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{{Short description|Czech physicist (1905–1955)}}
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[[File:Brno-plaketa-Georg-Placzek-na-domě-čp97-3-na-Svoboďáku2013.jpg|thumb|Plaque at Georg Placzek's birth house in Brno, Náměstí Svobody čp. 97]]
{{Infobox academic
'''Georg Placzek''' (September 26, 1905 – October 9, 1955) was a Czech physicist.<ref>[http://cerncourier.com/main/article/45/7/29 J. Fischer: George Placzek - an unsung hero of physics]''Cern Courier'', Vol. '''45''', No. 7, 2005.</ref><ref name=kdo>[http://www.cscasfyz.fzu.cz/2005/03/275.html A. Gottvald: Kdo byl Georg Placzek (1905-1955)]{{dead link|date=July 2017}} ''Čs. čas. fyz.'', Vol. '''55''', No. 3, 2005, pp. 275-287 (in Czech) ([http://dumbell.physics.muni.cz/placzek/papers/Gottvald.pdf pdf])</ref>
| honorific_prefix =
| name = George Placzek
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Georg Placzek
| birth_date = {{birth date|1905|09|26}}
| birth_place = [[Brno]], [[Margraviate of Moravia|Moravia]], [[Austria-Hungary]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1955|10|09|1905|09|26}}
| death_place = [[Zürich]], Switzerland
| nationality =
| citizenship =
| other_names =
| occupation =
| period =
| known_for =
| title =
| spouse = Els Andriesse
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
| relatives =
| awards = <!--notable national-level awards only-->
| education =
| alma_mater = <!--will often consist of the linked name of the last-attended higher education institution-->
| thesis_title =
| thesis_url =
| thesis_year =
| school_tradition =
| doctoral_advisor =
| academic_advisors =
| discipline = <!--major academic discipline – e.g. Physicist, Sociologist, New Testament scholar, Ancient Near Eastern Linguist-->
| sub_discipline = <!--academic discipline specialist area – e.g. Sub-atomic research, 20th-century Danish specialist, Pauline research, Arcadian and Ugaritic specialist-->
| workplaces = <!--full-time positions only, not student positions-->
| doctoral_students = <!--only those with WP articles-->
| notable_students =
| main_interests =
| notable_works =
| notable_ideas =
}}
'''George Placzek''' ({{lang-de|Georg Placzek}}; September 26, 1905 – October 9, 1955) was a Czech physicist.


==Biography==
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Born in [[Brno]], [[Moravia]], then part of [[Austria-Hungary]], to a wealthy Jewish family.<ref name=kdo/> Placzek studied physics in [[Prague]] and [[Vienna]]. He worked with [[Hans Bethe]], [[Edward Teller]], [[Rudolf Peierls]], [[Werner Heisenberg]], [[Victor Weisskopf]], [[Enrico Fermi]], [[Niels Bohr]], [[Lev Landau]], [[Edoardo Amaldi]], [[Emilio Segrè]], [[Leon van Hove]] and many other prominent physicists of his time. His wife, Els Placzek (née Andriesse) was an ex-wife of physicist [[Hans von Halban]].
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[[File:Brno-plaketa-Georg-Placzek-na-domě-čp97-3-na-Svoboďáku2013.jpg|thumb|200px|Plaque at Placzek's place of birth in Brno]]
Placzek was born on September 26, 1905 into a wealthy Jewish family in [[Brno]], [[Margraviate of Moravia|Moravia]], [[Austria-Hungary]] (now the [[Czech Republic]]), the grandson of [[Landesrabbiner|Chief Rabbi]] [[Baruch Placzek]].<ref name=Odyssey>{{cite book |last1=Gottvald |first1=Aleš |last2=Shifman |first2=Mikhail |title=George Placzek: A Nuclear Physicist's Odyssey |date=2018 |publisher=World Scientific |location=Singapore |doi=10.1142/10900 |isbn=978-981-3236-91-2 |url=https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/10900}}</ref><ref name=kdo>{{cite journal|url=http://www.cscasfyz.fzu.cz/2005/03/275.html|first=A.|last=Gottvald|title=Kdo byl Georg Placzek (1905–1955)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625194127/http://www.cscasfyz.fzu.cz/2005/03/275.html |archive-date=25 June 2007|journal=Čs. čas. Fyz.|volume=55|number=3|date=2005|pages=275–287|language=cs}} ([http://dumbell.physics.muni.cz/placzek/papers/Gottvald.pdf PDF])</ref> He studied physics in [[Prague]] and [[Vienna]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cerncourier.com/george-placzek-an-unsung-hero-of-physics/|first=Jan|last=Fischer|title=George Placzek – an unsung hero of physics |work=CERN Courier|date=22 August 2005|access-date=7 May 2021}}</ref>


