Augustin-Jean Fresnel

Augustin-Jean Fresnel was a French engineer and physicist who made significant contributions to optics in the early 19th century. He is best known for developing the concept of wave optics, which describes how light behaves as a wave rather than just as a straight line, as suggested by geometrical optics. Fresnel's work led to the creation of the Fresnel lens, which focuses light more efficiently and is widely used in lighthouses and other lighting applications. His pioneering theories helped unify the understanding of light behavior and paved the way for modern optical science.