Karl Bechert
Encyclopedia
Karl Richard Bechert was a German theoretical physicist and political leader. As a scientist, his contributions were in atomic physics
.
, in 1925. Under a fellowship of the Rockefeller Foundation
, from 1925 to 1926, he accomplished postdoctoral studies and research at the Physics Institute of the University of Madrid. From 1926 to 1933, he was an assistant to Sommerfeld, completing his Habilitation
in 1930 and becoming a Privatdozent
.
While working for his Ph.D., Bechert helped Sommerfeld extend the Bohr model
of the atom and determine the atomic cobalt and vanadium energy terms from their respective spectra. He worked in collaboration with Miguel Ángel Catalán
and Ludwig August Sommer. His thesis was on the structure of atomic nickel spectra.
In 1933 he was called as an ordinarius professor
and director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Giessen
. From 1945 to 1946, he was rector at the university. He remained at Giessen until 1946, whereupon he was called as ordinarius professor and director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, where he remained until his retirement in 1969. He was also a member of the State Commission for School Questions on Lecture Courses at Mainz.
From 1942 to 1948, Bechert was chairman of the Hesse
District Association of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
. In 1963, he was elected as a foreign member of the Norwegian
Academy of Sciences.
Bechert co-authored a number of books with Christian Gerthsen
.
In 1945, the Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories
appointed Bechert mayor of Donsbach, Westerland and the Oberschulrat in Dillingen, where, on behalf of the Allied Military Government, he built a secondary school/high school.
While at the University of Mainz, he was a member of the Senate Commission for Atomic Questions. Since the 1950s, he was a member of the Kuratorium of the Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft (DFG) - the German Peace Society. In 1951, Bechert joined Victor Paschkis in founding the Society for Social Responsibility in Science. In 1955, he became a member the Church and Politics working group of the Evangelist Church in Hesse-Nassau
. The next year, he joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany
– the SPD. From 1957 to 1972, he was an SPD delegate in the German Bundestag
. From 1962 to 1965, he was also chairmen of the Committee for Atomic Energy and Water Management. Bechert was also part of the Pugwash
movement and member of the World Union for Protection of Life.
Atomic physics
Atomic physics is the field of physics that studies atoms as an isolated system of electrons and an atomic nucleus. It is primarily concerned with the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus and...
.
Scientific career
From 1920 to 1925, Bechert studied physics and mathematics at the University of Munich, in the Institute of Theoretical Physics. He received his doctor of philosophy under Arnold SommerfeldArnold Sommerfeld
Arnold Johannes Wilhelm Sommerfeld was a German theoretical physicist who pioneered developments in atomic and quantum physics, and also educated and groomed a large number of students for the new era of theoretical physics...
, in 1925. Under a fellowship of the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, from 1925 to 1926, he accomplished postdoctoral studies and research at the Physics Institute of the University of Madrid. From 1926 to 1933, he was an assistant to Sommerfeld, completing his Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in 1930 and becoming a Privatdozent
Privatdozent
Privatdozent or Private lecturer is a title conferred in some European university systems, especially in German-speaking countries, for someone who pursues an academic career and holds all formal qualifications to become a tenured university professor...
.
While working for his Ph.D., Bechert helped Sommerfeld extend the Bohr model
Bohr model
In atomic physics, the Bohr model, introduced by Niels Bohr in 1913, depicts the atom as a small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons that travel in circular orbits around the nucleus—similar in structure to the solar system, but with electrostatic forces providing attraction,...
of the atom and determine the atomic cobalt and vanadium energy terms from their respective spectra. He worked in collaboration with Miguel Ángel Catalán
Miguel Ángel Catalán
Miguel Antonio Catalán Sañudo was a Spanish spectroscopist. Born in Zaragoza, he obtained his degree in chemistry from the University of Zaragoza and received in doctorate in Madrid in 1917. In 1920, he began work as a researcher at Imperial College London...
and Ludwig August Sommer. His thesis was on the structure of atomic nickel spectra.
