Geiger biography

He was one of five children born to the Indologist Wilhelm Ludwig Geigerwho was a professor at the University of Erlangen. InGeiger started studying physics and mathematics at the University of Erlangen and was awarded a doctorate in Inafter Schuster's retirement, Geiger began to work with his successor, Ernest Rutherfordand inalong with Ernest Marsdenconducted the famous Geiger—Marsden experiment also known as the "gold foil experiment".

This process allowed them to count alpha particles [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 2 ] and led Rutherford to start thinking about the structure of the atom. In Geiger and John Mitchell Nuttall discovered the Geiger—Nuttall law or rule and performed experiments that led to Rutherford's atomic model. This new device not only detected alpha particles, but beta and gamma particles as well, and is the basis for the Geiger counter.

Beginning ingeiger biography the discovery of atomic fissionGeiger was a member of the Uranium Clubthe German investigation of nuclear weapons during World War II. The group splintered in after its members came to believe incorrectly, as it would later transpire that nuclear weapons would not play a significant role in ending the war.

Although Geiger signed a petition against the Nazi government 's interference with universities, he provided no support to colleague Hans Bethe winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics when he was fired for being Jewish. A couple of months later he moved to Potsdamdying there on 24 September Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. It was there that he first observed the flux of cosmic rays in a Wilson chamber, marking a significant milestone in the field.

InGeiger became a professor at the Technical University of Berlin. However, byhis health had significantly deteriorated due to rheumatism, and he rarely left his home. Jussau Medal. He was married to Elizabeth Hefter, and they had three sons. Geiger passed away on September 24,in Potsdam. Contact About Privacy. Page Talk. Read Change Change source View history.

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Geiger biography: Abraham Geiger was a

Hans Geiger was a German nuclear physicist a person who studies the inner core of the atom best known for his invention of the Geiger countera device used for detecting and counting atomic particles, and for his work in nuclear physics with Ernest Rutherford — The eldest of five children, Geiger was educated first at Erlangen Gymnasium, from which he graduated in After completing his required military service, he studied physics the study of the relationship between matter and energy at the University of Munich and at the University of Erlangen, receiving a doctorate from Erlangen in for his study of electrical releases through gases.

Geiger moved to Manchester University in Englandwhere he met Ernest Rutherfordhead of the physics department. Rutherford and Geiger began a lifelong personal and professional friendship. They began experiments based on Rutherford's detection of the release of alpha particles particles with "positive" electric charges from radioactive substances substances whose atoms give off particles of matter and harmful rays of energy.

Since alpha particles can penetrate thin walls of solids, Rutherford and Geiger presumed that they could also move through atoms. Geiger designed a machine that would shoot alpha particles through gold foil onto a screen, where they were observed as tiny flashes of light. Counting the thousands of flashes per minute was a long, hard task.

Geiger decided to try to invent an easier, more accurate way to count them. His solution was an early version of the " Geiger counter ," an electrical machine designed to count released alpha particles. In Geiger returned to Germany as director of the new Laboratory for Radioactivity at the Physikalisch-Technische Reichsanstalt in BerlinGermany, where he invented an geiger biography for measuring not only alpha particles but other types of radiation the giving off of geiger biography and particles from atoms as well.

Geiger's research was interrupted by the start of World War I — 18; a war fought between the German-led Central Powers and the Allies — England, the United StatesItaly, and other nationsduring which he fought with the German troops. Crouching in trenches on the front lines left Geiger with painful rheumatism stiffness and pain in the joints.

With the war over, Geiger returned to the Reichsanstalt. In he married Elisabeth Heffter, with whom he had three sons. In Geiger became professor of physics at the University of Kiel, Germany. While there he developed, with Walther Mueller, the Geiger-Mueller counter, commonly referred to as the Geiger counter. The counter can locate a speeding alpha particle within about one centimeter in space and to within a hundred-millionth second in time.

Geiger biography: Biography. Geiger was.

In Geiger used his counter to confirm the existence of light quantum, or packets of energy. Installed at the Institute, Geiger worked constantly to increase the Geiger counter's speed and ability to detect. As a result of his efforts, he was able to discover bursts of radiation called cosmic-ray showers, and he concentrated on their study for the rest of his career.

He continued experimenting and improving the counter. He also became involved with politics after Adolf Hitler 's — rise to power in Germany's National Socialist Party. Geiger and many other scientists did not want the government to interfere with or influence their work.

Geiger biography: Hans Geiger was a German

He helped compose a position paper that was signed by seventy-five of Germany's most notable physicists. The paper was presented to Hitler's Education Ministry in late The document urged the government to keep its hands off science, complaining that there were too few new physicists and that students were avoiding the subject in Germany because of newspaper attacks on physics by National Socialists.

He had just started to show signs of improvement in his health when his home near Babelsberg, Germany, was occupied in June Geiger was forced to flee to Potsdam, Germany, where he died on September 24, Dictionary of Scientific Biography. New York : Scribner,pp. A Biographical Dictionary of Scientists. Hans Geiger gale. Learn more about citation styles Citation styles Encyclopedia.

Geiger, Hans gale. Hans Geiger Born: September 30, Neustadt an-der-Haardt, Germany Died: September 24, Potsdam, Germany German experimental physicist Hans Geiger was a German nuclear geiger biography a person who studies the inner core of the atom best known for his invention of the Geiger countera device used for detecting and counting atomic particles, and for his work in nuclear physics with Ernest Rutherford — Partners with Rutherford Geiger moved to Manchester University in Englandwhere he met Ernest Rutherfordhead of the physics department.

Stands up to Hitler Geiger returned to Berlin in upon being offered the chair of physics at the Technische Hochschule. Geiger, Hans oxford.