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In the 1930s, Placzek was known as an adventurous person with sharp sense of humor, a tireless generator of novel physics ideas which he generously shared with his colleagues.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} The scope of Placzek's pilgrimage around the world's physics centres in the 1930s was unique among his colleagues. He worked with [[Hans Bethe]], [[Edward Teller]], [[Rudolf Peierls]], [[Werner Heisenberg]], [[Victor Weisskopf]], [[Enrico Fermi]], [[Niels Bohr]], [[Lev Landau]], [[Edoardo Amaldi]], [[Emilio Segrè]], [[Otto Frisch]], [[Leon van Hove]], and many other prominent physicists of his time. His wife, Els Placzek ({{nee|Andriesse}}) was an ex-wife of physicist [[Hans von Halban]]. He lost all his relatives to [[Holocaust]], casting a tragic shadow on his life.<ref name=Odyssey/>
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Placzek's major areas of scientific work involved a fundamental theory of [[Raman scattering]], molecular [[spectroscopy]] in gases and liquids, [[neutron]] physics and [[mathematical physics]]. Together with [[Otto Frisch]], he suggested a direct experimental proof of nuclear fission.<ref>Frisch O. R.: "The Discovery of Fission – How It All Began". ''Physics Today ''20 (1967), 11, pp. 43-48</ref> Together with [[Niels Bohr]] and others, he was instrumental in clarifying the role of Uranium 235 for the possibility of nuclear chain reaction.<ref>Wheeler J. A.: "Mechanism of Fission". ''Physics Today ''20 (1967), 11, pp. 49-52</ref>


⚫
Placzek's major areas of scientific work involved a fundamental theory of [[Raman scattering]], molecular [[spectroscopy]] in gases and liquids, [[neutron]] physics and [[mathematical physics]]. Together with [[Otto Frisch]], he suggested a direct experimental proof of nuclear fission.<ref>Frisch O. R.: "The Discovery of Fission – How It All Began". ''Physics Today ''20 (1967), 11, pp. 43–48</ref> Together with [[Niels Bohr]] and others, he was instrumental in clarifying the role of Uranium 235 for the possibility of nuclear chain reaction.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wheeler|first=John A.|date=1967|title=Mechanism of fission|url=https://physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/abs/10.1063/1.3120894| journal=Physics Today |language=en| volume=62|issue=4 |pages=35–38|doi=10.1063/1.3120894|issn=0031-9228}}</ref>
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During his stay in Landau's circle in [[Kharkiv]] around 1937, Placzek witnessed the brutal reality of [[Joseph Stalin]]'s regime. His first-hand experience of this influenced the political opinions of his close friends, in particular, fathers of nuclear and thermonuclear bombs, [[Robert Oppenheimer]] and Edward Teller. <ref name=kdo/>


