Albert Potter Wills

Albert Potter Wills. He was an American physicist and electrical engineer whose pioneering research in magnetism and low-temperature physics significantly advanced the understanding of ferromagnetic materials. A long-time professor at Columbia University, his experimental work on the magnetic properties of substances at cryogenic temperatures bridged the gap between theoretical physics and practical electrical engineering. His influential textbook, "The Theory of Magnetism," became a standard reference in the field for decades.

Early life and education

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, he was the son of a professor at Yale University. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Yale University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1894. For his graduate work, he traveled to Germany, where he studied under the renowned physical chemist Walther Nernst at the University of Göttingen. He received his Ph.D. from Göttingen in 1897 with a dissertation on the electromotive force of concentration cells, research that connected closely with the work of Josiah Willard Gibbs and Hermann von Helmholtz.

Academic career

Upon returning to the United States, he began his teaching career as an instructor in physics at Yale University. In 1903, he joined the faculty of Columbia University as an assistant professor of physics, where he would remain for the rest of his professional life. He was promoted to full professor in 1915 and later became the director of the Sloane Physics Laboratory at Columbia. Throughout his tenure, he was a contemporary and colleague of notable scientists like Michael Pupin and served as a mentor to future physicists, contributing to the university's strong reputation in applied physics and engineering.

Research and contributions

His primary scientific contributions were in the field of experimental physics, particularly the magnetic properties of materials. He conducted extensive investigations into ferromagnetism, paramagnetism, and diamagnetism, often using liquid air and later liquid hydrogen to achieve extremely low temperatures. His meticulous experiments provided crucial data that tested the emerging theories of Pierre Curie and the later quantum theory of magnetism developed by Werner Heisenberg and Paul Dirac. He authored the seminal textbook "The Theory of Magnetism" in 1931, which synthesized classical and modern viewpoints and was widely used at institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology. He was also an active member of the American Physical Society and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Later life and legacy

He continued his research and teaching at Columbia University until his death in New York City in 1937. His legacy endures primarily through his influential textbook, which educated generations of physicists and engineers. His experimental work laid important groundwork for later advancements in solid-state physics and the development of magnetic materials critical to technologies like magnetic storage and electric motors. The Wills Physics Library at Columbia University was named in his honor, recognizing his lasting impact on the department. His papers are held in the archives of the Columbia University Libraries.

Category:American physicists Category:Columbia University faculty Category:1873 births Category:1937 deaths