Wilhelm Altar

Wilhelm Altar
Born Wilhelm Altar
(1900-08-27)27 August 1900
Vienna, Austria
Died 1 January 1995(1995-01-01) (aged 94)
United States
Nationality American
Fields Physics
Institutions King's College London
Pennsylvania State University
Princeton University
Alma mater University of Vienna
Known for significant contributions to Ionospheric Physics[1]

Wilhelm Altar (August 27, 1900 - 1995) was an Austrian-born theoretical physicist whose significant contributions led to the development of the magneto ionic theory.[1][2][3] Altar was not credited with his contribution to Appleton's research until decades after Edward received his Nobel Prize.[1]

Biography

Altar was born in Vienna in 1900. In 1923 he obtained a doctorate in theoretical physics from the University of Vienna.[4] Due to the poor job market post World War I, Altar, in 1925, move to his uncle's home in London.[5] In London Professor A. O. Ranking at Imperial College introduced him to Edward Appleton in King's College London.[4]

In the 1930s he moved to the United States where he joined the physics department of Pennsylvania State University.[1] From 1935 to 1937 he served as a researcher at the Frick Chemical Laboratory at Princeton University, working on a study of optical rotatory power in organic molecules.

Appleton-Altar approach

During his time in King's College, Altar and Appleton made slow progress every day. The Appleton-Altar approach was an exercise in Lorentzian magneto-optics.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Wilhelm Altar". IEEE Global History Network. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  2. ↑ Gillmor, C. Stewart (October 1982). Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. 126 (5): 395–440.
  3. ↑ "PH RA 5729 Altar, Wilhelm, 1923.07.07-1923.08.02 (Akt)". Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  4. 1 2 Yeang, Chen-Pang (2013-07-02). Probing the Sky with Radio Waves: From Wireless Technology to the Development of Atmospheric Science. University of Chicago Press. p. 253. ISBN 978-0226015194.
  5. ↑ "William Altar; Physicist's Work Led to Magneto-Ionic Theory". Los Angeles Times. 12 October 1995. Retrieved 24 December 2013.


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