When was Peter Debye born and where did he grow up?
Peter Joseph William Debye was born on the 24th of March 1884 in Maastricht, Netherlands. He enrolled at Aachen University of Technology in 1901 to study electrical engineering.
Questions about Peter Debye
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What major scientific theories did Peter Debye develop during his career?
Peter Debye applied the concept of dipole moment to asymmetric molecules in 1912 and derived Planck's radiation formula using a method Max Planck agreed was simpler than his own. His work also included extending Einstein's theory of specific heat to lower temperatures by including contributions from low-frequency phonons.
Why did Peter Debye move to the United States in 1939?
Peter Debye traveled to the United States in May 1939 to deliver the Baker Lectures at Cornell University before leaving Germany in early 1940 after accepting a professorship there. He arrived in New York in early February 1940 following a ship departure from Genoa in January.
Did Peter Debye collaborate with Nazi institutions or support anti-Semitic policies?
On the 9th of December 1938 Debye wrote to DPG members stating membership by German Jews could not continue under Nuremberg laws and signed the letter with Heil Hitler despite later allegations of Nazi collaboration. An investigation by Cornell University released a report on the 31st of May 2006 finding no evidence supporting accusations that Debye was a Nazi sympathizer.
What awards and honors did Peter Debye receive for his scientific contributions?
The Nobel Committee awarded Peter Debye the Chemistry prize in 1936 for contributions to molecular structure studies while he received the Lorentz Medal in 1935 before winning the Nobel. The Franklin Institute honored him with the Franklin Medal in 1937 and the National Science Foundation presented him with the National Medal of Science in 1965.