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Table of Contents

Biography

AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjects

Relationships

PeopleInstitutions

Resources

Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as Subject

Otto Laporte

Photo

Dates

July 23, 1902 – March 28, 1971

Authorized Form of Name

Laporte, Otto, 1902-1971

Biography

Abstract

Otto Laporte was Professor of Physics at the University of Michigan (1924-1971). Other institutional affiliations included the National Bureau of Standards. His research interests included spectroscopy and fluid dynamics.

Important Dates

July 23, 1902Birth, Mainz (Germany : Landkreis).

1920 – 1921Attended University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main (Germany).

1924Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Munich, Munich (Germany).

1924 – 1926International Education Board Fellow, National Bureau of Standards.

1924 – 1971Instructor in Physics (1924-1926); Assistant Professor of Physics (1927-1935); Associate Professor of Physics (1935-1945); and Professor of Physics (1945-1971), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Mich.).

1928Instructor, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Tokyo (Rikagaku Kenkyūjo (Japan)).

1928Instructor, Kyoto Imperial University (Kyoto Daigaku).

1933Instructor, Tokyo Imperial University (Tōkyō Teikoku Daigaku).

1937Instructor, Tokyo Imperial University (Tōkyō Teikoku Daigaku).

1949 – 1950Intelligence Analyst, European Command Headquarters, United States Army.

1954 – 1956Scientific Attaché, United States Embassy, Tokyo, United States Department of State.

1961 – 1963Scientific Attaché, United States Embassy, Tokyo, United States Department of State.

1971Member, National Academy of Sciences.

March 28, 1971Death, Ann Arbor (Mich.).

Occupation

Theoretical physicist.

Places

Birth

Mainz (Germany : Landkreis)

Undergraduate Education

Frankfurt am Main (Germany)

Graduate Education

Munich (Germany)

Employment

Ann Arbor (Mich.)

Death

Ann Arbor (Mich.)

Subjects

Atomic and molecular physics.

Fluid dynamics.

Quantum theory.

Spectrum analysis.

Theoretical physics.

Relationships

People

Family

Laporte, Adele Pond

Second wife. Married 1959.

Laporte, Claire

Daughter.

Laporte, Eleanor Anders

First wife. Married 1933. Died 1957.

Laporte, Irene

Daughter.

Laporte, Marianne

Daughter.

Advisors & Collaborators

Mack, Julian Ellis, 1903-1966

Advised by Laporte at University of Michigan, "The application of the X-ray laws to optical spectra of higher rank, and the classification of Ga IV and Ge V."

Sommerfeld, Arnold, 1868-1951

PhD advisor at University of Munich, "Die Struktur des Eisenspektrums."

Colleagues

Bacher, Robert F. (Robert Fox), 1905-2004

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Briggs, Lyman J. (Lyman James), 1874-1963

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Brode, Robert B. (Robert Bigham), 1900-1986

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Coblentz, William W. (William Weber), 1873-1962

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Crane, H. R. (Horace Richard), 1907-2007

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Dennison, David M. (David Mathias), 1900-1976

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Ehrlich, Gert

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Foote, Paul D. (Paul Darwin), 1888-1971

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Forbush, Scott E., 1904-1984

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Glaser, D. A.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Goudsmit, Samuel A. (Samuel Abraham), 1902-1978

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Luttinger, Joaquin M.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Meggers, William F. (William Frederick), 1888-1966

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Perl, Martin L., 1927-2014

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Randall, Harrison M. (Harrison McAllister), 1870-

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Satchler, G. R. (George Raymond)

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Trilling, George H.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Uhlenbeck, George Eugène, 1900-1988

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Wilkinson, David T.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Additional

Bohr, Niels, 1885-1962

Born, Max, 1882-1970

Breit, Gregory, 1899-1981

Broglie, Louis de, 1892-1987

Debye, Peter J. W. (Peter Josef William), 1884-1966

Dirac, P. A. M. (Paul Adrien Maurice), 1902-1984

Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955

Elsasser, Walter M., 1904-

Fowler, Richard Gildart

Goodman, Ralph R.

Heisenberg, Werner, 1901-1976

Inglis, David Rittenhouse, 1905-1995

Laue, Max von, 1879-1960

Pauli, Wolfgang, 1900-1958

Polanyi, Michael, 1891-1976

Schrödinger, Erwin, 1887-1961

Smith, Gail Preston, 1915-

Stern, Otto, 1888-1969

Tuve, Merle Antony, 1901-1982

Wentzel, Gregor, 1898-1978

Wien, W. (Wilhelm), 1864-1928

Wood, Robert Williams, 1868-1955

Wu, Ta-you

Institutions

Major Positions

Kyōto Teikoku Daigaku

Instructor.

Rikagaku Kenkyūjo (Japan)

Instructor.

Tōkyō Teikoku Daigaku

Instructor.

United States. Army

Intelligence Analyst, European Command Headquarters.

United States. Department of State

Scientific Attaché, United States Embassy, Tokyo.

United States. National Bureau of Standards

International Education Board Fellow.

University of Michigan. Department of Physics

Instructor in Physics; Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; and Professor of Physics.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Universität Frankfurt am Main

Took classes.

Universitat Munchen. Fakultat fur Physik

Obtained PhD in Physics (1924).

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Oral history interview with Otto Laporte, 1964 January 29 and 31.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

David M. Gates student notebooks, 1940-1946.

Bentley Historical Library

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2113, USA

Eulogies for Harrison McAllister Randall, 1969.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Gail P. Smith autobiography, circa 1965.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Harry E. Moses student notebooks, 1943-1947.

Bentley Historical Library

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2113, USA

Oral history interview with David Rittenhouse Inglis, 1977 May 9 and 10.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with George Eugene Uhlenbeck, 1962 March 30, 31, April 5, May 10 and 1963 December 9.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with H. R. Crane, 1973 March 28 and 1974 June 18.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Harrison M. Randall, 1964 February 19, 20 and 1965 June 21.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Michael Polanyi, 1962 February 15.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Ralph R. Goodman, 2007 September 19.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Samuel Abraham Goudsmit, 1963 December 5 and 7.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Ta-You Wu, 1977 February 5.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Otto Laporte papers, 1926-1970.

Bentley Historical Library

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2113, USA

Richard G. Fowler papers, 1946-1969.

Bentley Historical Library

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2113, USA

William F. Meggers addition to papers, 1870-1973 (bulk 1906-1966).

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

Theorie der multiplettspektren / von O. Laporte …

Subject

"Otto Laporte: 1902-1971", Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences.

Otto Laporte Physics Today obituary.