Hertha Sponer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hertha Sponer
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In 1926
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| Born | 1 September 1895 |
| Died | 27 February 1968 (aged 72) Ilten, West Germany
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| Nationality | German |
| Alma mater | University of Göttingen |
| Known for | Extensive work in quantum mechanics and molecular physics Birge-Sponer Method |
| Awards | 1952-53 Guggenheim Fellow Fellow, New York Academy of Sciences Fellow, Optical Society of America Fellow, American Physical Society. |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | University of Jena Duke University |
| Doctoral advisor | Peter Debye |
Hertha Sponer was a German physicist and chemist. She made important contributions to modern physics and was the first woman to teach physics at Duke University. She was born on September 1, 1895, and passed away on February 27, 1968.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Hertha Sponer was born in Neisse, which was then part of Prussian Silesia. She finished high school in Neisse. After high school, she spent a year studying at the University of Tübingen.
She then went to the University of Göttingen. In 1920, she earned her Ph.D. (a very high university degree) there. Her supervisor for her Ph.D. was Peter Debye. While at the University of Tübingen, she also worked as an assistant to James Franck.
Breaking Barriers in Science
In 1921, Hertha Sponer achieved something very special. She was one of the first women in Germany to earn a Ph.D. in physics. This also gave her the right to teach science at a German university. This was a big step for women in science at that time.
In 1925, she received a special grant called a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship. This allowed her to study for a year at the University of California, Berkeley in the United States. While at Berkeley, she worked with R. T. Birge. Together, they developed a method called the Birge-Sponer method. This method helps scientists figure out how much energy is needed to break apart molecules.
Career and Challenges
By 1932, Hertha Sponer was a well-known scientist. She had published about 20 scientific papers in important journals like Nature and Physical Review. She had also become an associate professor of physics.
Moving from Germany
In 1933, her colleague James Franck resigned from his position. A year later, Hertha Sponer also lost her job. This happened when Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany. At that time, the new government did not want women to hold important academic jobs.
Because of this, Sponer moved to Oslo, Norway, in 1934. She taught as a visiting professor at the University of Oslo.
Life at Duke University
In 1936, Hertha Sponer started working at Duke University in the United States. She stayed there as a professor until 1966. After that, she became a Professor Emeritus, which means she was still a respected professor even after retiring. She held this title until she passed away in 1968.
Scientific Contributions
Throughout her career, Hertha Sponer did a lot of research in quantum mechanics, physics, and chemistry. Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that studies how tiny particles like atoms and electrons behave.
She wrote and published many scientific studies. She often worked with other famous physicists, including Edward Teller.
Key Research Areas
Hertha Sponer made many important contributions to science. She helped apply the ideas of quantum mechanics to understand how molecules work. She also studied the spectra of near ultraviolet absorption. This involves looking at how light is absorbed by different substances.
She also set up a spectroscopy lab at Duke University. Spectroscopy is a way to study matter by looking at how it interacts with light. This lab was so important that it later moved into its own new building.
Personal Life
In 1946, Hertha Sponer married James Franck, who was also a famous physicist. She passed away in Ilten, Germany.
See also
In Spanish: Hertha Sponer para niños
