Arnold Sommerfeld

German physicist (1868-1951)
Person human Q77078
Arnold Sommerfeld
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Arnold Sommerfeld

Summary

Arnold Sommerfeld is a human[1]. His place of birth was Königsberg[2]. He passed away in Munich[3]. He worked as a theoretical physicist[4], mathematician[5], and university teacher[6]. He ranks in the top 0.71% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (1,071 views/month, #7,055 of 1,000,298).[7]

Key Facts

  • Arnold Sommerfeld was born in Königsberg[2].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld died in Munich[3].
  • Burial took place at Nordfriedhof[8].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld was married to Johanna Sommerfeld[9].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld held citizenship in Germany[10].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld's professions included theoretical physicist[4].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld worked as a mathematician[5].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld's professions included university teacher[6].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld's field of work was theoretical physics[11].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld's field of work was mathematical physics[12].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld's field of work was spectroscopy[13].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld held the position of Geheimrat[14].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld was employed by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München[15].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld was employed by RWTH Aachen University[16].
  • Among Arnold Sommerfeld's employers was University of Göttingen[17].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld was employed by Clausthal University of Technology[18].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld's education included a stint at University of Königsberg[19].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld's doctoral advisor was Ferdinand von Lindemann[20].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld's doctoral advisor was Felix Klein[21].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld received the Max Planck Medal[22].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld received the Lorentz Medal[23].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld received the Oersted Medal[24].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld received the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art[25].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld received the Matteucci Medal[26].
  • Arnold Sommerfeld received the Foreign Member of the Royal Society[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Arnold Sommerfeld was born in Königsberg[2].

Education

Arnold Sommerfeld was educated at University of Königsberg[19]. Doctoral advisors include Ferdinand von Lindemann[20], a mathematician[28], 1852–1939[29], of Kingdom of Hanover[30], awarded the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art[31], specialised in number theory[32] and Felix Klein[21].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include theoretical physicist[4], mathematician[5], and university teacher[6]. Fields of work include theoretical physics[11], a branch of physics[33]; mathematical physics[12], a branch of mathematics[34]; and spectroscopy[13], an analytical chemical technique[35]. Employers include Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München[15], a public research university[36], in Germany[37], founded in 1472[38], headquartered in Hauptgebäude der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München[39]; RWTH Aachen University[16], a public university[40], in Germany[41], founded in 1870[42], headquartered in Aachen[43]; University of Göttingen[17], a campus university[44], in Germany[45], founded in 1734[46], headquartered in Göttingen[47]; and Clausthal University of Technology[18], a public university[48], in Germany[49], founded in 1775[50]. Arnold Sommerfeld held the position of Geheimrat[14]. Doctoral students include Paul Peter Ewald[51], Wolfgang Pauli[52], Gregor Wentzel[53], Wojciech Rubinowicz[54], Otto Laporte[55], and Peter Debye[56].

Recognition

Awards received include Max Planck Medal[22], a medallion[57], in Germany[58], founded in 1929[59]; Lorentz Medal[23], a science award[60], in Netherlands[61], founded in 1925[62]; Oersted Medal[24], a science award[63], in United States[64], founded in 1936[65]; Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art[25], an order[66], in Germany[67], founded in 1980[68]; Matteucci Medal[26], a science award[69], in Italy[70], founded in 1868[71]; and Foreign Member of the Royal Society[27], a fellowship award[72], in United Kingdom[73].

Personal Life

Arnold Sommerfeld was married to Johanna Sommerfeld[9].

Death and Burial

Arnold Sommerfeld died in Munich[3]. He is buried at Nordfriedhof[8].

Works and Contributions

Things named for Arnold Sommerfeld include Bohr-Sommerfeld atom model[74], Sommerfeld number[75], Sommerfeld identity[76], Orr–Sommerfeld equation[77], Sommerfeld[78], and Arnold Sommerfeld Prize[79].

Why It Matters

Arnold Sommerfeld ranks in the top 0.71% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (1,071 views/month, #7,055 of 1,000,298).[7] He has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[80] He is known by 37 alternative names across languages and contexts.[81]

He is credited with the discovery of fine-structure constant[82], a physical constant[83] and Bohr-Sommerfeld atom model[84], an atom model[85], founded in 1915[86]. Works attributed to him include Bohr-Sommerfeld atom model[87], an atom model[88], founded in 1915[89]. Entities named for him include Bohr-Sommerfeld atom model[74], Sommerfeld number[75], Sommerfeld identity[76], Orr–Sommerfeld equation[77], Sommerfeld[78], and Arnold Sommerfeld Prize[79].

His notable doctoral advisees include Hans Bethe[90], Wolfgang Pauli[91], Werner Heisenberg[92], Peter Debye[93], Walter Heitler[94], and Paul Peter Ewald[95].

FAQs

Where was Arnold Sommerfeld born?

Arnold Sommerfeld was born in Königsberg[2].

Where did Arnold Sommerfeld die?

Arnold Sommerfeld passed away in Munich[3].

Who was Arnold Sommerfeld married to?

Arnold Sommerfeld's spouses include Johanna Sommerfeld[9].

What did Arnold Sommerfeld do for work?

Arnold Sommerfeld worked as theoretical physicist[4], mathematician[5], and university teacher[6].

Where did Arnold Sommerfeld go to school?

Arnold Sommerfeld was educated at University of Königsberg[19].

What awards did Arnold Sommerfeld receive?

Honors received include Max Planck Medal[22], Lorentz Medal[23], Oersted Medal[24], and Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art[25].

What did Arnold Sommerfeld discover?

Arnold Sommerfeld is credited as discoverer of fine-structure constant[82] and Bohr-Sommerfeld atom model[84].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  2. [3] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  3. [9] . wikidata.org.
  4. [10] . wikidata.org.
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  7. [11] . wikidata.org.
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  10. [4] . wikidata.org.
  11. [5] . wikidata.org.
  12. [6] . wikidata.org.
  13. [15] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  14. [16] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  15. [17] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  16. [18] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  17. [8] . Find a Grave. findagrave.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  18. [22] . wikidata.org.
  19. [23] . lorentz.leidenuniv.nl. lorentz.leidenuniv.nl. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  20. [24] . aapt.org. aapt.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  21. [25] . wikidata.org.
  22. [26] . wikidata.org.
  23. [27] . Complete List of Royal Society Fellows 1660-2007. wikidata.org.
  24. [20] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  25. [21] . wikidata.org.
  26. [51] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  27. [52] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  28. [53] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  29. [54] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  30. [55] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  31. [56] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. Retrieved . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [82] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [84] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [87] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [90] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [91] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [92] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [93] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [94] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [95] . wikidata.org. → on this site
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  11. [75] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [76] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [77] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [78] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [79] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
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  7. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
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  13. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [59] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [63] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
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  29. [67] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [68] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [69] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [70] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
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  34. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [73] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [83] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [85] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [86] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  44. [88] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  45. [89] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [7] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [80] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [81] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Arnold Sommerfeld. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/arnold-sommerfeld
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BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_arnold-sommerfeld_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Arnold Sommerfeld}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/arnold-sommerfeld}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-11}}
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Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 11d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-21 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Local thumb
    Occupation theoretical physicist, mathematician, university teacher
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32152|batch #32152]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (34)"
  2. 24d ago · Bargioni · 2026-05-07 view diff on Wikidata ↗
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    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/30469|batch #30469]]: add P1810 to P5739 3/3"
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