Catholic physicist. Born Brogglie, Normandy, France, 1788; died Ville d' Avray, near Paris, France, 1827. He occupies a prominent place among French scientists, notable for his research in optics. He extended the work of Huyghens on double refraction and developed the theory bearing his name, formulated the laws of the interference of polarized light, and by his system of lenses revolutionized lighthouse illumination. He revolutionized lighthouse illumination by his system of lenses, formulated the laws of the interference of polarized light, and developed the Fresnel theory: