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source:wikipedia.org
12 Jul, 1863
05 Jul, 1906
Suicide
German
Physicist
42
Paul Drude was born on July 12, 1863, in Braunschweig, Germany. He was famous for his work in optics and electromagnetic theory. He was the son of a physician, and he showed a keen interest in science from a very early age. He was often found doing experiments and examining the world around him.
As a child, Drude attended local schools in Braunschweig. Drude’s passion for studying and his extraordinary intellect were acknowledged by everyone. He was an expert in Mathematics and Physics, and his teachers were impressed by his profound knowledge of complicated concepts.
Following his initial schooling, Paul Drude initially pursued Mathematics at universities in Göttingen, Freiburg, and Berlin. Then, his interest shifted to the field of Physics. He wrote his doctoral thesis under the direction from Woldemar Voigt. The dissertation focused on the complicated ideas of reflection and diffraction of light within crystals. Drude’s early interest in optics can be observed in this research.
After completing the doctorate degree in Physics, he began his work as a researcher. Although he did research in many disciplines, it was his research in optics that attracted the most attention. Drude made major advances in the understanding of the behavior of light, especially its interactions with different materials.
In 1894, Paul Drude married Emilie Regelsberger, daughter of a lawyer. They had four children. That same year he secured a position as a professor (extraordinarius) at the University of Leipzig. Later, he was appointed as a full professor (ordinarius) at the University of Giessen.
One of Drude’s most significant contributions to science is the Drude model. Proposed in 1900, this model attempted to explain how electricity conducts in materials, particularly metals. This model had limitations due to incomplete understanding of atoms at the time. But it paved the way for further research in electrical conductivity.
In 1900 he became the editor of Annalen der Physik, a highly respected physics journal. His reputation as a leading physicist grew further with this new responsibility. He published a textbook “The Theory of Optics” in 1900, which is considered his legacy work. In this text, he tried integrating James Clerk Maxwell’s revolutionary theories of electromagnetism with the field of optics. This unification provided a deeper understanding of light and its interaction with matter.
Drude’s dedication to science continued even after that. He made significant advancements in the study of optics. His research not only improved the theoretical framework of optics but also held practical applications in diverse fields. On July 5, 1906, at the young age of 42, Paul Drude committed suicide. It was a loss that left a significant void in the scientific community.
Paul Drude
Paul Drude
Male
Suicide
Braunschweig, Duchy of Brunswick
Berlin, Province of Brandenburg
Logician: Innovative inventors with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He had an insatiable hunger for knowledge.
Drude's textbook on optics remained a key reference for decades, influencing generations of physicists and engineers.
He became editor of a prestigious physics journal at the young age of 37, showcasing his immense respect within the scientific community.
He was a strong advocate for international collaboration in scientific research, believing that sharing knowledge was essential for progress.
Paul Drudes's work in optics laid the foundation for the development of modern optical instruments, including microscopes and telescopes.
He was responsible for introducing the symbol “c” for the speed of light in a perfect vacuum.
The crater Drude on the Moon is named after him.
The Paul-Drude-Institut für Festkörperelektronik, in Berlin, was named in his honor.