Arnold Sommerfeld
Arnold Johannes Wilhelm Sommerfeld (1868-1951)
Born	December 5, 1868(1868-12-05) Königsberg, Province of Prussia
Died	April 26, 1951 (aged 82) Munich, Germany
Residence	Germany
Nationality	German
Fields	Physics
Institutions	University of Gottingen Technische Universität Clausthal University of Aachen University of Munich
Alma mater	University of Königsberg
Doctoral advisor	Ferdinand von Lindemann
Doctoral students	Werner Heisenberg Wolfgang Pauli Peter Debye Hans Bethe Ernst Guillemin Karl Bechert Paul Peter Ewald Herbert Fröhlich Erwin Fues Helmut Hönl Ludwig Hopf Walther Kossel Adolf Kratzer Alfred Landé Otto Laporte Wilhelm Lenz Rudolf Peierls Walter Rogowski Rudolf Seeliger Heinrich Welker Gregor Wentzel Erwin Fues
Other notable students	Herbert Kroemer Linus Pauling Walter Heitler Walter Romberg
Known for	Drude-Sommerfeld model Fine-structure constant Sommerfeld identity Sommerfeld-Kossel displacement Sommerfeld-Wilson quantization
Influenced	Léon Brillouin Karl Herzfeld
Notable awards	Matteucci Medal (1924) Max-Planck Medal (1931) Lorentz Medal (1939) Oersted Medal (1949)

Arnold Johannes Wilhelm Sommerfeld (December 5, 1868 – April 26, 1951) was a German theoretical physicist who pioneered developments in atomic and quantum physics, and also educated and groomed a large number of students for the new era of theoretical physics. Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Königsberg (Karaliaučius Low German: Königsbarg; Królewiec see also other names) was until 1946 the name of Kaliningrad. The Province of Prussia (Provinz Preußen was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1829-1878 created out of the provinces of East Prussia and Events 1467 - The miraculous image in Our Lady of Good Counsel appear in Genazzano, Italy. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Munich (München; Minga is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. The University of Göttingen ( German: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) is a University in the city of Göttingen, Germany. Clausthal University of Technology (German Technische Universität Clausthal is a University in Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. RWTH Aachen University is a large university located in Aachen, Germany. The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München also known as LMU, is a University in Munich and with more Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval The University of Königsberg (Albertus-Universität Königsberg was the University of Königsberg, East Prussia. A doctorate is an Academic degree that indicates the highest level of academic achievement Carl Louis Ferdinand von Lindemann ( April 12, 1852 &ndash March 6 1939) was a German Mathematician, noted for his proof Werner Heisenberg (5 December 1901 in Würzburg &ndash1 February 1976 in Munich) was a German theoretical physicist best known for enunciating the Peter Joseph William Debye ( March 24 1884 &ndash November 2 1966) was a Dutch physicist and physical chemist Hans Albrecht Bethe (/hans ˈalbʀɛçt ˈbeːtə/ ( July 2 1906 &ndash March 6, 2005) was a German - American Physicist Ernst Adolf Guillemin ( May 8, 1898 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin &ndash April 1, 1970) was an American Karl Richard Bechert ( August 23, 1901 in Nuremberg, Germany — April 1, 1981 in Weilmünster -Möttau Paul Peter Ewald ( January 23, 1888 in Berlin, Germany &ndash August 22, 1985 in Ithaca, New York Herbert Fröhlich ( 9 December, 1905 in Rexingen Germany &ndash 23 January, 1991 in Liverpool, England Erwin Richard Fues ( January 17, 1893 in Stuttgart, Germany &ndash 1970 in Germany) was a German theoretical Physicist Helmut Hönl (1903 in Mannheim, Germany &ndash 1981 was a German theoretical Physicist who made contributions to Quantum mechanics and the Ludwig Hopf (1884 in Nürnberg, Germany &ndash December 21, 1939 in Dublin, Ireland) was a German theoretical Walther Ludwig Julius Kossel ( January 4, 1888 in Berlin, Germany &ndash 22 May, 1956 in Tübingen, Germany was a German B Adolf Kratzer ( October 16, 1893 in Günzburg, Germany &ndash) was a German theoretical Physicist who made contributions Alfred Landé ( 13 December, 1888 &ndash 30 October 1976) was a German-American physicist known for his contributions to quantum theory Otto Laporte ( July 23, 1902 in Mainz, Germany &ndash March 28, 1971 in Ann Arbor, Michigan) was Wilhelm Lenz ( February 8, 1888 in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany &ndash April 30, 1957 in Hamburg, Germany Sir Rudolf Ernst Peierls, ( June 5 1907, Berlin &ndash September 19 1995, Oxford) was a German -born British Walter Rogowski ( May 7, 1881 in Obrighoven Germany &ndash March 10, 1947 in Aachen, Germany was a German physicist who Rudolf Seeliger ( November 12, 1886 – January 20, 1965) was a German physicist who specialized in electric discharges in gases Heinrich Johann Welker ( September 9, 1912 in Ingolstadt, Germany &ndash December 25, 1981 in Erlangen, Gregor Wentzel (February 17 1898 in Düsseldorf, Germany – August 12 1978 in Ascona, Switzerland) was a German Physicist Erwin Richard Fues ( January 17, 1893 in Stuttgart, Germany &ndash 1970 in Germany) was a German theoretical Physicist Herbert Kroemer (born August 25, 1928) a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California Santa Barbara, received his Linus Carl Pauling (February 28 1901 – August 19 1994 was an American Scientist, Peace activist, Author and educator. Walter Heinrich Heitler ( 2 January 1904 &ndash 15 November 1981) was a German physicist who made contributions to Quantum electrodynamics The fine-structure constant or Sommerfeld fine-structure constant, usually denoted \alpha \ is the Fundamental physical constant characterizing The Sommerfeld identity is a mathematical identity due Arnold Sommerfeld, used in the theory of propagation of waves \frac{R} = \int\limits_0^\infty The Sommerfeld-Kossel displacement law is The first spark (singly ionized spectrum of an element is similar in all details to the arc (neutral spectrum of the element preceding it in In Atomic physics, the Bohr model created by Niels Bohr depicts the Atom as a small positively charged nucleus surrounded by Electrons Léon Nicolas Brillouin ( August 7, 1889 &ndash December 1969 was a French physicist Karl Ferdinand Herzfeld ( February 24, 1892 in Vienna, Austria &ndash June 3, 1978 in Washington DC The Matteucci Medal was established to award Physicists for their fundamental contributions The Max Planck medal is an award for extraordinary achievements in Theoretical physics. Lorentz Medal is an award given every four years by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Oersted Medal recognizes notable contributions to the Teaching of Physics. Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Events 1467 - The miraculous image in Our Lady of Good Counsel appear in Genazzano, Italy. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. A physicist is a Scientist who studies or practices Physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning Atomic physics (or atom physics) is the field of Physics that studies atoms as an isolated system of Electrons and an atomic nucleus. Quantum mechanics is the study of mechanical systems whose dimensions are close to the Atomic scale such as Molecules Atoms Electrons Theoretical physics employs Mathematical models and Abstractions of Physics in an attempt to explain experimental data taken of the natural world He introduced the fine-structure constant into quantum mechanics. The fine-structure constant or Sommerfeld fine-structure constant, usually denoted \alpha \ is the Fundamental physical constant characterizing Quantum mechanics is the study of mechanical systems whose dimensions are close to the Atomic scale such as Molecules Atoms Electrons

