Adolf Bestelmeyer
Encyclopedia
Adolf Bestelmeyer (December 21, 1875 in Nuremberg
, † November 21, 1957 in Heidelberg
) was a German
experimental physicist
.
and physics
at the Technical University of Berlin
, the Technical University of Munich
and the University of Munich. After his promotion, he worked in 1904 as an assistant at the University of Göttingen. In World War I
he was active in torpedo
research, and afterwards he was professor of physics at the University of Greifswald from 1917 to 1921. He then served until the end of World War II
as a laboratory manager in various companies (like Askania), especially in the area of torpedo construction.
In 1906 Bestelmeyer was the first to question the accuracy of the measurements by Walter Kaufmann
regarding the speed dependence of the electromagnetic mass
. Thereby, Bestelmeyer was the first to use a velocity filter
for his own experiments on cathode ray
s, and this method was later also used by Alfred Bucherer
. While Bucherer saw the results of his experiments as a confirmation of special relativity
, his methods were criticized by Bestelmeyer, thus a polemical dispute between these two researchers arose. It took years until those problems could be resolved, and the results of further experiments confirmed the predictions of special relativity.
Bestelmeyer is also known for developing a magnetic detonator for torpedoes in 1917, for which he was awarded the Iron Cross
1st Class (although there was no time for testing this device in WWI anymore).
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, † November 21, 1957 in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
) was a German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
experimental physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
.
Life and work
Bestelmeyer studied mathematicsMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at the Technical University of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
, the Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
and the University of Munich. After his promotion, he worked in 1904 as an assistant at the University of Göttingen. In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was active in torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
research, and afterwards he was professor of physics at the University of Greifswald from 1917 to 1921. He then served until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a laboratory manager in various companies (like Askania), especially in the area of torpedo construction.
In 1906 Bestelmeyer was the first to question the accuracy of the measurements by Walter Kaufmann
Walter Kaufmann (physicist)
Walter Kaufmann was a German physicist. He is most well known for his first experimental proof of the velocity dependence of mass, which was an important contribution to the development of modern physics, including special relativity.-Life:In 1890/91 he studied mechanical engineering at the...
regarding the speed dependence of the electromagnetic mass
Electromagnetic mass
Electromagnetic mass was initially a concept of classical mechanics, denoting as to how much the electromagnetic field, or the self-energy, is contributing to the mass of charged particles. It was first derived by J. J. Thomson in 1881 and was for some time also considered as a dynamical...
. Thereby, Bestelmeyer was the first to use a velocity filter
Wien filter
A Wien filter is a device consisting of perpendicular electric and magnetic fields that can be used as a velocity filter for charged particles, for example in electron microscopes and spectrometers. It is named for Wilhelm Wien who developed it in 1898 for the study of anode rays. It can be...
for his own experiments on cathode ray
Cathode ray
Cathode rays are streams of electrons observed in vacuum tubes. If an evacuated glass tube is equipped with two electrodes and a voltage is applied, the glass opposite of the negative electrode is observed to glow, due to electrons emitted from and travelling perpendicular to the cathode Cathode...
s, and this method was later also used by Alfred Bucherer
Alfred Bucherer
Alfred Heinrich Bucherer was a German physicist, who is known for his experiments on relativistic mass...
. While Bucherer saw the results of his experiments as a confirmation of special relativity
Special relativity
Special relativity is the physical theory of measurement in an inertial frame of reference proposed in 1905 by Albert Einstein in the paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies".It generalizes Galileo's...
, his methods were criticized by Bestelmeyer, thus a polemical dispute between these two researchers arose. It took years until those problems could be resolved, and the results of further experiments confirmed the predictions of special relativity.
Bestelmeyer is also known for developing a magnetic detonator for torpedoes in 1917, for which he was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
1st Class (although there was no time for testing this device in WWI anymore).