17 February - Otto Stern birth anniversary

 

Otto Stern (1888–1969) was a German physicist who made significant contributions to the fields of experimental physics and quantum mechanics. Here are some key points about Otto Stern:

1. Early Life and Education: Otto Stern was born on February 17, 1888, in Sohrau, Germany (now Zory, Poland). He studied at the University of Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland) and later earned his Ph.D. at the University of Freiburg.

2. Experimental Physics: Stern became known for his work in experimental physics. He collaborated with Walther Gerlach on the Stern-Gerlach experiment, which provided experimental evidence for quantized angular momentum and demonstrated the quantization of space.

3. Stern-Gerlach Experiment: The Stern-Gerlach experiment, conducted in 1922, involved passing silver atoms through an inhomogeneous magnetic field. The results demonstrated that the angular momentum of electrons is quantized and can only take certain discrete values.

4. Quantum Mechanics: The Stern-Gerlach experiment was one of the early experiments that played a crucial role in the development of quantum mechanics. It provided experimental confirmation of the quantization of angular momentum, a key concept in quantum theory.

5. Later Career: Stern held various academic positions in Germany, including professorships in Hamburg and Leipzig. However, due to the rise of the Nazi regime, he faced persecution as a Jew, and in 1933 he emigrated to the United States.

6. United States: In the United States, Stern continued his research at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C., and later became a professor at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh.

7. Nobel Prize: In 1943, Otto Stern was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, jointly with his collaborator Walther Gerlach. The Nobel Committee cited their precision optical instruments and the spectroscopic and metrical methods they used.

8. Death: Otto Stern passed away on August 17, 1969, in Berkeley, California, USA.

Otto Stern's work in experimental physics, particularly the Stern-Gerlach experiment, significantly contributed to the development of quantum mechanics and our understanding of the fundamental nature of matter.