Contents 1 Education 2 Career 2.1 Göttingen 2.2 Aachen 2.3 Munich 3 Selected Literature 4 Books 5 See also 6 Bibliography 7 External links 8 Notes

Education

Sommerfeld studied mathematics and physical sciences at the Albertina University of his native city, Königsberg, East Prussia. The University of Königsberg (Albertus-Universität Königsberg was the University of Königsberg, East Prussia. Königsberg (Karaliaučius Low German: Königsbarg; Królewiec see also other names) was until 1946 the name of Kaliningrad. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part His dissertation advisor was the mathematician Ferdinand von Lindemann, ^[1] and he also benefited from classes with mathematicians Adolph Hurwitz and David Hilbert, and physicist Emil Wiechert. Carl Louis Ferdinand von Lindemann ( April 12, 1852 &ndash March 6 1939) was a German Mathematician, noted for his proof Adolf Hurwitz ( 26 March 1859 - 18 November 1919) (ˈadɒlf ˈhurvits was a German mathematician and was described by Jean-Pierre David Hilbert ( January 23, 1862 &ndash February 14, 1943) was a German Mathematician, recognized as one of the most Emil Johann Wiechert ( 26 December 1861 &ndash 19 March 1928) was a German Geophysicist. ^[2] His participation in the student fraternity Deutsche Burschenschaft resulted in a fencing scar on his face. German Burschenschaften (abbreviated B!, plural B!B!) are a special type of Studentenverbindungen ^[3] He received his Ph. D. in 1891. Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[4]

After receiving his doctorate, Sommerfeld remained at Königsberg to work on his teaching diploma. He passed the national exam in 1892 and then began a year of military service, which was done with the reserve regiment in Königsberg. Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year He completed his obligatory military service in September of 1893, and for the next eight years continued voluntary eight-week military service. With his turned up moustache, his physical build, his Prussian bearing, and the fencing scar on his face, he gave the impression of being a colonel in the hussars. Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state Hussar (original Hungarian spelling huszár, plural huszárok, Husaria refers to a number of types of Light cavalry created in Hungary ^[5]

Career

Göttingen

In October, Sommerfeld went to the University of Göttingen, which was the center of mathematics in Germany. The University of Göttingen ( German: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) is a University in the city of Göttingen, Germany. ^[6] There, he became assistant to Theodor Liebisch, at the Mineralogical Institute, through a fortunate personal contact - Liebisch had been a professor at the University of Königsberg and a friend of the Sommerfeld family. ^[7]

In September, 1894, Sommerfeld became Felix Klein’s assistant, which included taking comprehensive notes during Klein’s lectures and writing them up for the Mathematics Reading Room, as well as managing the reading room. Felix Christian Klein ( 25 April 1849 &ndash 22 June 1925) was a German Mathematician, known for his work in Group ^[8] Sommerfeld’s Habilitationsschrift^[9] was completed under Klein, in 1895, which allowed Sommerfeld to become a Privatdozent at Göttingen. Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a person can achieve by their own pursuit in certain European and Asian countries Private docent (abbreviates PD or Priv-Doz) is a title conferred in some European university systems especially in German -speaking countries ^[10] As a Privatdozent, Sommerfeld lectured on a wide range of mathematical and mathematical physics topics. His lectures on partial differential equations were first offered at Göttingen,^[11] and they evolved over his teaching career to become Volume VI of his textbook series Lectures on Theoretical Physics, under the title Partial Differential Equations in Physics. ^[12]

