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Aachen

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Arnold Sommerfeld

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Abstract

Sommerfeld shed no tears over Clausthal. “Now Aachen is definite, and we head there with spirits revived,” Johanna wrote her mother-in-law on December 8, 1899. The departure from Clausthal was still more than 3 months in the future, but the anticipatory joy in “the improved atmosphere and the easing of numerous social conditions” made her last winter in the Harz Mountain hinterland bearable. From the perspective of this rustic mountain town, Aachen, the “Imperial City” in the Prussian Rhine Province, must have held a particular attraction. Not just for the sake of the hot springs here did Charlemagne choose this town in the foothills of the Ardennes and the Eifel as his seat of government. From the eighteenth century on, Aachen had been a desirable address for the well-to-do, who traveled there from afar to enjoy a few weeks of recuperation in this brilliant town. In the nineteenth century, the industrial revolution brought explosive population growth to Aachen. In 1815, when the town was annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia, Aachen had around 30,000 inhabitants; by century’s end, there were already more than 130,000. Around the middle of the nineteenth century, greater Aachen was part of the most intensively industrialized regions of Germany. The “Royal Rhine-Westphalian Polytechnical School at Aachen,” founded in 1870, had as its mission to furnish engineers to the growing industries and soon was itself bursting at the seams. Though situated far from Berlin at the western corner of the kingdom, Aachen was secure in its exalted status. “And our West particularly can boast that its technology has found singular recognition in the eyes of his Imperial Majesty,” Nikolaus Holz (1868–1949), Professor of Hydraulic Engineering gushed over frequent Imperial visits from Berlin.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    To her mother-in-law, December 8, 1899.

  2. 2.

    Laurent, Entwickelung, 1920, p. 7; Düwell, Gründung, 1970; Ricking, Geist, 1995.

  3. 3.

    Nikolaus Holz: Festrede zur Begehung des zweihundertjährigen Bestehens des Königreiches Preussen und zur Vorfeier des zweiundvierzigsten Geburtstages Sr. Majestät des deutschen Kaisers und Königs von Preussen Wilhelms II.: delivered January 18, 1901. http://darwin.bth.rwth-aachen.de/opus3/volltexte/2009/2782/pdf/1901_Holz.pdf (30 January 2013).

  4. 4.

    To his mother, December 6, 1899.

  5. 5.

    To his mother, November 30, 1894.

  6. 6.

    Manegold, Universität, 1970.

  7. 7.

    Klein, quoted in Jacobs, Felix Klein, 1977, p. 7.

  8. 8.

    Hensel, Auseinandersetzungen, 1989, p. 73 and Appendix 11, p. 284.

  9. 9.

    Ibid., pp. 55ff.

  10. 10.

    Ibid., p. 76 and Appendix 12, pp. 286–287.

  11. 11.

    Holz to the Rector of the TH Aachen, April 13, 1899. folder 875, Archive of the RWTH Aachen.

  12. 12.

    The heads of the divisions I, II, III to Minister Bosse, July 15, 1899. Berlin, GSA, I.HA Rep.76 V b, Sec. 6, Tit. III, Nr. 6, vol. III, pp. 66–68.

  13. 13.

    Bredt, Kötter, v. Mangoldt, Wüllner to Minister Bosse, July 24, 1899. GSA, I.HA Rep.76V b, Sec. 6, Tit. III, Nr. 6, vol. III, pp. 69–71.

  14. 14.

    Johanna to her father, undated [late June 1899].

  15. 15.

    Kultusminister Studt to the TH Aachen, July 19, 1899. folder 886, Archive of the RWTH Aachen.

  16. 16.

    Gutachten der Abteilung V bezüglich Ministererlass No. 22436 T, July 25, 1899. GSA, I. HA Rep.76 V b, Sec. 6, Tit. III, Nr. 6, vol. III, pp. 72–74.

  17. 17.

    To his mother, October 10, 1899.

  18. 18.

    Mangoldt to Studt, October 12, 1899. GSA, I. HA Rep.76 V b, Sec. 6, Tit. III, Nr. 6, vol. III, p. 102.

  19. 19.

    Mangoldt to Studt, November 2, 1899. GSA, I. HA Rep.76 V b, Sec. 6, Tit. III, Nr. 6, vol. III, p. 61.

  20. 20.

    Naumann to Weyrauch, August 31,1899. GSA, I. HA Rep.76 V b, Sec. 6, Tit. III, Nr. 6, vol. III, p. 91.

  21. 21.

    Naumann to Sommerfeld, November 24, 1899. DMA, NL 89, 019.

  22. 22.

    To Studt, December 1, 1899. GSA, I. HA Rep.76 V b, Sec. 6, Tit. III, Nr. 6, vol. III, pp. 103–104.

  23. 23.

    Bestallungsurkunde, January 13, 1900. GSA, I. HA Rep.76 V b, Sec. 6, Tit. III, Nr. 6, Bd. III, pp. 112–118; to Althoff, January 23, 1900. GSA, I. HA. Rep.92 Althoff B, Nr.178/2.

  24. 24.

    From Stäckel, February 2, 1900. DMA, NL 89, 013.

  25. 25.

    From Weber, February 4, 1900. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,356.

  26. 26.

    From Finsterwalder, January 29, 1900. DMA, NL 89, 008. Also in ASWB I. On the “anti-mathematical movement” in Munich, see Hashagen, Walther von Dyck, 2003, pp. 207–225.

  27. 27.

    Manegold, Universität, 1970, p. 207.

  28. 28.

    From Klein, April 25, 1900. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,170. Also in ASWB I.

  29. 29.

    To Klein, June 13, 1900. SUB, Klein. Also in ASWB I.

  30. 30.

    From Klein, June 21, 1900. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,170. Also in ASWB I.

  31. 31.

    Manegold, Universität, 1970, pp. 213–214.

  32. 32.

    From Diegel, May 23, 1900. DMA, NL 89, 007; Broelmann, Intuition, 2002, pp. 136–138.

  33. 33.

    To Klein, June 13, 1900. SUB, Klein. Also in ASWB I.

  34. 34.

    From Abraham, May 28, 1900. DMA. HS 1977-28/A,1.

  35. 35.

    Aitken, Syntony, 1976; Hong, Wireless, 2001.

  36. 36.

    To Sommerfeld, April 27, 1899. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,1.

  37. 37.

    Hensel, Auseinandersetzungen, 1989, p. 75.

  38. 38.

    To Schwarzschild, July 16, 1900. SUB, Schwarzschild.

  39. 39.

    Sommerfeld, Hydraulik, 1900; Jackson/Launder, Osborne Reynolds, 2007.

  40. 40.

    To Klein, November 8, 1900. SUB, Klein 11. Also in ASWB I.

  41. 41.

    To Runge, November 14, 1900. DMA, HS 1976-31. Also in ASWB I; see also folder 941 in the Archive of the RWTH Aachen.

  42. 42.

    From Föppl, October 7, 1900. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,97. Föppl, Vorlesungen, 1899, p. 421.

  43. 43.

    To Lorentz, October 8, 1900. RANH, Lorentz, inv.nr. 74. Also in ASWB I.

  44. 44.

    To Lorentz, December 10, 1900. RANH, Lorentz, inv.nr. 74; Darrigol, Worlds, 2005, pp. 208–218; Eckert, Birth, 2010.

  45. 45.

    From Prandtl, February 11, 1901. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,270. Also in ASWB I; Prandtl, Kipperscheinungen, 1900.

  46. 46.

    To Runge, March 27, 1901. DMA, HS 1976-31.

  47. 47.

    To Wien, May 29, 1901. DMA, NL 56, 010. Also in ASWB I.

  48. 48.

    From the Ministry of Public Works, 31. July 31, 1902. DMA, NL 89, 019, folder 5,2.

  49. 49.

    Sommerfeld, Beiträge, 1902.

  50. 50.

    See the self-description of the Association at http://www.vdi.de/1672.0.html (30 January 2013).

  51. 51.

    Sommerfeld, Beiträge, 1902.

  52. 52.

    From Föppl, October 27, 1901. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,97.

  53. 53.

    Schweizerische Bauzeitung, June 20 & 27, July 18 & 25, 1891.

  54. 54.

    From Wirtinger, December 18, 1901. DMA, NL 89, 014. Also in ASWB I.

  55. 55.

    Eckert, Sommerfeld-Effekt, 1996.

  56. 56.

    From Föppl, January 31, 1902. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,97; Föppl, Pendeln, 1902.

  57. 57.

    Sommerfeld, Pendeln, 1904, p. 273.

  58. 58.

    From Benischke, April 17, 1902. DMA, NL 89, 005.

  59. 59.

    From Benischke, April 20, 1904. DMA, NL 89, 005.

