Nuyens, Karel Maurice (1901-1970)

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Physicist and mathematician, born in Brussels on 8 November 1901 and died in Uccle (Ukkel) on 22 January 1970.

Biography

[Karel] Maurice Nuyens was born on 8 November 1901 in Brussels. He went to secondary school at the Athénée Communal in Saint-Gilles (Sint-Gillis). His interest in mathematics was kindled by his maths teacher Théophile De Donder. At the University of Brussels he specialised in mathematical physics. At the end of 1922, Théophile De Donder appointed him as a student assistant at ULB. On 7 July 1923 he obtained his doctorate in mathematics and physics and was appointed assistant.
He was a laureate of the government travel grant competition for the period 1924-1925, which allowed him to spend one year abroad. His choice fell on the University of Leiden. This university was an important research centre for theoretical physics. The ULB initially did not agree, but in 1926 he was allowed to leave for Leiden after all.
On his return in 1927, he was promoted to C.R.B-assistant at the ULB. In the same year, he received his doctorate in mathematical physics. Two years later, he became an aggregate at ULB.
He travelled to Nancy to do research in the field of general relativity theory. In 1931, he was appointed lecturer at the State University of Ghent (RUG), where he taught Principles of Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, Thorough Mathematical Physics and Complements of Mathematics. He also dealt with new theories such as quantum physics.
In 1932, he and Laszlo Marton built the first electron microscope in Belgium.
In 1939 he was promoted to full professor.
He held a number of administrative positions at Ghent University. He was secretary in the academic year 1949-1950 and dean of the Faculty of Sciences in the academic year 1950-1951.
In 1966 he was admitted to emeritus status.
He was appointed corresponding member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts on 11 October 1958.
At the NFWO, he was a member of the Physics Committee. He was a co-founder of the Gentse Natuurkundige kring [Ghent Physics Society], a branch of the Belgian and Dutch Physical Society.
He was very fond of 19th century French literature and was considered a connoisseur of Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud. He also loved painting, especially Goya, Delacroix and Géricault.
During the Second World War, he was one of the most important leaders of the Onafhankelijkheidsfront [Independence Front], a resistance movement. For this, he was decorated the Belgian War Cross 1940 with palm and the Croix de guerre française avec étoile d'argent. He held the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
He died in Ukkel on 22 January 1970.

Work

Maurice Nuyens' first publications date from his student days and dealt with the theory of general relativity. In Leiden, he investigated gravitational fields with spherical symmetry and with cylindrical symmetry. Here, he discussed his research with Einstein, who was a frequent visitor. He also studied classical acoustics and developed a theory of the shape of a sound reflector.
He earned his doctorate in mathematical physics with a study of the applications of the theory of general relativity.
Building on the work of Théophile De Donder and Henry Janne d'Othée of the University of Liège, Maurice Nuyens studied the theory of a non-homogeneous spherically symmetrical universe.
After 1930, he conducted research in other areas of theoretical physics: astrophysics (hydrodynamics in the interior of a star at high pressure), the geometric optics of electrons and the diffusion of neutrons in matter. He continued to take an interest in the latest developments in physics, and was ARB laureate in 1927 for his research on Einstein's theory of gravitation.

History of science

At the request of the Lorentz Fund, he was a collaborator on the publication of the complete works of H.A. Lorentz.

Publications

• A list with his publications can be found in: Vanderlinden, H.L., "In memoriam Karel Maurice Nuyens", In: Jaarboek 1970, Brussel: KVAB, p.337.
• List with publications (catalogue UGhent), last visited 18/03/2021 at 12:00.

Bibliography

• Mertens, R.A., "Vanderlinden Henri Louis", In: Nationaal Biografisch Woordenboek, vol. 16, Brussel: Paleis der Academiën, 2002, kol. 599-604.
• Vanderlinden, Henri Louis, "In memoriam Karel Maurice Nuyens", In: Jaarboek 1970, Brussel: KVAB, p. 336-337
• Lambert, Dominique, "La relativité générale et la cosmologie", in Robert Halleux, Geert Vanpaemel, Jan Vandersmissen en Andrée Despy-Meyer (red.), Geschiedenis van de wetenschappen in België 1815-2000, Brussel: Dexia, 2001, vol. 2, p. 131.
• Van Dyck, Dirk, "Electron Microscopy in Belgium", in Advances in Imaging and Electron Physcis, t. 96, 1996, p. 67-78