Paul Langevin: Physicist and Social Activist

By Bernadette Bensaude-Vincent and Francis Duck

The book is based on the text of a complete translation into English of the 1987 biography of Paul Langevin, "Langevin 1872-1946 Science et vigilance" by Bernadette Bensaude-Vincent. It includes some revisions to the original text, and additional original material including Langevin's work in ultrasonics. French physicist, student of Pierre Curie, close friend of Marie Curie and Albert Einstein, Paul Langevin was one of the handful of influential European physicists who created modern physics at the beginning of the twentieth century. Scientifically, he is remembered particularly for his contributions to the atomic theory of magnetism, for the understanding of relativity, for his work on statistical kinetics. Emphasis will be placed on his role as the 'originator of ultrasonics' during the First World War, and his influence on its growth as a scientific speciality in the subsequent two decades. The text focuses also on his political activism as a rationalist and humanist, including his public anti-fascist stand and communist sympathies leading to his house arrest during the Second World War. It is remarkable that such an eminent and historically significant figure has never been the subject of an academic biography in English. This book fills this gap.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3031952596
• ISBN13: 9783031952593
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 296 Pages