Wien

Wilhelm Carl Werner Otto Fritz Franz Wien

Born: 13 Jan 1864 in Gaffken, East Prussia
Died: 30 Aug 1928 in Munich, Germany

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Wilhelm Wien was appointed professor of physics at Giessen in 1899 and at Munich in 1920.

In 1893 Wien stated his displacement law of blackbody radiation spectra at different temperatures. In 1896 he derived a distribution law of radiation on which Planck based quantum theory in 1900.

Wien received the 1911 Nobel Prize for his work on heat radiation.

Wien also made important contributions to the study of cathode rays, X-rays and canal rays.

References elsewhere in this archive:

Tell me about Wien's work on quantum theory

References:

  1. Dictionary of Scientific Biography
  2. Biography in Encyclopaedia Britannica
  3. W Wien, Aus dem Leben und Wirken eines Physikers (1930). 
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JOC/EFR February 1996