Francesco Maria Grimaldi

thumb|Francesco Maria Grimaldi Francesco Maria Grimaldi (April 2, 1618 – December 28, 1663) was an Italian mathematician and physicist who taught at the Jesuit college in Bologna. He was the first to make accurate observations on the diffraction of light. Quotes Lumen propagatur seu diffunditur non solum Directe, Refracte, ac Reflexe, sed etiam alio quodam quarto modo, Diffracte. Light propagates and spreads not only directly, through refraction, and reflection, but also by a fourth mode, diffraction. Physico-mathesis de lumine, coloribus, et iride, aliisque adnexis libri duo: opus posthumum, published in Bologna (1665), [Proposition I]. Lumen aliquando per sui communicationem reddit obscuriorem superficiem corporis aliunde, ac prius illustratam. Occasionally, light added to itself may give obscure surfaces on a body that has already received light. also translated as "A body actually enlightened may become obscure by adding new light to that which it has already received." in The Penny cyclopaedia (1845), [p. 668]. First account of an interference effect in Physico-mathesis de lumine, coloribus, et iride, aliisque adnexis libri duo: opus posthumum, published in Bologna (1665), [Proposition XXII]. External links Category:Physicists from Italy Category:Mathematicians from Italy Category:1663 deaths Category:Clergy Category:People from Bologna