Ludwig Waldmann
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Waldmann was a German
physicist
who specialized in transport phenomena in gases. He derived the Waldmann-Snider equation.
at the University of Munich in 1938. He was Sommerfeld’s assistant, at the Institute of Theoretical Physics, from 1937 – 1939. Waldman had been the scribe for Sommerfeld’s optics course in 1934, and Waldmann’s careful record of the lectures were the basis for Sommerfeld’s book Optics - Lectures on Theoretical Physics Volume IV.
After being granted his Ph.D. in 1938, his career spanned four decades with many publications to his name (at least 99):
Waldmann, for many years, was the chairman of the Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics section of the German Physical Society. He was also a corresponding member of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
and a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences.
Waldmann’s technical contributions were in the areas of kinetic theory of molecular gases, transport phenomena in gases and liquids, and isotope separation
. The venerable Handbuch der Physik published his 220-page article “Transporterscheinungen in Gasen von mittlerem Druck” – a chapter in the article conveyed the then new quantum mechanics version of the Boltzmann equation
, which later became known as the Waldmann-Snider equation. The original Waldmann publications on the equation appeared in the literature in 1957 and 1958. Independently, R. F. Snider, a Canadian, published the same kinetic equation in 1960. This equation provided the framework for the interpretation of the Senftleben-Beenakker effect
.
(Research Reports in Nuclear Physics), an internal publication of the German Uranverein
. The reports were classified Top Secret, they had very limited distribution, and the authors were not allowed to keep copies. The reports were confiscated under the Allied Operation Alsos
and sent to the United States Atomic Energy Commission
for evaluation. In 1971, the reports were declassified and returned to Germany. The reports are available at the Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center and the American Institute of Physics
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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...
who specialized in transport phenomena in gases. He derived the Waldmann-Snider equation.
Career
Waldmann completed his Ph.D. under Arnold SommerfeldArnold Sommerfeld
Arnold Johannes Wilhelm Sommerfeld 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...
at the University of Munich in 1938. He was Sommerfeld’s assistant, at the Institute of Theoretical Physics, from 1937 – 1939. Waldman had been the scribe for Sommerfeld’s optics course in 1934, and Waldmann’s careful record of the lectures were the basis for Sommerfeld’s book Optics - Lectures on Theoretical Physics Volume IV.
After being granted his Ph.D. in 1938, his career spanned four decades with many publications to his name (at least 99):
- 1939 – 1943: Institute of Physical Chemistry, Munich
- 1943 – 1954: Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft and the Max-Planck Institute (MPI) for Chemistry (In 1948 the Kaiser Wilhelm Gesellschaft facilities were named after Max Planck.)
- 1943 – 1944: in BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
- 1944 – 1949: in Tailfingen
- 1949 – 1954: in MainzMainzMainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
- 1943 – 1944: in Berlin
- 1954 – 1963: Fellow (wissenschaftliches Mitglied) of MPI, Mainz
- 1963 – 1978: Chair for Theoretical Physics, University of Erlangen-Nürenberg
- 1964/1965 Academic Year: Visiting professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaThe University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
- 1974: Molecular Physics Group, University of Leiden
- 1964/1965 Academic Year: Visiting professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota
- 1978: Retired
Waldmann, for many years, was the chairman of the Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics section of the German Physical Society. He was also a corresponding member of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics is an international non-governmental organization devoted to the advancement of physics...
and a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences.
Waldmann’s technical contributions were in the areas of kinetic theory of molecular gases, transport phenomena in gases and liquids, and isotope separation
Isotope separation
Isotope separation is the process of concentrating specific isotopes of a chemical element by removing other isotopes, for example separating natural uranium into enriched uranium and depleted uranium. This is a crucial process in the manufacture of uranium fuel for nuclear power stations, and is...
. The venerable Handbuch der Physik published his 220-page article “Transporterscheinungen in Gasen von mittlerem Druck” – a chapter in the article conveyed the then new quantum mechanics version of the Boltzmann equation
Boltzmann equation
The Boltzmann equation, also often known as the Boltzmann transport equation, devised by Ludwig Boltzmann, describes the statistical distribution of one particle in rarefied gas...
, which later became known as the Waldmann-Snider equation. The original Waldmann publications on the equation appeared in the literature in 1957 and 1958. Independently, R. F. Snider, a Canadian, published the same kinetic equation in 1960. This equation provided the framework for the interpretation of the Senftleben-Beenakker effect
Senftleben-Beenakker effect
The Senftleben-Beenakker effect is the dependence on a magnetic or electric field of transport properties of polyatomic gases. The effect is caused by the precession of the dipole of the gas molecules between collisions...
.
Internal Reports
The following report was published in Kernphysikalische ForschungsberichteKernphysikalische Forschungsberichte
Kernphysikalische Forschungsberichte was an internal publication of the German Uranverein, which was initiated under the Heereswaffenamt in 1939; in 1942, supervision of the Uranverein was turned over to the Reichsforschungsrat under the Reichserziehungsministerium...
(Research Reports in Nuclear Physics), an internal publication of the German Uranverein
German nuclear energy project
The German nuclear energy project, , was an attempted clandestine scientific effort led by Germany to develop and produce the atomic weapons during the events involving the World War II...
. The reports were classified Top Secret, they had very limited distribution, and the authors were not allowed to keep copies. The reports were confiscated under the Allied Operation Alsos
Operation Alsos
Operation Alsos was an effort at the end of World War II by the Allies , branched off from the Manhattan Project, to investigate the German nuclear energy project, seize German nuclear resources, materials and personnel to further American research and to prevent their capture by the Soviets, and...
and sent to the United States Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
for evaluation. In 1971, the reports were declassified and returned to Germany. The reports are available at the Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center and the American Institute of Physics
American Institute of Physics
The American Institute of Physics promotes science, the profession of physics, publishes physics journals, and produces publications for scientific and engineering societies. The AIP is made up of various member societies...
.
- Klaus ClusiusKlaus ClusiusKlaus Clusius was a German physical chemist from Breslau , Silesia. During World War II, he worked on the German nuclear energy project, also known as the Uranium Club; he worked on isotope separation techniques and heavy water production...
, Gerhard Dickel, and Ludwig Waldmann Über die Beeinflussung des Wirkungsgrades von Draht-Trennrohren durch Zentrierung und Einbaur von Scheiben G-132 (20 February 1942)
External links
- Ludwig Waldmann – Mathematics Genealogy Project