Lectures by Klein in 1895 and 1896 on rotating bodies led Klein and Sommerfeld to write a four-volume text Die Theorie des Kreisels – a 13-year collaboration, 1897 - 1910. The first two volumes were on theory, and the latter two were on applications in geophysics, astronomy, and technology. ^[13] The association Sommerfeld had with Klein influenced Sommerfeld’s turn of mind to applied mathematics and in the art of lecturing. ^[14]

While at Göttingen, Sommerfeld met Johanna Höpfner, daughter of Ernst Höpfner, curator^[15] at Göttingen. In October, 1897 Sommerfeld began the appointment to the Chair of Mathematics at the Bergakademie in Clausthal-Zellerfeld; he was successor to Wilhelm Wien. Clausthal-Zellerfeld is a Town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the southwestern part of the Harz mountains Wilhelm Carl Werner Otto Fritz Franz Wien ( German:) ( 13 January 1864 &ndash 30 August 1928) was a German physicist This appointment provided enough income to eventually marry Johanna. ^[16][17][18]

At Klein’s request, Sommerfeld took on the position of editor of Volume V of Encyklopädie der mathematischen Wissenschaften; it was a major undertaking which lasted from 1898 to 1926. ^[19][20]

Aachen

In 1900, Sommerfeld started his appointment to the Chair of Applied Mechanics at the RWTH Aachen University as extraordinarius professor, which was arranged through Klein’s efforts. RWTH Aachen University is a large university located in Aachen, Germany. At Aachen, he developed the theory of hydrodynamics, which would retain his interest for a long time. Fluid dynamics is the sub-discipline of Fluid mechanics dealing with fluid flow: Fluids ( Liquids and Gases in motion Later, at the University of Munich, Sommerfeld’s students Ludwig Hopf and Werner Heisenberg would write their Ph. Ludwig Hopf (1884 in Nürnberg, Germany &ndash December 21, 1939 in Dublin, Ireland) was a German theoretical Werner Heisenberg (5 December 1901 in Würzburg &ndash1 February 1976 in Munich) was a German theoretical physicist best known for enunciating the D. theses on this topic. ^{[21][22][23][24]}

Munich

From 1906 Sommerfeld established himself as ordinarius professor of physics and director of the new Theoretical Physics Institute at the University of Munich. Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München also known as LMU, is a University in Munich and with more He was selected for these positions by Wilhelm Röntgen, Director of the Physics Institute at Munich,^[25] which was looked upon by Sommerfeld as being called to a “privileged sphere of action. Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (27 March 1845 &ndash 10 February 1923 was a German physicist, who on 8 November 1895 produced and detected Electromagnetic ”^[26]

Up until the late 19th century and early 20th century, experimental physics in Germany was considered as having a higher status within the community. However, in the early 20th century, theorists, such as Sommerfeld at Munich and Max Born at the University of Göttingen, with their early training in mathematics turned this around so that mathematical physics, i. Max Born (11 December 1882 &ndash 5 January 1970 was a German Physicist and Mathematician who was instrumental in the development of Quantum The University of Göttingen ( German: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) is a University in the city of Göttingen, Germany. e. , theoretical physics, became the prime mover and experimental physics was used to verify or advance theory. ^[27] After getting their doctorates with Sommerfeld, Wolfgang Pauli, Werner Heisenberg, and Walter Heitler became Born’s assistants and made significant contributions to the development of quantum mechanics, which was then in very rapid development. Werner Heisenberg (5 December 1901 in Würzburg &ndash1 February 1976 in Munich) was a German theoretical physicist best known for enunciating the Walter Heinrich Heitler ( 2 January 1904 &ndash 15 November 1981) was a German physicist who made contributions to Quantum electrodynamics

Over his 32 years of teaching at Munich, Sommerfeld taught general and specialized courses, as well as holding seminars and colloquia. ^[28] The general courses were on mechanics, mechanics of deformable bodies, electrodynamics, optics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, and partial differential equations in physics. They were held four hours per week, 13 weeks in the winter and 11 weeks in the summer, and were for students who had taken experimental physics courses from Röntgen and later by Wilhelm Wien. There was also a two-hour weekly presentation for the discussion of problems. The specialized courses were of topical interest and based on Sommerfeld’s research interests; material from these courses appeared later in the scientific literature publications of Sommerfeld. The objective of these special lectures was to grapple with current issues in theoretical physics and for Sommerfeld and the students to garner a systematic comprehension of the issue, independent of whether or not they were successful in solving the problem posed by the current issue or not. ^[29] For the seminar and colloquium periods, students were assigned papers from the current literature and they then prepared an oral presentation. ^[30] From 1942 to 1951, Sommerfeld worked on putting his lecture notes in order for publication. ^[31] They were published as the six-volume Lectures on Theoretical Physics.

For a list of students, please see the list organized by type. ^[32] Four of Sommerfeld’s doctoral students,^[33], Werner Heisenberg, Wolfgang Pauli, Peter Debye, and Hans Bethe went on to win Nobel Prizes, while others, most notably, Walter Heitler, Rudolf Peierls,^[34] Karl Bechert, Hermann Brück, Paul Peter Ewald, Eugene Feenberg,^[35] Herbert Fröhlich, Erwin Fues, Ernst Guillemin, Helmut Hönl, Ludwig Hopf, Adolf Kratzer, Otto Laporte, Wilhelm Lenz, Karl Meissner,^[36] Rudolf Seeliger, Ernst C. Stückelberg, Heinrich Welker, Gregor Wentzel, Alfred Landé, and Léon Brillouin^[37] became famous in their own right. Werner Heisenberg (5 December 1901 in Würzburg &ndash1 February 1976 in Munich) was a German theoretical physicist best known for enunciating the Peter Joseph William Debye ( March 24 1884 &ndash November 2 1966) was a Dutch physicist and physical chemist Hans Albrecht Bethe (/hans ˈalbʀɛçt ˈbeːtə/ ( July 2 1906 &ndash March 6, 2005) was a German - American Physicist The Nobel Prize (Nobelpriset (Nobelprisen is a Swedish prize established in the 1895 will of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel; it was first awarded in Peace, Literature Walter Heinrich Heitler ( 2 January 1904 &ndash 15 November 1981) was a German physicist who made contributions to Quantum electrodynamics Sir Rudolf Ernst Peierls, ( June 5 1907, Berlin &ndash September 19 1995, Oxford) was a German -born British Karl Richard Bechert ( August 23, 1901 in Nuremberg, Germany — April 1, 1981 in Weilmünster -Möttau Hermann Alexander Brück ( August 15, 1905 in Berlin, Germany &ndash March 4, 2000 in Edinburgh, Scotland Paul Peter Ewald ( January 23, 1888 in Berlin, Germany &ndash August 22, 1985 in Ithaca, New York Eugene Feenberg ( October 6, 1906 in Fort Smith Texas &ndash November 7, 1977) was an American physicist who made contributions to Herbert Fröhlich ( 9 December, 1905 in Rexingen Germany &ndash 23 January, 1991 in Liverpool, England Erwin Richard Fues ( January 17, 1893 in Stuttgart, Germany &ndash 1970 in Germany) was a German theoretical Physicist Ernst Adolf Guillemin ( May 8, 1898 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin &ndash April 1, 1970) was an American Helmut Hönl (1903 in Mannheim, Germany &ndash 1981 was a German theoretical Physicist who made contributions to Quantum mechanics and the Ludwig Hopf (1884 in Nürnberg, Germany &ndash December 21, 1939 in Dublin, Ireland) was a German theoretical B Adolf Kratzer ( October 16, 1893 in Günzburg, Germany &ndash) was a German theoretical Physicist who made contributions Otto Laporte ( July 23, 1902 in Mainz, Germany &ndash March 28, 1971 in Ann Arbor, Michigan) was Wilhelm Lenz ( February 8, 1888 in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany &ndash April 30, 1957 in Hamburg, Germany Karl Wilhelm Meissner ( December 15, 1891 in Reutlingen, Württemberg &ndash April 13, 1959 on the cruise ship Herzthrombose Rudolf Seeliger ( November 12, 1886 – January 20, 1965) was a German physicist who specialized in electric discharges in gases This article is about the physicist for his grandfather the Swiss artist see Ernst Alfred Stueckelberg Ernst Carl Gerlach Stueckelberg ( Heinrich Johann Welker ( September 9, 1912 in Ingolstadt, Germany &ndash December 25, 1981 in Erlangen, Gregor Wentzel (February 17 1898 in Düsseldorf, Germany – August 12 1978 in Ascona, Switzerland) was a German Physicist Alfred Landé ( 13 December, 1888 &ndash 30 October 1976) was a German-American physicist known for his contributions to quantum theory Léon Nicolas Brillouin ( August 7, 1889 &ndash December 1969 was a French physicist Two of Sommerfeld’s postgraduate students, Linus Pauling^[38] and Isidor I. Rabi^[39] won Nobel Prizes, and eleven others, William Allis,^[40] Edward Condon,^[41] Carl Eckart,^[42] Edwin C. Kemble,^[43] William V. Houston,^[44] Karl Herzfeld,^[45] Walther Kossel, Max von Laue,^[46] Philip M. Morse,^{[47] [48]} Howard Robertson,^[49] and Adalbert Rubinowicz^[50] went on to become famous in their own right. Linus Carl Pauling (February 28 1901 – August 19 1994 was an American Scientist, Peace activist, Author and educator. Isidor Isaac Rabi ( July 29, 1898 &ndash January 11, 1988) Galician born Physicist, and Nobel laureate. William Phelps Allis ( November 15, 1901 in Menton, France &ndash March 5, 1999 in Cambridge Massachusetts) Edward Uhler Condon ( March 2 1902 &ndash March 26 1974) was a distinguished American Nuclear physicist, a pioneer Carl Henry Eckart ( May 4, 1902 in St Louis, Missouri &ndash October 23, 1973 in La Jolla, California Edwin Crawford Kemble ( January 28, 1889 in Delaware, Ohio &ndash March 12, 1984) was an American Physicist William Vermillion Houston (January 19 1900 in Mount Gilead, Ohio, U Karl Ferdinand Herzfeld ( February 24, 1892 in Vienna, Austria &ndash June 3, 1978 in Washington DC Walther Ludwig Julius Kossel ( January 4, 1888 in Berlin, Germany &ndash 22 May, 1956 in Tübingen, Germany was a German Max Theodor Felix von Laue ( October 9, 1879 &ndash April 24, 1960) was a German physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics Philip McCord Morse, ( Aug 6, 1903 - Sep 5, 1985) was an American physicist administrator and pioneer of Operations research (OR Howard Percy Robertson ( January 27, 1903 &ndash August 26, 1961) was an American Mathematician and Physicist known for Walter Rogowski, an undergraduate student of Sommerfeld at RWTH Aachen, also went on to become famous in his own right. Walter Rogowski ( May 7, 1881 in Obrighoven Germany &ndash March 10, 1947 in Aachen, Germany was a German physicist who RWTH Aachen University is a large university located in Aachen, Germany. Max Born believed Sommerfeld’s abilities included the “discovery and development of talents. Max Born (11 December 1882 &ndash 5 January 1970 was a German Physicist and Mathematician who was instrumental in the development of Quantum ”^[51] Albert Einstein told Sommerfeld: “What I especially admire about you is that you have, as it were, pounded out of the soil such a large number of young talents. Albert Einstein ( German: ˈalbɐt ˈaɪ̯nʃtaɪ̯n; English: ˈælbɝt ˈaɪnstaɪn (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955 was a German -born theoretical ”^[52] Sommerfeld’s style as a professor and institute director did not put distance between him and his colleagues and students. He invited collaboration from them, and their ideas often influenced his own views in physics. He entertained them in his home and met with them in cafes before and after seminars and colloquia. Sommerfeld owned an alpine ski hut to which students were often invited for discussions of physics as demanding as the sport. ^[53]

