Hans Geiger

Infobox Scientist
name = Hans Geiger
birth_date = September 30, 1882
birth_place = Neustadt-an-der-Haardt
death_date = September 24, 1945
death_place = Potsdam
residence =
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nationality = German
ethnicity =
field = physics
work_institutions = University of Erlangen
alma_mater =
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known_for = Geiger counter Geiger-Marsden experiment atomic nucleus
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influences = Ernest Rutherford John Mitchell Nuttall
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prizes =
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Johannes (Hans) Wilhelm Geiger (September 30, 1882 – September 24, 1945) was a German physicist. He is perhaps best known as the co-inventor of the Geiger counter and for the Geiger-Marsden experiment which discovered the atomic nucleus.Geiger was born at Neustadt-an-der-Haardt, Germany. He was one of five children born to the Indologist Wilhelm Ludwig Geiger, who was professor at the University of Erlangen.

In 1902 Geiger started studying physics and mathematics in University of Erlangen and was awarded a doctorate in 1906 [cite journal
quotes = yes
last=Krebs
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year=1956
month=Jul
title=Hans Geiger: Fiftieth Anniversary of the Publication of His Doctoral Thesis, 23 July 1906
journal=Science
volume=124
issue=3213
pages=166
publisher = | location =
pmid = 17843412
doi = 10.1126/science.124.3213.166
bibcode = | oclc =| id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote = ] . In 1907 he began work with Ernest Rutherford at the University of Manchester and in 1909 along with Ernest Marsden conducted the famous Geiger-Marsden experiment called the gold foil experiment. Together they created the Geiger counter. In 1911 Geiger and John Mitchell Nuttall discovered the Geiger-Nuttall law (or rule) and performed experiments that led to Rutherford's atomic model. In 1928 Geiger and his student Walther Müller created an improved version of the Geiger counter, the Geiger-Müller counter. Geiger also worked with James Chadwick.

In 1912 he became leader of the Physical-Technical Reichsanstalt in Berlin, 1925 professor in Kiel, 1929 in Tübingen, and from 1936 in Berlin. He was a member of the Nazi Party.

Geiger died in Potsdam a few months after World War II ended.

References

External links

* [http://www.nndb.com/people/123/000099823 Brief biographical material]
* [http://alsos.wlu.edu/qsearch.aspx?browse=people/Geiger,+Hans Annotated bibliography for Hans Geiger from the Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues]