Arnold Sommerfeld German physicist and mathematician, founder of the Munich school of theoretical physics. Date of Birth: 05.12.1868 Country: Germany

Biography of Arnold Sommerfeld

Arnold Sommerfeld was a German physicist and mathematician, known for founding the Munich School of Theoretical Physics. He was born into a family of a practicing physician with an interest in natural science. He began studying mathematics at the University of Königsberg in 1886, which was one of the first universities to establish theoretical physics as an independent subject. During his time at the university, Sommerfeld was mentored by prominent scientists such as David Hilbert, Ferdinand von Lindemann, and Adolf Hurwitz.

In 1891, Sommerfeld defended his dissertation on "Strange Functions in Mathematical Physics." After completing his military service in 1893, he moved to Göttingen, which was the main mathematical center in Germany at the time. There, he initially worked as an assistant at the Mineralogical Institute, but his main interests remained in mathematics and mathematical physics. In 1894, Sommerfeld became an assistant to mathematician Felix Klein. Under Klein's guidance, he wrote his doctoral dissertation on "Mathematical Theory of Diffraction" in 1895 and became a lecturer in mathematics.

In 1897, Sommerfeld got married and soon after secured a position as a professor of mathematics at the Clausthal Mining Academy. From 1900, he served as the chair of technical mechanics at the Technical Institute in Aachen. In 1906, he became a professor of theoretical physics at the University of Munich, where he established one of the most significant centers for theoretical physics. Despite offers to occupy other renowned chairs, Sommerfeld remained in Munich until the end of his life, except for a temporary professorship in the United States at the University of Wisconsin in 1922/1923 and academic teaching trips to Asia (India, China, Japan) and the United States in 1928/1929.

Although Sommerfeld retired in 1935, he continued teaching until 1940 due to the lack of a suitable replacement candidate. He preferred Werner Heisenberg to succeed him but faced opposition from representatives of the so-called German physics. After World War II, Sommerfeld sought a successor to continue his scientific school's tradition and proposed the names of Heisenberg, Hans Bethe, and Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker. Sadly, Sommerfeld died in a car accident in 1951.

Together with Max Planck, Albert Einstein, and Niels Bohr, Arnold Sommerfeld belonged to a group of researchers who laid the foundation for modern theoretical physics in the early 20th century. He was not only an outstanding scientist but also a talented teacher. His contribution to science was not so much in formulating new revolutionary physical theories but in applying the latest mathematical methods to solve physical and technical problems.

Sommerfeld made notable contributions to the early quantum theory by refining the Bohr model of the atom, which explained the fine structure of spectral lines in the hydrogen atom. He also developed the theory of X-ray emission, improved the theory of electrons in metals developed by Paul Drude using quantum mechanical considerations (the Sommerfeld-Drude theory), and created a comprehensive theory of the spinning top. Sommerfeld was one of the first physicists to accept and apply Albert Einstein's special theory of relativity, contributing to its recognition.

Many famous physicists of the 20th century, including Nobel laureates, emerged from Sommerfeld's theoretical physics school. They either served as his assistants, pursued their doctoral studies under his supervision, or attended his lectures. This school had a significant influence on the development of science, especially in the field of quantum theory and its dissemination, both due to the quality of scientific work and the fact that many physics departments in Germany and the United States were led by graduates of Sommerfeld's school. Two of the pioneers of quantum mechanics, Werner Heisenberg and Wolfgang Pauli, were Sommerfeld's doctoral students. Other notable students included Peter Debye, Hans Bethe, Isidor Rabi, and Wolfgang Pauling.

Sommerfeld also had an impact on the scientific community through his textbooks. His book "Structure of the Atom and Spectral Lines," first published in 1919, was reissued in subsequent years with extensive additions that reflected the rapid development of atomic physics at the time. This book was regarded as one of the most significant publications for making the theoretical achievements of young quantum mechanics accessible to experimentalists and played a crucial role in educating students.

Arnold Sommerfeld was elected a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences in 1908 and a fellow of the Royal Society in London in 1926. He received the Helmholtz Medal in 1917, the Max Planck Medal in 1931, and the Lorentz Medal in 1939 for his contributions to physics.