⚫
During his stay in Landau's circle in [[Kharkiv]] around 1937, Placzek witnessed the brutal reality of [[Joseph Stalin]]'s regime. His first-hand experience of this influenced the political opinions of his close friends, in particular, fathers of nuclear and thermonuclear bombs, [[Robert Oppenheimer]] and [[Edward Teller]].<ref name=kdo/>
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Later, Placzek was the only Czech with a leading position in the [[Manhattan project]], where he worked from 1943 till 1946 as a member of the [[British contribution to the Manhattan Project|British Mission]];<ref>D. C. Fakley: "The British Mission". Los Alamos Science, Winter/Spring 1983, pp. 186-189</ref> first in Canada as the leader of a theoretical division at the [[Montreal Laboratory]] and then (since May 1945) in [[Los Alamos National Laboratory|Los Alamos]], later replacing his friend Hans Bethe as the leader of the theoretical group. Since 1948, Placzek was a member of the [[Institute for Advanced Study]] in [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]], USA.


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Later, Placzek was the only Czech with a leading position in the [[Manhattan project]], where he worked from 1943 till 1946 as a member of the [[British contribution to the Manhattan Project|British Mission]];<ref>{{cite journal |last=Fakley |first=Dennis C. |title=The British Mission |year=1983 |issue=Winter/Spring |journal=Los Alamos Science |pages=186–189 |url=http://atomicarchive.com/Docs/pdfs/00416632.pdf |access-date=12 January 2015|issn=0273-7116}}</ref> first in Canada as the leader of a theoretical division at the [[Montreal Laboratory]] and then (since May 1945) in [[Los Alamos National Laboratory|Los Alamos]], later replacing his friend Hans Bethe as the leader of the theoretical group. Since 1948, Placzek was a member of the [[Institute for Advanced Study]] in [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]], United States.
Placzek's premature death in [[Zurich]] produced rumors about his possible suicide influenced by his long-time serious illness. The rumors were based on the theory that [[suicide]]-proneness is genetically predisposed, whereas there were five or six suicides within three generations of Placzeks.<ref name=kdo/>


Recently, many new facts about George Placzek and his family roots emerged in connection with a Symposium held in Placzek's memory.<ref name=symp>[http://dumbell.physics.muni.cz/placzek/papers/abstracts.pdf Abstracts from the Symposion in Memory of George Placzek (1905-1955), Brno (Czech Republic), 2005]</ref>
Unlike many trailblazers of nuclear physics, George Placzek did not leave his recollections or life story notes. Many new facts about Placzek's life and his family roots emerged in connection with a Symposium held in Placzek's memory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dumbell.physics.muni.cz/placzek/papers/abstracts.pdf|title=Abstracts from the Symposion in Memory of George Placzek (1905-1955)|location=Brno|date=2005}}</ref>
Placzek's premature death in a hotel in [[Zürich]] was very likely a suicide influenced by his long-time serious illness.<ref name=Odyssey/>

==See also==
*[[Placzek transient]]
*[[Landau–Placzek ratio]]
*[[Optical theorem]]
*[[Depolarization ratio]]


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Placzek, George}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Placzek, George}}
[[Category:1905 births]]
[[Category:1905 births]]
[[Category:1955 deaths]]
[[Category:1955 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Brno]]
[[Category:1955 suicides]]
[[Category:Manhattan Project people]]
[[Category:Charles University alumni]]
[[Category:People associated with nuclear power]]
[[Category:Moravian Jews]]
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[[Category:Czech Jews]]
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[[Category:Czech physicists]]
[[Category:Czech nuclear physicists]]
[[Category:Czech nuclear physicists]]
[[Category:Guggenheim Fellows]]
[[Category:Charles University in Prague alumni]]
[[Category:Jewish physicists]]
[[Category:Jewish physicists]]
[[Category:Manhattan Project people]]
[[Category:People associated with nuclear power]]
[[Category:People from the Margraviate of Moravia]]
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[[Category:Scientists from Brno]]
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[[Category:Czechoslovak Jews]]

Latest revision as of 21:09, 28 June 2024

George Placzek
Born
Georg Placzek

(1905-09-26)September 26, 1905
Brno, Moravia, Austria-Hungary
DiedOctober 9, 1955(1955-10-09) (aged 50)
Zürich, Switzerland
SpouseEls Andriesse

George Placzek (German: Georg Placzek; September 26, 1905 – October 9, 1955) was a Czech physicist.