  60. 60.

    Sommerfeld, Knicksicherheit, 1906; Sommerfeld, Nachtrag, 1907.

  61. 61.

    Sommerfeld, Vorrichtung, 1905.

  62. 62.

    To Wilhelm Wien, April 15, 1905. DMA, NL 56, 010; Sommerfeld, Lissajous-Figuren, 1905.

  63. 63.

    From Abraham, December 9, 1902. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,1; Sommerfeld, Eisenbahnbremsen, 1902.

  64. 64.

    From Ernst Becker, April 3, 1903. DMA, NL 89, 005. Also in ASWB I.

  65. 65.

    Sommerfeld, Schmiermittelreibung, 1904.

  66. 66.

    Richard Courant, Interviewed by Thomas S. Kuhn and M. Kac, May 9, 1962. AHQP. http://aip.org/history/catalog/icos/4562.html. (30 January 2013). Ostrowski, Zur Entwicklung der numerischen Analysis, 1966.

  67. 67.

    From Frahm, July 4, 1904. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,99.

  68. 68.

    Dowson, History, 1998, pp. 653–656, numbers Sommerfeld among the “Men of Lubrication”.

  69. 69.

    In Glasers Annalen für Gewerbe und Bauwesen, June 1, 1904, p. 205.

  70. 70.

    From Borries, June 12, 1904. DMA, NL 89, 006.

  71. 71.

    From Borries, October 29, and November 18, 1904, January 15, 1906. DMA, NL 89, 006.

  72. 72.

    To Johanna, August 10, 1904.

  73. 73.

    Acta betreffend Etat und Rechnungswesen, August 19, 1904 to November 6, 1906. Akte 844; Debyes Diplomurkunde, folder 36c, Archive of the RWTH Aachen.

  74. 74.

    VDI Aachener Bezirksverein, http://www.vdi.de/1672.0.html (30 January 2013).

  75. 75.

    From Jacob Cardinaal, July 4, 1906. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,48; from de Haas and Cardinaal, July 7, 1906 DMA, NL 89, 019, folder 5,3.

  76. 76.

    To Wilhelm Wien, July 4, 1905. DMA, NL 56, 010.

  77. 77.

    Nachweis Mietverhältnis. Aachen, folder 842, Archive of the RWTH Aachen.

  78. 78.

    Album for Ernst.

  79. 79.

    Album für Ernst.

  80. 80.

    From Lorentz, October 6, 1900. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,208. Also in ASWB I.

  81. 81.

    To W. Wien, July 6, 1901. DMA, NL 56, 010.

  82. 82.

    To Lorentz, August 27, 1902. RANH, Lorentz, inv. nr. 74.

  83. 83.

    To Lorentz, December 12, 1906. RANH, Lorentz, inv. nr. 74. Also in ASWB I.

  84. 84.

    From Ernst Becker, November 12, 1902. DMA, NL 89, 005.

  85. 85.

    To Borchers, December 12, 1904. folder 844, Archive of the RWTH Aachen.

  86. 86.

    Sommerfeld, Lehrjahren, 1950.

  87. 87.

    To Johanna, March 27, 1902.

  88. 88.

    To Lorentz, April 29, 1902. RANH, Lorentz, inv. nr. 74.

  89. 89.

    To Bräuler, May 31, 1902. folder 910, Archive of the RWTH Aachen.

  90. 90.

    To Johanna, June, 3, 1902.

  91. 91.

    To Johanna, January 25, and February 4, 1906.

  92. 92.

    To Johanna, April 1, 1901.

  93. 93.

    To Johanna, January 3, 1904.

  94. 94.

    Death notice, Königsberger Hartungsche Zeitung, September 18, 1917.

  95. 95.

    To Klein, June 9, 1902. SUB, Klein 11,1062.

  96. 96.

    To Klein, June 27, 1902. SUB, Klein 11,1062. Also in ASWB I.

  97. 97.

    Klein/Sommerfeld, Theorie des Kreisels, Heft 3, 1903, Vorwort.

  98. 98.

    From Klein, November 15, 1899. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,170.

  99. 99.

    To Klein, November 8, 1900. SUB, Klein 11, 1061.

  100. 100.

    To Klein, February 15, 1902. Stuttgart, Teubner-Archive, Sommerfeld.

  101. 101.

    To Schwarzschild, July 26, 1902. SUB, Schwarzschild 743. Also in ASWB I.

  102. 102.