While at Munich, Sommerfeld came in contact with the special theory of relativity by Albert Einstein, which was not yet widely accepted at that time. Special relativity (SR (also known as the special theory of relativity or STR) is the Physical theory of Measurement in Inertial Albert Einstein ( German: ˈalbɐt ˈaɪ̯nʃtaɪ̯n; English: ˈælbɝt ˈaɪnstaɪn (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955 was a German -born theoretical His mathematical contributions to the theory helped its acceptance by the skeptics. In 1914 he worked with Léon Brillouin on the propagation of electromagnetic waves in dispersive media. Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Léon Nicolas Brillouin ( August 7, 1889 &ndash December 1969 was a French physicist He became one of the founders of quantum mechanics; some of his contributions included co-discovery of the Sommerfeld-Wilson quantization rules (1915), a generalization of Bohr's atomic model, introduction of the Sommerfeld fine-structure constant (1916), co-discovery with Walther Kossel of the Sommerfeld-Kossel displacement law (1919),^[54] and published Atombau und Spektrallinien (1919), which became the “bible”^[55] of atomic theory for the new generation of physicists who developed atomic and quantum physics. Quantum mechanics is the study of mechanical systems whose dimensions are close to the Atomic scale such as Molecules Atoms Electrons In Atomic physics, the Bohr model created by Niels Bohr depicts the Atom as a small positively charged nucleus surrounded by Electrons Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The fine-structure constant or Sommerfeld fine-structure constant, usually denoted \alpha \ is the Fundamental physical constant characterizing Walther Ludwig Julius Kossel ( January 4, 1888 in Berlin, Germany &ndash 22 May, 1956 in Tübingen, Germany was a German The Sommerfeld-Kossel displacement law is The first spark (singly ionized spectrum of an element is similar in all details to the arc (neutral spectrum of the element preceding it in Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

In 1918, Sommerfeld succeeded Einstein as chair of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG). Albert Einstein ( German: ˈalbɐt ˈaɪ̯nʃtaɪ̯n; English: ˈælbɝt ˈaɪnstaɪn (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955 was a German -born theoretical The Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft ( DPG, German Physical Society is the world's largest organization of physicists ^[56] One of his accomplishments was the founding of a new journal. ^[57] The scientific papers published in DPG journals became so voluminous, a committee of the DPG, in 1919, recommended the establishment of Zeitschrift für Physik for publication of original research articles, which commenced in 1920. The Zeitschrift für Physik (Journal of Physics was a German Academic journal published from 1920 until 1997 Since any reputable scientist could have their article published without refereeing, time between submission and publication was very rapid – as fast as two weeks time. This greatly stimulated the scientific theoretical developments, especially that of quantum mechanics in Germany at that time, as this journal was the preferred publication vehicle for the new generation of quantum theorists with avant-garde views. ^[58]

In the winter semester of 1922/1923, Sommerfeld gave the Carl Schurz Memorial Professor of Physics lectures at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[59]

In 1927 Sommerfeld applied Fermi-Dirac statistics to the Drude model of electrons in metals – a model put forth by Paul Drude. Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In Statistical mechanics, Fermi-Dirac statistics is a particular case of Particle statistics developed by Enrico Fermi and Paul Dirac that The Drude model of Electrical conduction was proposed in 1900 by Paul Drude to explain the transport properties of Electrons in materials (especially metals The electron is a fundamental Subatomic particle that was identified and assigned the negative charge in 1897 by J Paul Karl Ludwig Drude ( July 12, 1863 &ndash July 5, 1906) was a German Physicist specializing in Optics. The new theory solved many of the problems predicting thermal properties the original model had and became known as the Drude-Sommerfeld model.

