Hugo Tetrode
Encyclopedia
Hugo Martin Tetrode was a Dutch
theoretical physicist who contributed to statistical physics
, early quantum theory
and quantum mechanics
.
Tetrode developed the Sackur-Tetrode equation
, a quantum mechanical expression of the entropy
of an ideal gas
. Otto Sackur
and Tetrode developed this equation independently.
From Amsterdam, he corresponded with Albert Einstein
, Hendrik Lorentz
and Paul Ehrenfest
on quantum mechanics
and wrote several influential papers on quantum mechanics which were published in the German physics journal Zeitschrift für Physik
. In particular, the Machian
notion that elementary particles only act on other elementary particles and not themselves was a key idea in the formulation of the Wheeler-Feynman Time symmetric theory.
family. He was the oldest of the three children of Pieter Johan Conrad Tetrode, who served as director of De Nederlandsche Bank
(the Dutch national bank) from 1919 to 1934. Tetrode was born at Verlengde Vondelstraat 14 in what was then Nieuwer-Amstel but is now Vondelstraat 138 in Amsterdam. As a child, he lived on Amsterdam's canals, at Keizersgracht 573 and Herengracht 526.
Tetrode left for Germany in 1911 to study mathematics, physics and chemistry at the University of Leipzig
, but returned to Amsterdam a year later. In 1912, at the age of 17, he published his first research paper in the German physics journal Annalen der Physik
.
He led a withdrawn life; it is said that Einstein and Ehrenfest once visited him in Amsterdam, but were sent away by a maid at the front door with the words Meneer ontvangt niet ("Sir is not receiving guests").
Tetrode died at the age of 35, unmarried, after contracting a tuberculosis
infection.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
theoretical physicist who contributed to statistical physics
Statistical physics
Statistical physics is the branch of physics that uses methods of probability theory and statistics, and particularly the mathematical tools for dealing with large populations and approximations, in solving physical problems. It can describe a wide variety of fields with an inherently stochastic...
, early quantum theory
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
and quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
.
Tetrode developed the Sackur-Tetrode equation
Sackur-Tetrode equation
The Sackur–Tetrode equation is an expression for the entropy of a monatomic classical ideal gas which incorporates quantum considerations which give a more detailed description of its regime of validity....
, a quantum mechanical expression of the entropy
Entropy
Entropy is a thermodynamic property that can be used to determine the energy available for useful work in a thermodynamic process, such as in energy conversion devices, engines, or machines. Such devices can only be driven by convertible energy, and have a theoretical maximum efficiency when...
of an ideal gas
Ideal gas
An ideal gas is a theoretical gas composed of a set of randomly-moving, non-interacting point particles. The ideal gas concept is useful because it obeys the ideal gas law, a simplified equation of state, and is amenable to analysis under statistical mechanics.At normal conditions such as...
. Otto Sackur
Otto Sackur
Otto Sackur was a German physical chemist.He is known for the development of the Sackur-Tetrode equation which he developed independently of Hugo Tetrode...
and Tetrode developed this equation independently.
From Amsterdam, he corresponded with Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
, Hendrik Lorentz
Hendrik Lorentz
Hendrik Antoon Lorentz was a Dutch physicist who shared the 1902 Nobel Prize in Physics with Pieter Zeeman for the discovery and theoretical explanation of the Zeeman effect...
and Paul Ehrenfest
Paul Ehrenfest
Paul Ehrenfest was an Austrian and Dutch physicist, who made major contributions to the field of statistical mechanics and its relations with quantum mechanics, including the theory of phase transition and the Ehrenfest theorem.- Biography :Paul Ehrenfest was born and grew up in Vienna in a Jewish...
on quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
and wrote several influential papers on quantum mechanics which were published in the German physics journal Zeitschrift für Physik
Zeitschrift für Physik
The European Physical Journal is a joint publication of EDP Sciences, Springer Science+Business Media, and the Società Italiana di Fisica...
. In particular, the Machian
Mach's principle
In theoretical physics, particularly in discussions of gravitation theories, Mach's principle is the name given by Einstein to an imprecise hypothesis often credited to the physicist and philosopher Ernst Mach....
notion that elementary particles only act on other elementary particles and not themselves was a key idea in the formulation of the Wheeler-Feynman Time symmetric theory.
Life
Hugo Tetrode was a member of the rich, prominent TetrodeTetrode (family)
Tetrode, also given as van Tetrode and spelled variously as Tetterode, Tetteroo, Tettero, Thetrode and Tetroe, was a Dutch medieval noble family which later became a prominent patrician family in Holland. The most famous member of this family was the 16th-Century sculptor Willem Danielsz van...
family. He was the oldest of the three children of Pieter Johan Conrad Tetrode, who served as director of De Nederlandsche Bank
De Nederlandsche Bank
De Nederlandsche Bank is the central bank of the Netherlands. It is part of the European System of Central Banks .-History:...
(the Dutch national bank) from 1919 to 1934. Tetrode was born at Verlengde Vondelstraat 14 in what was then Nieuwer-Amstel but is now Vondelstraat 138 in Amsterdam. As a child, he lived on Amsterdam's canals, at Keizersgracht 573 and Herengracht 526.
Tetrode left for Germany in 1911 to study mathematics, physics and chemistry 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...
, but returned to Amsterdam a year later. In 1912, at the age of 17, he published his first research paper in the German physics journal Annalen der Physik
Annalen der Physik
Annalen der Physik is one of the oldest physics journals worldwide. The journal publishes original, peer-reviewed papers in the areas of experimental, theoretical, applied and mathematical physics and related areas...
.
He led a withdrawn life; it is said that Einstein and Ehrenfest once visited him in Amsterdam, but were sent away by a maid at the front door with the words Meneer ontvangt niet ("Sir is not receiving guests").
Tetrode died at the age of 35, unmarried, after contracting a tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
infection.
Publications
- Die chemische Konstante der Gase und das elementare Wirkungsquantum, Annalen der Physik 38 (1912) 434-442, correctie Berichtigung zu meiner Arbeit: Die chemische Konstante der Gase und das elementare Wirkungsquantum in nr. 39 (1912) 255-256
- Bemerkungen über die Energieeinhalt einatomiger Gase und über die Quantentheorie für Flüssigkeiten, Physikalische Zeitschrift 14 (1913) 212
- Theoretical determination of the entropy constant of gases and liquids, Proc. Sect. Sci. Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie Wet. Ser. B 17 (1914/1915) 1167-1184
- Über den Wirkungszusammenhang der Welt. Eine Erweiterung der Klassischen Dynamik, Zeitschrift für Physik 10 (1922) 317-328
- Der Impuls-Energiesatz in der Diracschen Quantentheorie des Elektrons, Zeitschrift für Physik 49 (1928) 858-864
- Allgemein-relativistische Quantentheorie des Elektrons, Zeitschrift für Physik 50 (1928) 336-346
Sources
- Wageningen UR: Hugo Martin Tetrode Prof. H.B.G. Casimir, "Hugo Martin Tetrode, een vergeten genie". NRC Handelsblad, February 23, 1984 (Dutch) Prof. H.B.G. Casimir, "Hugo Tetrode (1895-1931); een geniale outsider". Mens en Kosmos, Meulenhoff 1983, pag. 180-189 (Dutch)
- Frederik W. Wiegel, Introduction to Path-integral Methods in Physics and Polymer Science. World Scientific, 1986