Fritz Laves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fritz Laves
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| Born | 27 February 1906 Hanover, Germany
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| Died | 12 August 1978 (aged 72) Laigueglia, Italy
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| Nationality | German |
| Education | University of Innsbruck University of Göttingen ETH Zurich |
| Known for | Laves phase, Laves tilings, Laves graph |
| Awards | Roebling Medal (1969) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Crystallography |
| Institutions | University of Göttingen University of Halle University of Marburg ETH Zurich |
| Doctoral advisor | Paul Niggli |
Fritz Henning Emil Paul Berndt Laves (born February 27, 1906 – died August 12, 1978) was a German scientist. He was a crystallographer, which means he studied crystals and how their atoms are arranged. He even led the German Mineralogical Society for a few years.
Fritz Laves is famous because several important scientific ideas are named after him. These include Laves phases, which are special types of metal mixtures, and Laves tilings, which are ways to fit shapes together without gaps. A special kind of crystal structure called the Laves graph was also named in his honor.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
Fritz Laves was born in Hanover, Germany. His father was a judge. His great-grandfather was a famous architect named Georg Ludwig Friedrich Laves. Fritz grew up in Göttingen. As a kid, he loved playing the piano. He also enjoyed collecting different rocks and minerals.
In 1924, he started studying geology at the University of Innsbruck. He then continued his studies at the University of Göttingen. Later, he moved to ETH Zurich in Switzerland. There, he worked on his advanced degree with his teacher, Paul Niggli.
A Career in Science
In 1929, Fritz Laves began working at the University of Göttingen. He worked with another scientist named Victor Goldschmidt. During a difficult time in Germany, Fritz Laves faced challenges in his career. He was known for trying to protect people who were being treated unfairly.
His early research focused on metals and materials made from different metals mixed together. In 1939, he was called to join the German army. However, he soon returned to his scientific work. He spent some time working on the science of metals (metallurgy) during the war.
In 1944, he became the head of the Mineralogical Department at the University of Halle. After World War II, he became a professor at the University of Marburg. There, he studied materials that were not perfectly ordered. He also looked at two-dimensional structures.
Research in America and Return to Zurich
By 1948, Fritz Laves traveled to America. He worked with Julian Goldsmith at the University of Chicago. At this time, his scientific interests changed. He began to study feldspar. This is a common mineral that he had collected when he was young.
Even though he liked living in America, he decided to return to Switzerland. In 1954, he accepted an offer to teach at ETH Zurich. He took over the position that his former teacher, Paul Niggli, had held. Fritz Laves stayed in Zurich until he retired in 1976.
Fritz Laves also helped lead the scientific community. He was the editor of a journal called Zeitschrift für Kristallographie. He worked on the journal from 1955 until 1978. In 2006, the journal published a special issue to celebrate 100 years since his birth. It featured articles about his important work in crystallography.
Family Life
Fritz Laves was married to Melitta Druckenmüller. She was an architect. Melitta helped him create many of the drawings for his scientific papers. They had three daughters together: Gracia, Charlotte, and Katharina.
Awards and Special Honors
Fritz Laves received many important awards for his work. In 1969, he was given the Roebling Medal. This is the highest award from the Mineralogical Society of America.
He was also a member of several important scientific groups. These included the Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bochum.
