Alfred Kastler, a German-born French physicist, studied at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris.
After having taught physics and done research in atomic fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy
at the universities of Clermont-Ferrand and Bordeaux until 1941, he returned to the École Normale
Supérieure, his Alma Mater, where he was in charge of the physics laboratory. From 1968 until
his retirement, he was director of research at the National Centre of Scientific Research.
With his colleague Jean Brossel, he developed the method of optical pumping in order to apply
optical methods for studying microwave resonance to the fundamental states of atoms. Alfred
Kastler was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1966 "for the discovery and development of
optical methods for studying Hertzian resonances in atoms".
Professor Kastler introduced atomic, molecular and laser physics in the curriculum of the ICTP in
1973 and established courses in French for the benefit of scientists from French-speaking African
countries. The cycle started in 1977 with "Physics Teaching".
Professor Kastler was chairperson of the ICTP Scientific Council from 1971 to 1982. The ICTP Prize
was awarded in his honour in 1983 and 1986.
This lecture hall was dedicated to the memory of Professor Kastler in May 2000