Dieter Langbein
Encyclopedia
Prof. Dr. phil. nat. Dieter Langbein was a German physicist, whose fields of research included solid state physics
, fluid physics
and microgravity. He was born on February 10, 1932 in Frankfurt am Main
, Germany as Werner Dietrich Langbein and died on June 25, 2004 in Bad Homburg, Germany. He was married and had a son and two daughters.
at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität at Frankfurt am Main, where he met Prof. Friedrich Hund
who inspired him to work in theoretical physics
. After his diploma in physics in 1956 and his thesis on solid state physics in 1958 he went to the Institute of Theoretical Physics at Göttingen
to work with Prof. Hund in investigating galvanomagnetic effects.
where he worked on thermodynamics
and reaction kinetics
. Dieter Langbein’s scientific career was characterized by working closely with experimental physicists as well as with chemists and biologists. He achieved this by joining Battelle-Institut e.V., Frankfurt am Main in 1964. His work on the splitting of the electronic band structure
in magnetic fields together with E. Gerlach led to a guest professorship at James Frank Institute, University of Chicago
, Illinois in 1967/1968 followed by a stay at the Battelle Memorial Institute
in Columbus, Ohio
. His research led to the later Hofstadter's butterfly
of the electron's energy bands structure. In 1969 he receives the venia legendi for physics at Frankfurt University and in 1972 he becomes Honorary Professor.
Back at Battelle-Institute Frankfurt he turned to the field of Van der Waals force
. After a Visiting Fellowship at the University of Canberra
, Australia he published in 1974 his book Theory of Van der Waals attraction.
Around 1976 he learned about the fascination of research under microgravity conditions. He set up a table of about a dozen effects contributing to the separation of monotectic alloys during solidification observed in rocket experiments. His microgravity experiments with transparent liquids proved the importance of the Marangoni effect
. He became member of the managing committee of ELGRA (European Low Gravity Research Association) in 1978, chairman of the German consulting group on fluid physics under low gravity and was scientific consultant at ESA (European Space Agency), NASA
and JAMIC
(Japanese Microgravity Center). Together with the NASA
Kennedy Space Center
, Florida, he 1985 established The Microgravity Research Experiments (MICREX) Database, for which he was the principal investigator. The collaboration with NASA facilitated some more results, such as those related to the German Spacelab Mission where he became friend with German physicist and astronaut Ulf Merbold
and the advances in space research and other fluid physics studies.
In 1993 he left Battelle and continued his work at the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) at the University of Bremen
, Germany.
In 1974 he published his first book, Theory of Van der Waals attraction.
In 2002 he published his second book Capillary Surfaces: Shape - Stability - Dynamics in particular under weightlessness about the capillary effect.
Between 1956 and 2001 he published more than 160 articles.
Solid-state physics
Solid-state physics is the study of rigid matter, or solids, through methods such as quantum mechanics, crystallography, electromagnetism, and metallurgy. It is the largest branch of condensed matter physics. Solid-state physics studies how the large-scale properties of solid materials result from...
, fluid physics
Fluid mechanics
Fluid mechanics is the study of fluids and the forces on them. Fluid mechanics can be divided into fluid statics, the study of fluids at rest; fluid kinematics, the study of fluids in motion; and fluid dynamics, the study of the effect of forces on fluid motion...
and microgravity. He was born on February 10, 1932 in Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany as Werner Dietrich Langbein and died on June 25, 2004 in Bad Homburg, Germany. He was married and had a son and two daughters.
Early days
In 1951 Dieter Langbein started his studies in mathematicsMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität at Frankfurt am Main, where he met Prof. Friedrich Hund
Friedrich Hund
Friedrich Hermann Hund was a German physicist from Karlsruhe known for his work on atoms and molecules.Hund worked at the Universities of Rostock, Leipzig, Jena, Frankfurt am Main, and Göttingen....
who inspired him to work in 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...
. After his diploma in physics in 1956 and his thesis on solid state physics in 1958 he went to the Institute of Theoretical Physics at Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
to work with Prof. Hund in investigating galvanomagnetic effects.