In 1933 he was called as an ordinarius professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Giessen
University of Giessen
The University of Giessen is officially called the Justus Liebig University Giessen after its most famous faculty member, Justus von Liebig, the founder of modern agricultural chemistry and inventor of artificial fertiliser.-History:The University of Gießen is among the oldest institutions of...
. From 1945 to 1946, he was rector at the university. He remained at Giessen until 1946, whereupon he was called as ordinarius professor and director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, where he remained until his retirement in 1969. He was also a member of the State Commission for School Questions on Lecture Courses at Mainz.
From 1942 to 1948, Bechert was chairman of the Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
District Association of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
The Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft is the world's largest organization of physicists. The DPG's worldwide membership is cited as 60,000, as of 2011...
. In 1963, he was elected as a foreign member of the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Academy of Sciences.
Bechert co-authored a number of books with Christian Gerthsen
Christian Gerthsen
Christian Gerthsen was a Danish-German physicist who made contributions to atomic and nuclear physics, as well as writing numerous textbooks.-Education:...
.
Community and Politics
Bechert was raised in the Lutheran Church. He had refused to join the Nazi Party, and in promoting his Jewish colleagues at the Institute for Theoretical Physics of the University of Mainz, he angered the Party. He also protected local citizens from the Nazis by hiding them in the surrounding forest.In 1945, the Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories
Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories
The Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories was the form of military rule administered by Allied forces during and after World War II within European territories they occupied.-Notable AMGOT:...
appointed Bechert mayor of Donsbach, Westerland and the Oberschulrat in Dillingen, where, on behalf of the Allied Military Government, he built a secondary school/high school.
While at the University of Mainz, he was a member of the Senate Commission for Atomic Questions. Since the 1950s, he was a member of the Kuratorium of the Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft (DFG) - the German Peace Society. In 1951, Bechert joined Victor Paschkis in founding the Society for Social Responsibility in Science. In 1955, he became a member the Church and Politics working group of the Evangelist Church in Hesse-Nassau
Province of Hesse-Nassau
Hesse-Nassau Province was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1868-1918, then a province of the Free State of Prussia until 1944.Hesse-Nassau was created as a consequence of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 by combining the previously independent Hesse-Kassel , the Duchy of Nassau, the Free...
. The next year, he joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
– the SPD. From 1957 to 1972, he was an SPD delegate in the German Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
. From 1962 to 1965, he was also chairmen of the Committee for Atomic Energy and Water Management. Bechert was also part of the Pugwash
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
The Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs is an international organization that brings together scholars and public figures to work toward reducing the danger of armed conflict and to seek solutions to global security threats...
movement and member of the World Union for Protection of Life.
Books
- Karl Bechert and Christian Gerthsen Atomphysik Bd. I Allgemeine Grundlagen (De Gruyter, 1944)
- Karl Bechert and Christian Gerthsen Atomphysik Bd. II Allgemeine Grundlagen (De Gruyter, 1944)
- Karl Bechert Der Wahnsinn des Atomkrieges (Diederichs, 1956)
- Karl Bechert Deutsche Politik im Schatten der Atomdrohung (1958)
- Karl Bechert and Christian Gerthsen Atomphysik Bd. III, Theorie des Atombaus (De Gruyter, 1963)
- Karl Bechert, Christian Gerthsen, and Arnold FlammersfeldArnold FlammersfeldArnold Rudolf Karl Flammersfeld was a German nuclear physicist who worked on the German nuclear energy project during World War II...
Atomphysik. Bd. IV. Theorie des Atombaus 2. Teil (De Gruyter, Berlin, 1963)
Selected Literature
- Karl Bechert and Ludwig August Sommer Zur Struktur des Vanadiumspektrums, Z. Phys. 31 145-162 (1925)
External links
- Karl Bechert Biography – Friedrich Ebert Stiftung