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Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as SubjectGustav Hertz
Dates
July 22, 1887 – October 30, 1975
Authorized Form of Name
Hertz, Gustav, 1887-
Additional Forms of Names
Hertz, G. (Gustav), 1887-
Hertz, Gustav, 1887-1975
Hertz, Gustav Ludwig, 1887-1975
Biography
Abstract
Gustav Hertz was an atomic physicist at Halle University. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with James Franck "for their discovery of the laws governing the impact of an electron upon an atom."
Important Dates
July 22, 1887Birth, Hamburg (Germany).
1911Obtained PhD in Physics, Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Berlin (University of Berlin), Berlin (Germany).
1911Wrote Über das ultrarote Adsorptionsspektrum der Kohlensäure in seiner Abhängigkeit von Druck und Partialdruck (dissertation).
1913Research Assistant, Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Berlin (Physics Institute of Berlin University), Berlin (Germany).
1914Wrote Über Zusammenstöße zwischen Elektronen und Molekülen des Quecksilberdampfes und die Ionisierungsspannung desselben.
1920 – 1925Researcher, Philips Incandescent Lamp Factory (Philips).
1925Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics with James Franck "for their discovery of the laws governing the impact of an electron upon an atom".
1925 – 1928Resident Professor and Director, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (Physics Institute Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg), Halle (Germany).
1928 – 1945Director, Technische Universität Berlin (Physics Institute Technical University of Berlin), Berlin (Germany).
1937Wrote Gustav Hertz in der Entwicklung der modernen Physik.
1945 – 1961Head of Research; Professor; and Director, Karl-Marx-Universität Leipzig (Physics Institute Karl Marx University), Leipzig (Germany).
1951Awarded Max Planck Medal, Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (German Physical Society).
1951Awarded Stalin Prize.
October 30, 1975Death, Berlin (Germany).
Occupation
Atomic physicist.
Places
Birth
Graduate Education
Employment
Death
Subjects
Relationships
People
Family
Hertz, Auguste Arning
Mother.
Hertz, Charlotte Jollasse
Wife.
Hertz, Gustav
Father.
Advisors & Collaborators
At University of Berlin carried out seminal studies of elastic collisions between electrons and inert gas atoms and shared the 1925 Nobel Prize in Physics "for their discovery of the laws governing the impact of an electron upon an atom."
Houtermans, F. G. (Friedrich Georg). 1903-
Advised by Hertz at Technische Hochschule Berlin (Technical University of Berlin).
Jaeckel, R. (Rudolf), 1907-
Advised by Hertz at Technische Hochschule Berlin (Technical University of Berlin).
Rubens, Heinrich
PhD advisor at Universität Berlin.
Additional
Burger, Herman Carel, 1893-1965
Friedrich, Walter, 1883-1968
Gerlach, Walther, 1889-1979
Hanle, Wilhelm, 1901-
Harteck, Paul, 1902-
Landé, Alfred, 1888-
Lau, Ernst Gustav, 1893-
Meitner, Lise, 1878-1968
Pohl, Robert Wichard, 1884-1976
Sponer, Hertha, 1895-1968
Waly, Adnan
Institutions
Major Positions
Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Berlin
Obtained PhD in Physics (1911). Research Assistant.
Karl-Marx-Universität Leipzig. Sektion Physik
Head of Research, Professor, and Director.
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg.
Resident Professor and Director.
Technische Universität Berlin
Director.
Professional Activities & Affiliations
Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (1963- )
Awarded 1951 Max Planck Medal.
Resources
Archival Resources
Author
Gustav Hertz Collection, 1931-1962.
Leo Baeck Institute at the Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011, USA
Oral history interview with Ernst Gustav Lau, 1963 May 15.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Gustav Ludwig Hertz, 1963 May 14 and 15.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Walter Friedrich, 1963 May 15.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Subject
Alfred Landé autograph collection, 1919-1973.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Collections relating to history of physics and allied sciences, 1879-1968.
Archiv
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Weidenplan 12, o-4020 Halle
Ebert Collection relating to Gustav Hertz, 1927-1928.
Universitätsbibliothek. Hochschularchiv.
Technische Universität Berlin.
Strasse des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
History of Physics [sound recording], 2014 April 5.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
History of Physics from Pythagoras to Higgs [sound recording], 2016 April 17.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
James Franck papers, 1882-1966.
The Joseph Regenstein Library. Department of Special Collections
University of Chicago
1100 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
Oberpräsident Allgemeine Abteilung records relating to history of physics and allied sciences, 1854-1944.
Landeshauptarchiv Sachsen-Anhalt
Hegelstr. 25, PSF 4023, O, 3010, Magdeburg
Oral history interview with Adnan Waly 1990 November 12.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Adnan Waly, 1994 February-March.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Herman Carel Burger, 1962 November 15.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Lise Meitner, 1963 May 12.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Paul Harteck, 1984 August 22.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Robert S. Shankland, 1974 August 20 and 21.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Robert Wichard Pohl, 1963 June 25.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Walther Gerlach, 1963 February 18 and 23.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Wilhelm Hanle, 1979 May 23 to June 2.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history joint interview with James Franck and Hertha Sponer-Franck, 1962 July 9 to 14.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Puzzles, History, and Reality TV; Physics Beyond the Classroom [sound recording], 2017 March 13.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Walther Gerlach correspondence [microform], 1916-1937.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Published Resources
Subject
Die Elektronenstossversuche/ [Von] James Franck [und] Gustav Hertz.
Gustav Hertz Encyclopaedia Britannica
Gustav Hertz Nobel Prize Biography
Gustav Hertz Physics Today obituary.
Lehrbuch der Kernphysik/ Mit Beiträgen von F. Bernhard [et al.].