Theodor des Coudres
Encyclopedia
Theodor des Coudres was a German
physicist
.
Theodor des Coudres was the son of Julius des Coudres and his wife Anna Henrietta Rosenstock. His younger brother, Richard des Coudres, later became president of the "Mitteldeutschen Sängerbundes" (Central German singer federation); his uncle on the paternal side was the painter Ludwig des Coudres
.
In 1881 des Coudres began to study natural science
and medicine
at the University of Geneva
and later in Leipzig
and Munich
. At the Humboldt University of Berlin
in 1887, he successfully finished his study with a thesis on the optical constants of mercury
with Professor Hermann von Helmholtz
. 1889 he got an employment at the University of Leipzig
as an assistant of Professor Gustav Heinrich Wiedemann
. His research led him to his Habilitation in 1891. 1895 he was appointed to the University of Goettingen at the chair for "applied electricity". In 1901 he went to the University of Würzburg
and took over the chair for theoretical physics
as an extraordinary professor. In 1903 he became the successor of Professor Ludwig Boltzmann
at the University of Leipzig
, where he worked until the end of his life.
Sometimes he suffered from an enormous write blockade and could handle this problem only during long trips by railway. Theodor des Coudres died at the age of 64 years on October 8, 1926 in Leipzig. The publisher Georg Hirzel and the physicist Otto Wiener
wrote noteworthy obituaries on Theodor des Coudres.
Des Coudres worked among other things on metal reflection, the Kerr effect
, high pressure physics, and he was the first to determine the specific charge
and the speed of alpha particle
s.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
.
Theodor des Coudres was the son of Julius des Coudres and his wife Anna Henrietta Rosenstock. His younger brother, Richard des Coudres, later became president of the "Mitteldeutschen Sängerbundes" (Central German singer federation); his uncle on the paternal side was the painter Ludwig des Coudres
Ludwig des Coudres
Ludwig des Coudres was a German historical, portrait, and genre painter.He was born at Cassel in 1820, and pursued his first studies under J. von Schnorr, at the Academy of Munich...
.
In 1881 des Coudres began to study natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
and medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
and later in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. At the Humboldt University of Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
in 1887, he successfully finished his study with a thesis on the optical constants of mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
with Professor Hermann von Helmholtz
Hermann von Helmholtz
Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz was a German physician and physicist who made significant contributions to several widely varied areas of modern science...
. 1889 he got an employment at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
as an assistant of Professor Gustav Heinrich Wiedemann
Gustav Heinrich Wiedemann
Gustav Heinrich Wiedemann was a German physicist known mostly for his literary work.-Education:Wiedemann was born at Berlin. After attending the Cologne gymnasium, he entered the university of Berlin in 1844, and took his doctor's degree there three years later...
. His research led him to his Habilitation in 1891. 1895 he was appointed to the University of Goettingen at the chair for "applied electricity". In 1901 he went to the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
and took over the chair for theoretical physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
as an extraordinary professor. In 1903 he became the successor of Professor Ludwig Boltzmann
Ludwig Boltzmann
Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann was an Austrian physicist famous for his founding contributions in the fields of statistical mechanics and statistical thermodynamics...
at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, where he worked until the end of his life.
Sometimes he suffered from an enormous write blockade and could handle this problem only during long trips by railway. Theodor des Coudres died at the age of 64 years on October 8, 1926 in Leipzig. The publisher Georg Hirzel and the physicist Otto Wiener
Otto Wiener
Otto Wiener was an Austrian baritone, notable for his performances in the operas of Richard Wagner.He was born in Vienna, joined the Vienna Boys' Choir at the age of six, and started his adult career as a concert singer before making his stage debut in 1953 at Graz in the title-role of Simon...
wrote noteworthy obituaries on Theodor des Coudres.
Des Coudres worked among other things on metal reflection, the Kerr effect
Kerr effect
The Kerr effect, also called the quadratic electro-optic effect , is a change in the refractive index of a material in response to an applied electric field. The Kerr effect is distinct from the Pockels effect in that the induced index change is directly proportional to the square of the electric...
, high pressure physics, and he was the first to determine the specific charge
Charge (physics)
In physics, a charge may refer to one of many different quantities, such as the electric charge in electromagnetism or the color charge in quantum chromodynamics. Charges are associated with conserved quantum numbers.-Formal definition:...
and the speed of alpha particle
Alpha particle
Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium nucleus, which is classically produced in the process of alpha decay, but may be produced also in other ways and given the same name...
s.