1525) Josef Maximilian Petzval (06.01.1807-19.09.1891), Slovakia: A Brilliant Uncirculated Medal issued on the inventor, minted by the Mint of Slovakia, Kremnica: Year of Medal issue: 2020:
About Josef Maximilian Petzval:
Josef Petzval was a mathematician, inventor and physicist best known for his work in optics. He was born in Szepesbela in Hungary (present day - Spisska Bela in Slovakia).
He studied and later lectured at the Institutum Geometricum (presently Budapest University of Technology and Economics (in Buda (presently a part of Budapest).
He headed the Institute of Practical Geometry and Hydrology/Architecture between 1841 and 1848.
Later, he accepted an appointment to a hair of mathematics at the University of Vienna.
Petzval became a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1873.
He is considered to be one of the main founders of geometrical optics, modern photography and cinematography.
Among his inventions are the Petzval portrait lens and opera glasses - both in common use even today.
He is also credited with the discovery of the Laplace Transform and is also known for his extensive work on aberration in optical systems.
His greatest achievements lie in his work with geometric optics. Among his other notable works are the invention of opera glasses, lens system calculations that led to the perfection of a telescope and microscope (1843), computations for efficient binoculars and construction of new floodlights (1847).
He had conceptualised the construction of lighting systems for ships on the Danube, but which could not materialise.
His special mirror lamp (Petzval Lamp), which made possible a maximum utilisation of light energy, was used particularly for bright projectors developed by him.
He is also regarded as the inventor of the modern unastigmatic lens system.
Around 1860, Petzval conducted photogrammetric measurements using equipment he had designed.
He also proved scientifically that glowing solid compounds emit more light than burning gases. This principle was later applied to gas lamps by Carl Auer von Welsbach.
Petzval's achievements are used today in cinematography, astronomy and meteorology. The Astro-Petzval-Objektiv lens is used in astronomy, whi9ch makes a distortion free illustration of a large part of the sky and permits photographing of galaxies and star fields.
Until the 1940s, German optics companies - Topfer, Voigtlanderkorrigie, Zeiss - produced the Petzval objective lens.
In Mathematics too, he made immense contributions and his obsession with mathematics led to the discovery of the portrait objective.
Similarly, in the study of acoustics, Petzval was particularly interested in string oscillations, differential equations of the string oscillations and the mathematical theory of musical instruments.
He designed a piano with three key sequences. He developed a theory of the oscillations of strained strings, as well as, his own theory of tone systems.
Memorials:
The Jozef Maximilian Prtzval Museum of the History of Photography and Cinematography, a part of the Slovak Technical Museum of Kosice is located in Spisska Bela, in the house where Petzval was born.
A crater "Petzval" on the far side of the Moon is named after him, as are roads and statues in modern Slovakia, Austria and Hungary.
In 1980, a planetoid (3716 Petzval, 1980 TG) was named after Petzval. His portrait objective lens made possible the discovery of many planetoids at the end of the 19th Century.
The Austrian Board of Education has initiated the "Petzval Medal" for special achievements in the aea of scientific photography since 1928.
The Commemorative Medal:
This coin album containing eight cupro-nickel coins together with the medal depicting Jozef Maximilian Petzval is titled - "SVETOVE VYNALEZY SLOVENSKYCH VYNALEZCOV" - and - WORLD INVENTIONS OF SLOVAK INVENTORS".
The album shows an image of and name of JOZEF MAXIMILIAN PETZVAL.
Also inscribed on the album is - "krstnyotec modernejoptiky" - meaning "godfather of modern optics".
Links:
1) Caves of Slovak Karst in Slovakia: A World Natural Heritage UNESCO Site: A Gold Coin of 100 Euros issued under the "World Natural Heritage" Series by the National Bank odf Slovakia, minted by the Kremnica Mint on 15.11.2017
2) Slovak National Theatre, Slovakia: Centenary Celebrations (1920-2020): A 10 Euro Silver Coin issued by the National Bank of Slovenia, minted by the Kremnica Mint: Year of issue: 2020
Vikram Bhatnagar has commented:
ReplyDelete"Great information; the Zeiss lens as I now realize was based on this great Man's efforts, yet Zeiss has forged its own name in the World of lenses, apparently without acknowledging the source! 👏🤔"
It is true, Vikram. I felt that this great inventor is not getting his due recognition, so when I came across this coin from the Slovakian Kremnica mint, I could not pass it by and looked up his contributions to science and mathematics. Incidentally, Kremnica mint has also minted coins for India when we did not have enough capacity from 1999-2001. (three years).
DeleteRajan Trikha has commented:
Delete"Wonderful description 👍👍"
Thanks, Trikha sahab.
DeleteVinod Khurana has commented:
Delete"Thank you for sharing this information."
Thank you so much, Vinodji.
DeleteSantosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Great post."
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
DeleteShishir Misrahas commented:
ReplyDelete"Petzval’s contribution is hard to describe. Now he is remembered for his contribution in acoustics. Good, comprehensive information well researched and summarised.
Large number of IITians going abroad for higher education are now doing their Doctorate in Music. My compliments to
You for sharing this information.
Thank you so much sir, for sharing this update.
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