    To Schwarzschild, August 12, 1902. SUB, Schwarzschild 743.

  103. 103.

    To Schwarzschild, January 26, 1903. SUB, Schwarzschild 743.

  104. 104.

    From Schwarzschild, March 29, 1903. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,318.

  105. 105.

    To Klein, November 8, 1904. SUB, Klein 11, 1064.

  106. 106.

    From Borries, November 18, 1904. DMA, NL 89, 006.

  107. 107.

    Enzyklopädie, vol. V. The partial volumes of the Encyclopedia are also available online via http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyklopädie_der_mathematischen_Wissenschaften (30 January 2013).

  108. 108.

    Anonymous [L. B.], Bryan, 1933.

  109. 109.

    To Bryan, February 10, 1902. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,45.

  110. 110.

    From Kamerlingh Onnes, September 28, 1902. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,160.

  111. 111.

    From Voigt, October 18, 1902. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,347.

  112. 112.

    To Lorentz, January 6, 1903. RANH, Lorentz, inv. nr. 74. Also in ASWB I. Bryan, Grundlegung, 1903.

  113. 113.

    To Lorentz, March 21, 1901. RANH, Lorentz, inv. nr. 74. Also in ASWB I.

  114. 114.

    Reiff, Elasticität, 1893.

  115. 115.

    To Wiechert, January 29, 1903. SUB, Wiechert.

  116. 116.

    From Lorentz, February 24, 1903. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,208; to Lorentz, February 24, 1903. RANH, Lorentz, inv. nr. 74, also in ASWB I. Reiff/Sommerfeld, Standpunkt, 1904.

  117. 117.

    To Lorentz, April 29, 1902. RANH, Lorentz, inv. nr. 74.

  118. 118.

    To Lorentz, July 5, 1902. RANH, Lorentz, inv. nr. 74.

  119. 119.

    To Lorentz, January 6, 1903. RANH, Lorentz, inv. nr. 74.

  120. 120.

    Sommerfeld, Bezeichnung, 1904.

  121. 121.

    Reich, Vektorrechnung, 1995.

  122. 122.

    McCormmach, Lorentz, 1970.

  123. 123.

    Lorentz, Maxwells elektromagnetische Theorie, 1904.

  124. 124.

    Lorentz, Elektronentheorie, 1904.

  125. 125.

    Abraham, Dynamik, 1902; Goldberg, Abraham Theory, 1970.

  126. 126.

    From Abraham, December 9, 1902. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,1. Abraham, Prinzipien, 1903.

  127. 127.

    To Wiechert, January 29, 1903. SUB, Wiechert; from Schwarzschild, March 29, 1903. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,318; to Schwarzschild, March 31, 1903. SUB, Schwarzschild 743; also in ASWB I; to Lorentz, April 25, 1903. RANH, Lorentz, inv. nr. 74. Schwarzschild, Elektrodynamik I-III, 1903.

  128. 128.

    To Schwarzschild, January 10, 1904. SUB, Schwarzschild 743.

  129. 129.

    Herglotz, Elektronentheorie, 1903.

  130. 130.

    To Schwarzschild, January 30, 1904. SUB, Schwarzschild 743. Also in ASWB I.

  131. 131.

    Sommerfeld, Elektronentheorie I-II, 1904; Sommerfeld, Elektronentheorie III, 1905.

  132. 132.

    To Schwarzschild, June 12. 1904. SUB, Schwarzschild 743. Also in ASWB I.

  133. 133.

    Autobiographische Skizze, ASGS IV, pp. 673–679.

  134. 134.

    Darrigol, Origins, 1996; Darrigol, Electrodynamics, 2000; Janssen/Mecklenburg: Mechanics, 2007.

  135. 135.

    To Johanna, August 10, 1904.

  136. 136.

    Sommerfeld, Mechanik der Elektronen, 1905.

  137. 137.

    Hughes, Radioactivity, 2003; Malley, Radioactivity, 2011.

  138. 138.

    Paschen, Strahlen, 1904; Paschen, Kathodenstrahlen, 1904; Wheaton, Tiger, 1983, pp. 61–65.

  139. 139.

    Sommerfeld, Elektronentheorie II, 1904, p. 384.

  140. 140.

    To W. Wien, February 18, 1904. DMA, NL 56, 010.

  141. 141.

    To Johanna, August 12, 1904.

  142. 142.

    Sommerfeld, Elektronentheorie II, 1904, pp. 408–409.

  143. 143.

