# Horst Ludwig Störmer

> German physicist

**Wikidata**: [Q71015](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q71015)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horst_Ludwig_Störmer)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/horst-ludwig-stormer

## Summary

Horst Ludwig Störmer is a German physicist and Nobel laureate recognized for his groundbreaking work in condensed matter physics. He is best known for his discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect, a phenomenon that revealed new states of matter and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1998. Störmer has held prominent positions at Bell Labs and Columbia University, and his research has significantly advanced our understanding of quantum mechanics in two-dimensional electron systems.

## Biography

- **Nationality:** Germany
- **Field(s):** Physics
- **Employer(s):** Bell Labs, Columbia University, University of Stuttgart, Goethe University Frankfurt
- **Known for:** Discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect
- **Memberships:** National Academy of Sciences (United States), American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- **Awards:** Nobel Prize in Physics (1998), Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize, Klung Wilhelmy Science Award

## Contributions

Horst Ludwig Störmer's most significant contribution to physics was his co-discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) in 1982, conducted alongside Daniel Tsui at Bell Labs. This discovery revealed a new state of matter where electrons in a strong magnetic field at low temperatures form new quasi-particles with fractional electric charge. The FQHE phenomenon challenged existing theoretical frameworks and opened entirely new avenues of research in condensed matter physics, leading to deeper understanding of quantum mechanics and topological phases of matter. This work fundamentally changed how physicists understand electron behavior in two-dimensional systems and laid the groundwork for the field of topological quantum physics.

## FAQs

**What is Horst Ludwig Störmer best known for?**
Horst Ludwig Störmer is best known for his discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect in 1982, a phenomenon that earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1998.

**Where did Horst Ludwig Störmer conduct his Nobel Prize-winning research?**
Störmer conducted his Nobel Prize-winning research at Bell Labs in the United States, where he worked alongside Daniel Tsui to discover the fractional quantum Hall effect.

**Which universities has Horst Ludwig Störmer been affiliated with?**
Störmer has been affiliated with multiple institutions including the University of Stuttgart, Goethe University Frankfurt, and Columbia University, where he served as a professor.

**What awards has Horst Ludwig Störmer received?**
Störmer has received several prestigious awards including the Nobel Prize in Physics (1998), the Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize, and the Klung Wilhelmy Science Award.

**Is Horst Ludwig Störmer a member of any scientific academies?**
Yes, Störmer is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences (United States) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

## Why They Matter

Horst Ludwig Störmer's discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect represents one of the most important breakthroughs in condensed matter physics of the late 20th century. The FQHE revealed that electrons in certain conditions can organize themselves into entirely new forms of matter with exotic properties, including quasi-particles that carry fractional electric charge—a concept that challenged fundamental assumptions in quantum mechanics. This discovery not only earned Störmer the Nobel Prize but also pioneered the field of topological physics, which has profound implications for understanding quantum mechanics and has inspired research into topological insulators and quantum computing. Without Störmer's work, our understanding of quantum Hall physics would be fundamentally incomplete, and many contemporary research directions in condensed matter physics would not exist.

## Notable For

- Nobel Prize in Physics (1998) for the discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect
- Co-discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect with Daniel Tsui at Bell Labs (1982)
- Member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
- Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Recipient of the Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize
- Recipient of the Klung Wilhelmy Science Award
- Professor at Columbia University
- Extended research career spanning multiple prestigious institutions in Germany and the United States

## Body

### Early Career and Institutional Affiliations

Horst Ludwig Störmer built his scientific career across multiple prestigious institutions in Germany and the United States. His academic journey included significant affiliations with the University of Stuttgart, one of Germany's leading technical universities founded in 1829, and Goethe University Frankfurt, established in 1914. These German institutional connections provided Störmer with a strong foundation in physics research within the European scientific tradition. His later move to the United States connected him with Columbia University in New York City, a private institution founded in 1754, where he continued his research and teaching activities as a university teacher. The combination of German and American academic environments shaped his approach to physics research and enabled his breakthrough discoveries.

### The Discovery at Bell Labs

The centerpiece of Störmer's scientific achievements occurred during his tenure at Bell Labs, the renowned research and development company founded in 1925 and headquartered in Murray Hill, New Jersey. It was at this institution in 1982 that Störmer, working with Daniel Tsui, conducted the experimental work that led to the discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect. This discovery was made while studying electron behavior in semiconductor structures under extreme conditions—specifically, at very low temperatures and in strong magnetic fields. The phenomenon they observed revealed that electrons could form collective quantum states with properties fundamentally different from those predicted by existing theories, including the existence of quasi-particles with fractional electric charge.

### Nobel Prize and Scientific Recognition

The significance of Störmer's discovery was recognized with the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1998, one of the most prestigious honors in science, administered by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences since 1901. This award placed Störmer among the elite ranks of physicists whose work has fundamentally advanced human understanding of the natural world. Beyond the Nobel Prize, Störmer received the Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize, an American award established in 1952 specifically honoring theoretical or experimental contributions to condensed matter physics. He also received the Klung Wilhelmy Science Award, a German science prize inaugurated in 1973. These multiple recognitions across different awarding bodies underscore the breadth of impact his work has had on the scientific community.

### Academic Memberships and Recognition

Störmer's contributions to physics have been recognized not only through awards but also through election to prestigious scientific societies. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, a body established in 1863 that represents one of the highest honors for scientists in America. He is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1780, which serves as an honorary society and policy research center. These memberships reflect peer recognition of his outstanding contributions to physics and his standing within the international scientific community. The National Academy of Sciences, in particular, provides advisory roles on scientific matters to the U.S. government, indicating the trust placed in members like Störmer to provide expert guidance on matters of scientific importance.

### Field and Discipline

As a physicist working in the field of condensed matter physics, Störmer specialized in studying the properties of matter in solid states, particularly the quantum mechanical behavior of electrons in semiconductor materials. His work sits at the intersection of experimental physics and quantum mechanics, requiring sophisticated laboratory techniques and theoretical understanding. The field of physics itself encompasses the study of matter and its motion, along with related concepts such as energy and force, and Störmer's specific contributions have helped expand the boundaries of this fundamental scientific discipline. His research has practical implications for understanding semiconductor behavior and has inspired new directions in theoretical physics related to topology and quantum phases of matter.

## References

1. [The Nobel Prize in Physics 1998. nobelprize.org](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1998/summary/)
2. [Table showing prize amounts. Nobel Foundation. 2019](https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2019/04/prize-amounts-2020.pdf)
3. [Source](https://www.aps.org/programs/honors/prizes/buckley.cfm)
4. [Franklin Institute website](https://fi.edu/en/awards/laureates/horst-l-stormer)
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
8. Munzinger Personen
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013