Research
In 1962 he joined Farbwerke Hoechst AGHoechst AG
Hoechst AG was a German chemicals then life-sciences company that became Aventis Deutschland after its merger with France's Rhône-Poulenc S.A. in 1999...
where he worked on thermodynamics
Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a physical science that studies the effects on material bodies, and on radiation in regions of space, of transfer of heat and of work done on or by the bodies or radiation...
and reaction kinetics
Chemical kinetics
Chemical kinetics, also known as reaction kinetics, is the study of rates of chemical processes. Chemical kinetics includes investigations of how different experimental conditions can influence the speed of a chemical reaction and yield information about the reaction's mechanism and transition...
. Dieter Langbein’s scientific career was characterized by working closely with experimental physicists as well as with chemists and biologists. He achieved this by joining Battelle-Institut e.V., Frankfurt am Main in 1964. His work on the splitting of the electronic band structure
Electronic band structure
In solid-state physics, the electronic band structure of a solid describes those ranges of energy an electron is "forbidden" or "allowed" to have. Band structure derives from the diffraction of the quantum mechanical electron waves in a periodic crystal lattice with a specific crystal system and...
in magnetic fields together with E. Gerlach led to a guest professorship at James Frank Institute, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, Illinois in 1967/1968 followed by a stay at the Battelle Memorial Institute
Battelle Memorial Institute
Battelle Memorial Institute is a private nonprofit applied science and technology development company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Battelle is a charitable trust organized as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of Ohio and is exempt from taxation under Section 501 of the...
in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. His research led to the later Hofstadter's butterfly
Hofstadter's butterfly
Hofstadter's butterfly is the name of a fractal structure discovered by Douglas Hofstadter, which he described in 1976 in an article on the energy levels of Bloch electrons in magnetic fields. It gives a graphical representation of the spectrum of the almost Mathieu operator for \lambda = 1 at...
of the electron's energy bands structure. In 1969 he receives the venia legendi for physics at Frankfurt University and in 1972 he becomes Honorary Professor.
Back at Battelle-Institute Frankfurt he turned to the field of Van der Waals force
Van der Waals force
In physical chemistry, the van der Waals force , named after Dutch scientist Johannes Diderik van der Waals, is the sum of the attractive or repulsive forces between molecules other than those due to covalent bonds or to the electrostatic interaction of ions with one another or with neutral...
. After a Visiting Fellowship at the University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
, Australia he published in 1974 his book Theory of Van der Waals attraction.
Around 1976 he learned about the fascination of research under microgravity conditions. He set up a table of about a dozen effects contributing to the separation of monotectic alloys during solidification observed in rocket experiments. His microgravity experiments with transparent liquids proved the importance of the Marangoni effect
Marangoni effect
The Marangoni effect is the mass transfer along an interface between two fluids due to surface tension gradient...
. He became member of the managing committee of ELGRA (European Low Gravity Research Association) in 1978, chairman of the German consulting group on fluid physics under low gravity and was scientific consultant at ESA (European Space Agency), NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and JAMIC
JAMIC
Japan Microgravity Centre is a site for microgravity experiments at a 710 metres deep abandoned coal mine at Kamisunagawa, Hokkaido. A capsule is dropped from the top to simulate "zero gravity". Jets accelerate the capsule to counteract air resistance. At the bottom, the capsule is slowed down...
(Japanese Microgravity Center). Together with the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
, Florida, he 1985 established The Microgravity Research Experiments (MICREX) Database, for which he was the principal investigator. The collaboration with NASA facilitated some more results, such as those related to the German Spacelab Mission where he became friend with German physicist and astronaut Ulf Merbold
Ulf Merbold
Dr. Ulf Dietrich Merbold is the first West German citizen and second German native to have flown in space. He is also the first member of the European Space Agency Astronaut Corps to participate in a spaceflight mission. He holds the distinction of being the first non-US citizen to reach orbit in...
and the advances in space research and other fluid physics studies.
In 1993 he left Battelle and continued his work at the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) at the University of Bremen
University of Bremen
The University of Bremen is a university of approximately 23,500 people from 126 countries that are studying, teaching, researching, and working in Bremen, Germany...
, Germany.
Publications
In 1969 Langbein published an article in which he demonstrated that the electron's energy sub-band disposal presents regularities which are connected to the Landau levels.In 1974 he published his first book, Theory of Van der Waals attraction.
In 2002 he published his second book Capillary Surfaces: Shape - Stability - Dynamics in particular under weightlessness about the capillary effect.
Between 1956 and 2001 he published more than 160 articles.