Macedonio
Melloni can be counted among the greatest Italian
physicists of the early nineteenth century. His
renown is particularly due to his research into
infrared radiation, whose propagation he studied
profitably. In 1839 Melloni moved to Naples upon
invitation of King Ferdinand II di Borbone to
run the Meterological and Vesuvio Observatory,
which had not yet been set up, as well as the
Arts and Crafts School.
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His prestige
within the scientific community in Europe and America
was considerable. Most of his work on infrared radiation
was finished and he dealt with other subjects in
Naples, some of which he had already studied in
his youth and had set aside for more important work
on radiating heat. |
The instruments
he used in the course of his research in Naples
are still kept in the Physics Museum at the Federico
II University of Naples.
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