Biography

[edit]
Plaque at Placzek's place of birth in Brno

Placzek was born on September 26, 1905 into a wealthy Jewish family in Brno, Moravia, Austria-Hungary (now the Czech Republic), the grandson of Chief Rabbi Baruch Placzek.[1][2] He studied physics in Prague and Vienna.[3]

In the 1930s, Placzek was known as an adventurous person with sharp sense of humor, a tireless generator of novel physics ideas which he generously shared with his colleagues.[citation needed] The scope of Placzek's pilgrimage around the world's physics centres in the 1930s was unique among his colleagues. He worked with Hans Bethe, Edward Teller, Rudolf Peierls, Werner Heisenberg, Victor Weisskopf, Enrico Fermi, Niels Bohr, Lev Landau, Edoardo Amaldi, Emilio Segrè, Otto Frisch, Leon van Hove, and many other prominent physicists of his time. His wife, Els Placzek (née Andriesse) was an ex-wife of physicist Hans von Halban. He lost all his relatives to Holocaust, casting a tragic shadow on his life.[1]

Placzek's major areas of scientific work involved a fundamental theory of Raman scattering, molecular spectroscopy in gases and liquids, neutron physics and mathematical physics. Together with Otto Frisch, he suggested a direct experimental proof of nuclear fission.[4] Together with Niels Bohr and others, he was instrumental in clarifying the role of Uranium 235 for the possibility of nuclear chain reaction.[5]

During his stay in Landau's circle in Kharkiv around 1937, Placzek witnessed the brutal reality of Joseph Stalin's regime. His first-hand experience of this influenced the political opinions of his close friends, in particular, fathers of nuclear and thermonuclear bombs, Robert Oppenheimer and Edward Teller.[2]

Later, Placzek was the only Czech with a leading position in the Manhattan project, where he worked from 1943 till 1946 as a member of the British Mission;[6] first in Canada as the leader of a theoretical division at the Montreal Laboratory and then (since May 1945) in Los Alamos, later replacing his friend Hans Bethe as the leader of the theoretical group. Since 1948, Placzek was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, United States.

Unlike many trailblazers of nuclear physics, George Placzek did not leave his recollections or life story notes. Many new facts about Placzek's life and his family roots emerged in connection with a Symposium held in Placzek's memory.[7] Placzek's premature death in a hotel in Zürich was very likely a suicide influenced by his long-time serious illness.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Georg Placzek (physicist).
  1. ^ a b c Gottvald, Aleš; Shifman, Mikhail (2018). George Placzek: A Nuclear Physicist's Odyssey. Singapore: World Scientific. doi:10.1142/10900. ISBN 978-981-3236-91-2.
  2. ^ a b Gottvald, A. (2005). "Kdo byl Georg Placzek (1905–1955)". Čs. čas. Fyz. (in Czech). 55 (3): 275–287. Archived from the original on 25 June 2007. (PDF)
  3. ^ Fischer, Jan (22 August 2005). "George Placzek – an unsung hero of physics". CERN Courier. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  4. ^ Frisch O. R.: "The Discovery of Fission – How It All Began". Physics Today 20 (1967), 11, pp. 43–48
  5. ^ Wheeler, John A. (1967). "Mechanism of fission". Physics Today. 62 (4): 35–38. doi:10.1063/1.3120894. ISSN 0031-9228.
  6. ^ Fakley, Dennis C. (1983). "The British Mission" (PDF). Los Alamos Science (Winter/Spring): 186–189. ISSN 0273-7116. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Abstracts from the Symposion in Memory of George Placzek (1905-1955)" (PDF). Brno. 2005.
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