In 1928/1929, Sommerfeld traveled around the world with major stops in India,^[60] China, Japan, and the United States.

Sommerfeld was a great theoretician, and besides his invaluable contributions to the quantum theory, he worked in other fields of physics, such as the classical theory of electromagnetism. For example, he proposed a solution to the problem of a radiating hertzian dipole over a conducting earth, which over the years led to many applications. In physics there are two kinds of dipoles ( Hellènic: di(s- = two- and pòla = pivot hinge An electric dipole is a His Sommerfeld identity and Sommerfeld integrals are still to the present day the most common way to solve this kind of problem. The Sommerfeld identity is a mathematical identity due Arnold Sommerfeld, used in the theory of propagation of waves \frac{R} = \int\limits_0^\infty Also, as a mark of the prowess of Sommerfeld’s school of theoretical physics and the rise of theoretical physics in the early 1900s, as of 1928, nearly one-third of the ordinarius professors of theoretical physics in the German-speaking world were students of Sommerfeld. ^[61]

On 1 April 1935 Sommerfeld achieved emeritus status, however, he stayed on as his own temporary replacement during the selection process for his successor, which took until 1 December 1939. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The process was lengthy due to academic and political differences between the Munich Faculty’s selection and that of both the Reichserziehungsministerium (Acronym: REM, and translation: Reich Education Ministry. The Reichserziehungsministerium (Acronym REM translation Reich Ministry of Education ) and the supporters of Deutsche Physik,^{[62] [63]} which was anti-Semitic and had a bias against theoretical physics, especially including quantum mechanics. Deutsche Physik (literally "German Physics" or Aryan Physics was a Nationalist movement in the German Physics community Antisemitism (alternatively spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism; also rarely known as judeophobia) is the Prejudice against or hostility Theoretical physics employs Mathematical models and Abstractions of Physics in an attempt to explain experimental data taken of the natural world Quantum mechanics is the study of mechanical systems whose dimensions are close to the Atomic scale such as Molecules Atoms Electrons The appointment of Wilhelm Müller - who was not a theoretical physicist, had not published in a physics journal, and was not a member of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft ^[64] - as a replacement for Sommerfeld, was considered such a travesty and detrimental to educating a new generation of physicists that both Ludwig Prandtl, director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institut für Strömungsforschung ( Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Flow Research), and Carl Ramsauer, director of the research division of the Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft (General Electric Company) and president of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft, made reference to this in their correspondence to officials in the Reich. The Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft ( DPG, German Physical Society is the world's largest organization of physicists Ludwig Prandtl ( 4 February 1875 &ndash 15 August 1953) was a German Physicist. The Kaiser Wilhelm Gesellschaft is a German entity formally known as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e AEG ( Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft, General Electricity Company) was a German producer of Electronics and electrical equipment The Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft ( DPG, German Physical Society is the world's largest organization of physicists In an attachment to Prandtl’s 28 April 1941 letter to Reich Marshal Hermann Göring, Prandtl referred to the appointment as “sabotage” of necessary theoretical physics instruction. Events 1192 - Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat (Conrad I King of Jerusalem, in Tyre, two days after his title Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Hermann Wilhelm Göring (also spelled Goering) (12 January 1893 15 October 1946 was a German Politician, Military leader and a leading member ^[65] In an attachment to Ramsauer’s 20 January 1942 letter to Reich Minister Bernhard Rust, Ramsauer concluded that the appointment amounted to the “destruction of the Munich theoretical physics tradition. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Dr Bernhard Rust (30 September 1883 — 8 May 1945 was Minister of Science Education and National Culture ( Reichserziehungsminister) in Nazi Germany. ”^{[66] [67]}

Sommerfeld was awarded many honors in his lifetime, such as the Lorentz Medal, the Max-Planck Medal, the Oersted Medal,^{[68] [69]} election to the Royal Society of London, the United States National Academy of Sciences, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, the Indian Academy of Sciences, and other academies including those in Berlin, Munich, Göttingen, and Vienna, as well as having conferred on him numerous honorary degrees from universities including Rostock, Aachen, Calcutta, and Athens. Lorentz Medal is an award given every four years by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Max Planck medal is an award for extraordinary achievements in Theoretical physics. The Oersted Medal recognizes notable contributions to the Teaching of Physics. The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660 The National Academy of Sciences (NAS is a corporation in the United States whose members serve Pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science The Russian Academy of Sciences (Российская Академия Наук Rossi'iskaya Akade'miya Nau'k, shortened to PAH RAN) consists of the National The Indian Academy of Sciences was founded by Sir C V Raman, and was registered as a Society on 24 April 1934 ^[70]

In 2004, the center for theoretical physics at the University of Munich was named after him. ^[71]

Notably missing from Sommerfeld’s honors is the Nobel Prize. One can only wonder why this is so, as he was nominated 81 times, more than any other physicist. ^[72] His many contributions to atomic and quantum physics, as well as the legacy of the many students he educated and nurtured, will, however, stand in its place.

