Lippmann, Marie Curie, Paul Langevin, Aimé Cotton. On 5 March 1924, Procopiu obtained the title of doctor in physics with the thesis "On the electric birefringence of suspensions" presented to a commission including professor Aimé Cotton as coordinator and Charles Fabry and Henri Mouton as cross-examiners. [3]
After his return to Romania on January 15, 1925 professor of the gravitation, heat and electricity department of the "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iaşi, replacing his former teacher Dragomir Hurmuzescu, who had retired., Procopiu coordinated the department until his retirement in 1962.[4] At the same time he was appointed professor at the Gheorghe Asachi Polytechnic Institute of Iaşi[3] In 1939 Ştefan Procopiu published his treatise on "Electricity and Magnetism", followed in 1948 by his monography on “Thermodynamics”.
On June, 1948 he was appointed corresponding member of the Romanian Academy, being promoted to full membership on July 2, 1955. [3]In 1964 he was awarded the Romanian State Prize[4] He was also decorated with the Order of Work (Ordinul Muncii), Order of the Star of Romania and the Order of Scientific Merit. Procopiu was also selected twice as member in the Commission for the award of the Nobel Prize, [2]
Ştefan Procopiu was also deeply involved in the cultural life of the city of Iaşi. He was an active member of the Board of Directors of the National Theatre Vasile Alecsandri of Iaşi [4]
Ştefan Procopiu died on August 22, 1972 in Iaşi age 82.[5]
Scientific activity
Ştefan Procopiu started scientific research even before graduating. He continued this activity while he was assistant professor.
The magnetic moment of the electron
The first important paper by Ştefan Procopiu is "Determining the Molecular Magnetic Moment by M. Planck’s Quantum Theory". After studying Planck’s quantum theory and Langevin’s magnetism theory, established the magnetic moment of the electron and determined the physical constant of magnetic moment, named magneton. [6] Ştefan Procopiu published his results two years before Niels Bohr made the same discovery independently. [7]The magneton is now known as Bohr-Procopiu magneton.
The Nobel Prize controversy
However, in 1922 the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Niels Bohr, the priority in this discovery and Procopiu's contribution being overlooked by the Swedish Academy of Science, though Ştefan Procopiu had published the results of his research in French. This ommission has never been explained by the Swedish Noble Prize committee, nor has it made any ulterior efforts to repair this ommission.
The dispute was further amplified when the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded in the following year, 1923, to Frederick Grant Banting (1891-1941) and John James Rickard Macleod (1876-1935) for the discovery of insulin, though Romanian physician [[Nicolae Paulescu (1869-1931) had published his results eight months before the Canadian scientists and had even secured a patent for his invention. Even worse, the Canadian article presenting the results for which the Noble prize was awarded, quoted Dr. Paulescu's previous article but misquoted his statements.
Having two Romanian scientists deprived of a Noble prize in two successive years, even though they had a priority in the discoveries for which the Noble prize was awarded, was considered a great injustice by Romanian scientists and viewed as a disdaign of the Swedish Academy for scientific achievements of researchers in smaller countries and a reluctance to even consider them as competitive candidates. Many members of the Romanian scientific establishment still feel bitter about this issue.
Further studies on the magneton
Continuing his studies, in 1954 he established a method for the experimental determination of the magneton, which he improved in 1963[8].
Other research before and during World War I
Ştefan Procopiu also worked on wireless communications and in 1913 published a paper on “Experimental Research on Wireless Telegraphy”. In 1916 he invented a device for locating and establishing the depth of bullets in the bodies of the wounded soldiers. [7]
Longitudinal depolarization of light
In 1921, Procopiu discovered and analyzed in the Physics Laboratory of Sorbonne University a new optical phenomenon which consisted in the longitudinal depolarization of light by suspensions and colloids. [8]. In 1930, the occurrence was designated as "Procopiu Phenomenon" by prof. Augustin Boutaric. Part of this research was included in Procopiu's doctoral thesis.
Electromotive force of galvanic elements
Thus, in 1930, studying the Barkhausen effect, Ştefan Procopiu discovered a circular effect of magnetic discontinuity. In 1951, this effect was named "Procopiu Effect". [4] This discovery had important applications in the development of the memory of computers[2]
Studies of the earth magnetism
Earth’s magnetism was a continuous concern of Ştefan Procopiu, For 25 years he studied this phenomenon in Romania and developed the magnetic maps of the country. He also identified the magnetic anomaly located on the Iaşi-Botoşani line.
In 1947, Procopiu identified a variation of the earth's magnetic field, with a periodicity of approximately 500 years, indicating that, starting 1932 earth’s magnetic moment increases from the Ecuator to the poles. [2][3]
Main works
References
- ^ George-Felix Taşcă - Din descendenţa marelui căpitan Constantin Balaban (1780-1845) - Institutul de Istorie şi Arheologie A.D. Xenopol Iaşi - Al IV-lea simpozion de studii genealogice 13-15 mai 1993.
- ^ a b c d Diana Iane – Ştefan Procopiu [1]
- ^ a b c d Mihai Olteneanu Stefan I. Procopiu 1890 – 1972 [2]
- ^ a b c d Ştefan Procopiu (1890—1972) [3]
- ^ Personalităţi bârlădene [4]
- ^ Ştefan Procopiu – Determining the Molecular Magnetic Moment by M. Planck’s Quantum Theory - Bulletin scientifique de l’Académie roumaine de sciences, Bucharest, 1913
- ^ a b Procopiu Stefan (1890-1972) [5]
- ^ a b Stefan Procopiu [6]
