The hidden meaning of Fritz Hasenöhrl's contribution to physics

The hidden meaning of Fritz Hasenöhrl's contribution to physics

Fritz Hasenöhrl, born on November 30, 1874 in Vienna, was a remarkable physicist, whose work on radiation in the moving cavity made a significant contribution to the development of electrodynamics. His considerations on the connection between radiation energy and mass, which he already made before the formulation of the relativity theory, are of historical interest. Wolfgang Pauli later praised Hasenöhrl's knowledge, while he also pointed out that the physicists' conclusions were in need of improvement.

The basic principles on which Hasenöhrl was based on his theories could be understood completely independently of the theory of relativity. The special thing about his work was that he linked the impulse of the moving radiation energy to the insert mass. As a result, he was the first to recognize how electromagnetic energy contributes to the mass of radiant body. Despite this preparatory work, Hasenöhrl's theory was not fully recognized because in some aspects it had overlooked an important connection to the energy-mass relationship. These findings were only examined in 2011 by the American science historians Stephen Boughn and Tony Rothman.

Hasenöhrl's life path and academic career

his academic path began when he studied physics and mathematics at the University of Vienna in 1892, where he was taught by greats like Franz Exner, Josef Stefan and Ludwig Boltzmann. These personalities have given decisive impulses for thermodynamics. Hasenöhrl interrupted his studies in 1894 for a one-year service at the 4th Dragoner Regiment. During this time he lived in a room with the writer Hugo von Hofmannsthal, which was an interesting cultural exchange.

After returning to the university, Hasenöhrl received his doctorate in Exner in 1897 and then spent a time at the Höike Kamerlingh-Lonnes in Leiden. There he met, among other things, the later Nobel laureate Hendrik Antoon Lorentz, which further deepened his interest in theoretical physics. In 1899 he returned to Vienna, married and began a professorship after which he had completed his habilitation.

His courses were known for their clarity and logical structure, which were estimated by his students. His most famous students include Paul Ehrenfest and Erwin Schrödinger, the latter once emphasized that Hasenöhrl had a significant impact on his interest in theoretical physics.

Influence of Hasenöhrl's work on physics

The processes related to the development of relativity show that Albert Einstein 1905 did not know Hasenöhrl's work and therefore saw no reason to attribute priority to him. Hasenöhrl, it seems, had recognized a clear insight into the limits of his own work and did not question Einstein's performance. He understood that the theory of relativity was a completely new, comprehensive approach to physics.

The appreciation of Hasenöhrl's articles on physics is not only a principle of his academic work, but also an exciting chapter in the history of science, as in the article on pro-Physik.de is described in detail.