Sommerfeld died in 1951 in Munich from injuries after a traffic accident while walking with his grandchildren. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Munich (München; Minga is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany.

Selected Literature

• A. Sommerfeld Some Reminiscences of My Teaching Career, American Journal of Physics Volume 17, Number 5, 315-316 (1949). Address upon receipt of the 1948 Oersted Medal.

Books

• Arnold Sommerfeld "Mathematische Theorie der Diffraction" Math. Ann. 47 317-374 (1896)
  • Arnold Sommerfeld, translated by Raymond J. Nagem, Mario Zampolli, and Guido Sandri Mathematical Theory of Diffraction (Birkhäuser Boston, 2003) ISBN 0-8176-3604-8

• Arnold Sommerfeld Atombau und Spektrallinien (Friedrich Vieweg und Sohn, Braunschweig, 1919)
  • Arnold Sommerfeld, translated from the third German edition by Henry L. Brose Atomic Structure and Spectral Lines (Methuen, 1923)

• Arnold Sommerfeld, Three Lectures on Atomic Physics (London: Methuen, 1926)

• Arnold Sommerfeld Atombau und Spektrallinien, Wellenmechanischer Ergänzungband (Vieweg, Braunschweig, 1929)
  • Arnold Sommerfeld, translated by Henry L. Brose Wave-Mechanics: Supplementary Volume to Atomic Structure and Spectral Lines (Dutton, 1929)

• Arnold Sommerfeld Lectures on Wave Mechanics Delivered before the Calcutta University (Calcutta University, 1929)

• Arnold Sommerfeld and Hans Bethe Elektronentheorie der Metalle in H. Geiger and K. Scheel, editors Handbuch der Physik Volume 24, Part 2, 333-622 (Springer, 1933). This nearly 300-page chapter was later published as a separate book: Elektronentheorie der Metalle (Springer, 1967).

• Arnold Sommerfeld Mechanik - Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik Band 1 (Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Becker & Erler, 1943)
  • Arnold Sommerfeld, translated from the fourth German edition by Martin O. Stern Mechanics - Lectures on Theoretical Physics Volume I (Academic Press, 1964)

• Arnold Sommerfeld Mechanik der deformierbaren Medien - Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik Band 2 (Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Becker & Erler, 1945)
  • Arnold Sommerfeld, translated from the second German edition by G. Kuerti Mechanics of Deformable Bodies - Lectures on Theoretical Physics Volume II (Academic Press, 1964)

• Arnold Sommerfeld Elektrodynamik - Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik Band 3 (Klemm Verlag, Erscheinungsort, 1948)
  • Arnold Sommerfeld, translated from the German by Edward G. Ramberg Electrodynamics - Lectures on Theoretical Physics Volume III (Academic Press, 1964)

• Arnold Sommerfeld Optik - Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik Band 4 (Dieterich'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1950)
  • Arnold Sommerfeld, translated from the first German edition by Otto Laporte and Peter A. Moldauer Optics - Lectures on Theoretical Physics Volume IV (Academic Press, 1964)

• Arnold Sommerfeld Thermodynamik und Statistik - Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik Band 5 Herausgegeben von Fritz Bopp und Josef Meixner. Friedrich Arnold Bopp (1909 &ndash 1987 was a German Theoretical physicist who contributed to Nuclear physics and quantum field theory. (Diederich sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1952)
  • Arnold Sommerfeld, edited by F. Bopp and J. Meixner, and translated by J. Kestin Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics - Lectures on Theoretical Physics Volume V (Academic Press, 1964)

• Arnold Sommerfeld Partielle Differentialgleichungen der Physik - Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik Band 6 (Dieterich'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1947)
  • Arnold Sommerfeld, translated by Ernest G. Straus Partial Differential Equations in Physics - Lectures on Theoretical Physics Volume VI (Academic Press, 1964)

• Felix Klein and Arnold Sommerfeld Über die Theorie des Kreisels [4 volumes] (Teubner, 1897)

See also

• Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization
• Quantum Mechanics

Bibliography

• Related to Joshua W. Felix Christian Klein ( 25 April 1849 &ndash 22 June 1925) was a German Mathematician, known for his work in Group In Atomic physics, the Bohr model created by Niels Bohr depicts the Atom as a small positively charged nucleus surrounded by Electrons Quantum mechanics is the study of mechanical systems whose dimensions are close to the Atomic scale such as Molecules Atoms Electrons Sommerfeld
• Benz, Ulrich Arnold Sommerfeld. Lehrer und Forscher an der Schwelle zum Atomzeitalter 1868 – 1951 (Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft, 1975)

• Beyerchen, Alan D. Scientists Under Hitler: Politics and the Physics Community in the Third Reich (Yale, 1977)

• Born, Max Arnold Johannes Wilhelm Sommerfeld, 1868-1951, Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society Volume 8, Number 21, 274-296 (1952)

• Cassidy, David C. Uncertainty: The Life and Science of Werner Heisenberg (W. H. Freeman and Company, 1992) ISBN 0-7167-2503-7 (Since Werner Heisenberg was one of Sommerfeld’s Ph. Werner Heisenberg (5 December 1901 in Würzburg &ndash1 February 1976 in Munich) was a German theoretical physicist best known for enunciating the D. students, this is an indirect source of information on Sommerfeld, but the information on him is rather extensive and well documented. )

• Eckert, Michael Propaganda in science: Sommerfeld and the spread of the electron theory of metals, Historical Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences Volume 17, Number 2, 191-233 (1987)

• Eckert, Michael Mathematics, Experiments, and Theoretical Physics: The Early Days of the Sommerfeld School, Physics in Perspective Volume 1, Number 3, 238-252 (1999)

• Hentschel, Klaus (Editor) and Ann M. Hentschel (Editorial Assistant and Translator) Physics and National Socialism: An Anthology of Primary Sources (Birkhäuser, 1996)

• Jungnickel, Christa and Russell McCormmach. Intellectual Mastery of Nature. Theoretical Physics from Ohm to Einstein, Volume 1: The Torch of Mathematics, 1800 to 1870. University of Chicago Press, paper cover, 1990a. ISBN 0-226-41582-1

• Jungnickel, Christa and Russell McCormmach. Intellectual Mastery of Nature. Theoretical Physics from Ohm to Einstein, Volume 2: The Now Mighty Theoretical Physics, 1870 to 1925. University of Chicago Press, Paper cover, 1990b. ISBN 0-226-41585-6

• Kant, Horst Arnold Sommerfeld – Kommunikation und Schulenbildung in Fuchs-Kittowski, Klaus ; Laitko, Hubert ; Parthey, Heinrich ; Umstätter, Walther (editors) Wissenschaft und Digitale Bibliothek: Wissenschaftsforschung Jahrbuch 1998 135-152 (Verlag der Gesellschaft für Wissenschaftsforschung, 2000)

• Kirkpatrick, Paul Address of Recommendation by Professor Paul Kirkpatrick, Chairman of the Committee on Awards, American Journal of Physics Volume 17, Number 5, 312-314 (1949). Address preceding award to Arnold Sommerfeld, recipient of the 1948 Oersted Medal for Notable Contributions to the Teaching of Physics, January 28, 1949.

• Kragh, Helge Quantum Generations: A History of Physics in the Twentieth Century (Princeton University Press, fifth printing and first paperback printing, 2002) ISBN 0-691-01206-7

• Kuhn, Thomas S. , John L. Heilbron, Paul Forman, and Lini Allen Sources for History of Quantum Physics (American Philosophical Society, 1967)

• Mehra, Jagdish, and Helmut Rechenberg The Historical Development of Quantum Theory. Volume 1 Part 1 The Quantum Theory of Planck, Einstein, Bohr and Sommerfeld 1900 – 1925: Its Foundation and the Rise of Its Difficulties. (Springer, 1982) ISBN 0-387-95174-1

• Pauling, Linus Arnold Sommerfeld: 1868 – 1951, Science Volume 114, Number 2963, 383-384 (1951)

• Singh, Rajinder "Arnold Sommerfeld – The Supporter of Indian Physics in Germany" Current Science 81 No. 11, 10 December 2001, pp. 1489-1494

• Walker, Mark Nazi Science: Myth, Truth, and the German Atomic Bomb (Persius, 1995) ISBN 0-306-44941-2

External links

• Annotated bibliography for Arnold Sommerfeld from the Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues
• Arnold Sommerfeld Biography – American Philosophical Society (Inlcudes information on his students. )
• Arnold Sommerfeld Biography – Zurich ETH-Bibliothek
• Arnold Sommerfeld - die Vektorrechnung
• Arnold Sommerfled's Students - The Mathematics Genealogy Project
• Arnold Sommerfeld - the supporter of Indian physics in Germany
• Hans Bethe talking about his time as Sommerfeld's Student on Peoples Archive
• O'Connor, John J. & Robertson, Edmund F. , “Arnold Sommerfeld”, MacTutor History of Mathematics archive 
• Relativitätstheorie — Sommerfeld's 1921 introduction to special and general relativity for general audiences (German)
• Sommerfeld-Project – Leibniz-Rechenzentrum der Wissenschaften
• Works by Arnold Sommerfeld at Project Gutenberg
• A collection of digitized materials related to Sommerfeld's and Linus Pauling's structural chemistry research. The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive is an award-winning website maintained by John J Special relativity (SR (also known as the special theory of relativity or STR) is the Physical theory of Measurement in Inertial General relativity or the general theory of relativity is the geometric theory of Gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1916 Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to Digitize, archive and distribute Cultural works Linus Carl Pauling (February 28 1901 – August 19 1994 was an American Scientist, Peace activist, Author and educator.

Notes

Persondata
NAME	Sommerfeld, Arnold
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Physicist
DATE OF BIRTH	December 5, 1868
PLACE OF BIRTH	Königsberg, East Prussia
DATE OF DEATH	April 26, 1951
PLACE OF DEATH	Munich, Germany

A physicist is a Scientist who studies or practices Physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Königsberg (Karaliaučius Low German: Königsbarg; Królewiec see also other names) was until 1946 the name of Kaliningrad. East Prussia (Ostpreußen; Rytų Prūsija or Rytprūsiai; Prusy Wschodnie Восточная Пруссия or Vostochnaya Prussiya) refers to the main part Events 1467 - The miraculous image in Our Lady of Good Counsel appear in Genazzano, Italy. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Munich (München; Minga is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.

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