    From Paschen, October 23, 1904. DMA, HS 1977- 28/A,253.

  144. 144.

    From Paschen, October 26, 1904. DMA, HS 1977- 28/A,253. Also in ASWB I.

  145. 145.

    To Lorentz, November 6, 1904. RANH, Lorentz inv.nr. 74. Sommerfeld, Afleiding, 1904.

  146. 146.

    To Klein, November 8, 1904. SUB, Klein 11. Also in ASWB I.

  147. 147.

    From Paschen, November 14, 1904. DMA, HS 1977- 28/A,253.

  148. 148.

    From Paschen, December 6, 1904. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,253.

  149. 149.

    To Lorentz, December 14, 1904. RANH, Lorentz inv.nr. 74.

  150. 150.

    From Paschen, January 11, 1905. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,253. Also in ASWB I.

  151. 151.

    Wheaton, Tiger, 1983, p. 65.

  152. 152.

    Sommerfeld, Elektronentheorie III, 1905, pp. 202–204.

  153. 153.

    From Paschen, June 12, 1905. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,253. Also in ASWB I.

  154. 154.

    Pyenson, Physics, 1979.

  155. 155.

    Sommerfeld, Bemerkungen zur Elektronentheorie, 1906.

  156. 156.

    See Chap. 4 and Wheaton, Tiger, 1983, pp. 33–40.

  157. 157.

    To W. Wien, May 13, 1905. DMA, NL 56, 010. Also in ASWB I.

  158. 158.

    Wien, Kathodenstrahlen, 1905; Wheaton, Tiger, 1983, pp. 110–113.

  159. 159.

    To W. Wien, February 18, 1904. DMA, NL 56, 010. Also in ASWB I.

  160. 160.

    To Lorentz, May 29, 1904. RANH, Lorentz, inv. nr. 74. Also in ASWB I.

  161. 161.

    To W. Wien, April 15, 1904. DMA, NL 56, 010. Also in ASWB I.

  162. 162.

    To W. Wien, May 13, 1905. DMA, NL 56, 010. Also in ASWB I.

  163. 163.

    Draft letter to Otto Wiener, undated. DMA, NL 56. Nr. 5882. Also in ASWB I, pp. 156–157.

  164. 164.

    Report of the Appointment Commission, Philosophical Faculty, 2. Section, July 21, 1905. UAM, Personnel folder Sommerfeld, E-II-N. Eckert/Pricha, Boltzmann, 1984; Jungnickel/McCormmach, Mastery, 1990, pp. 274–278.

  165. 165.

    From Röntgen, June 29, 1905. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,288. Also in ASWB I.

  166. 166.

    To W. Wien, July 4, 1905. DMA, NL 56, 010. Also in ASWB I.

  167. 167.

    Report of the Appointment Commission, Philosophical Faculty, 2. Section, July 21, 1905. UAM, Personnel folder Sommerfeld, E-II-N.

  168. 168.

    From Lindemann, July 5, 1905. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,203. Also in ASWB I.

  169. 169.

    To Lindemann, July, 7, 1905. Munich, DMA.

  170. 170.

    Report of the Appointment Commission, Philosophical Faculty, 2. Section, July 21, 1905. UAM, Personnel folder Sommerfeld, E-II-N.

  171. 171.

    To W. Wien, November 5, 1905. DMA, NL 56. Also in ASWB I.

  172. 172.

    To W. Wien, July 5, 1906. DMA, NL 56, 010. Also in ASWB I.

  173. 173.

    Jungnickel/McCormmach, Mastery, 1990, p. 278.

  174. 174.

    From Röntgen, July 17, 1906. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,288. Also in ASWB I.

  175. 175.

    From Anton von Wehner, July 23, 1906. DMA, NL 89, 019, folder 5,2.

  176. 176.

    To Naumann, July 29, 1906. GSA, I. HA. Rep. 121 D II, Sect. 6 Nr. 10.

  177. 177.

    From Hilbert, July 29, 1906. DMA, HS 1977-28/A,141. Also in ASWB I.

  178. 178.

    W. Wien to his mother, July 31, 1906. DMA, NL 56, Nr. 5088.

  179. 179.

    From Rummel, August 3, 1906. DMA, NL 89, 012. Also in ASWB I.

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  1. Deutsches Museum, Munich, Germany

    Michael Eckert

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Eckert, M. (2013). Aachen. In: Arnold Sommerfeld. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7461-6_5

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