Carlo Somigliana
Encyclopedia
Carlo Somigliana was an Italian mathematician
and a classical mathematical physicist
faithful to the school of Enrico Betti
and Eugenio Beltrami
. He made important contributions in elasticity. The Somigliana integral equation for elasticity is the equivalent of Green's formula for potential theory. He is also known for the Somigliana dislocations. His other contributions included seismic wave propagation and gravimetry. Also, one of his ancestors was Alessandro Volta
: precisely the great Como
physicist
was an ancestor of Carlo's mother, Teresa Volta.
. Later he transferred to Pisa and had Betti among his teachers, and Volterra among his contemporaries. He graduated from Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
in 1881. In 1887 Somigliana began teaching as an assistant at the University of Pavia. In 1892, as the result of a competition, he was appointed as University Professor of Mathematical Physics. Somigliana was called to Turin
in 1903 to become the Chair of Mathematical Physics
. He held the post until his retirement in 1935, and moved to live in Milan. During the World War II, his apartment in Milan was destroyed. After the war he retreated to his family villa in Casanova Lanza and stayed active in research until near his death in 1955.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
and a classical mathematical physicist
Mathematical physics
Mathematical physics refers to development of mathematical methods for application to problems in physics. The Journal of Mathematical Physics defines this area as: "the application of mathematics to problems in physics and the development of mathematical methods suitable for such applications and...
faithful to the school of Enrico Betti
Enrico Betti
-External links:...
and Eugenio Beltrami
Eugenio Beltrami
Eugenio Beltrami was an Italian mathematician notable for his work concerning differential geometry and mathematical physics...
. He made important contributions in elasticity. The Somigliana integral equation for elasticity is the equivalent of Green's formula for potential theory. He is also known for the Somigliana dislocations. His other contributions included seismic wave propagation and gravimetry. Also, one of his ancestors was Alessandro Volta
Alessandro Volta
Count Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Gerolamo Umberto Volta was a Lombard physicist known especially for the invention of the battery in 1800.-Early life and works:...
: precisely the great Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
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...
was an ancestor of Carlo's mother, Teresa Volta.
Life
Carlo Somigliana began his university study at Pavia, where he was a student of Eugenio BeltramiEugenio Beltrami
Eugenio Beltrami was an Italian mathematician notable for his work concerning differential geometry and mathematical physics...
. Later he transferred to Pisa and had Betti among his teachers, and Volterra among his contemporaries. He graduated from Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
The Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, also known in Italian as Scuola Normale , is a public higher learning institution in Italy. It was founded in 1810, by Napoleonic decree, as a branch of the École Normale Supérieure of Paris...
in 1881. In 1887 Somigliana began teaching as an assistant at the University of Pavia. In 1892, as the result of a competition, he was appointed as University Professor of Mathematical Physics. Somigliana was called to Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
in 1903 to become the Chair of Mathematical Physics
Mathematical physics
Mathematical physics refers to development of mathematical methods for application to problems in physics. The Journal of Mathematical Physics defines this area as: "the application of mathematics to problems in physics and the development of mathematical methods suitable for such applications and...
. He held the post until his retirement in 1935, and moved to live in Milan. During the World War II, his apartment in Milan was destroyed. After the war he retreated to his family villa in Casanova Lanza and stayed active in research until near his death in 1955.