The de Broglie was a part of the French aristocracy as far back as the reign of Louis XIV. In fact, one of Prince Louis' ancestors was guillotined during the French Revolution. Thus, when Louis de Broglie was born in Dieppe on August 15, 1892, a scientific career did not appear to be his most likely future.

Indeed, de Broglie began studying history at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1909. His interest in science developed later, partly as a result of his brother Maurice's influence. Maurice, who operated his own private center for x-ray research, apparently stirred an interest in young Louis, and Louis enrolled at the Faculté des Sciences in Paris. There, he received his Licencié ès sciences there in 1913 and, later, his Docteur ès sciences in 1924.

De Broglie's conversion to science came at a critical point in the history of physics. Scientists were intrigued with...