Ernst Karl Abbe

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Ernst Abbe
Ernst Karl Abbe (1840-1905)
Ernst Karl Abbe (1840-1905)
Born January 23, 1840(1840-01-23)
Eisenach, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Died January 14, 1905 (aged 64)
Jena, Germany
Residence Germany
Nationality German
Fields Physicist
Institutions University of Jena
Alma mater University of Göttingen
University of Jena
Doctoral advisor Wilhelm Weber
Carl Snell
Doctoral students Heinrich Friedrich Weber
Known for Abbe number

Ernst Karl Abbe (January 23, 1840 in EisenachJanuary 14, 1905 in Jena), was a German physicist. He was a professor at the University of Jena.

Abbe is best known for his work in optics. He designed the first refractometer, which he described in a booklet published in 1874.[1] He discovered the Abbe number, a measure of any transparent material's variation of refractive index with wavelength. Already a professor in Jena, he was hired by Carl Zeiss to improve the manufacturing process of optical instruments, which back then was largely based on trial and error. In a long and fruitful collaboration, Abbe created the mathematical foundation of microscope design, which became essential for the later preeminent position of the Zeiss company. In particular, he discovered the Abbe sine condition, a breakthrough in lens design. He also invented the Abbe condenser, used for microscope illumination.[2] During his association with Carl Zeiss' microscope works, he also introduced the eight-hour workday, in remembrance of the 14-hour workday of his own father.

The Abbe crater on the Moon was named in his honour.

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Abbe, E. (1874). Neue Apparate zur Bestimmung des Brechungs - und Zerstreuungsvermögens fester und fluüssiger Körper. Jena: Mauke's Verlag. 
  2. ^ Abbe, Ernst - Encyclopædia Britannica - Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service.

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Persondata
NAME Abbe, Ernst Karl
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION German Physicist
DATE OF BIRTH January 23, 1840
PLACE OF BIRTH Eisenach, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
DATE OF DEATH January 14, 1905
PLACE OF DEATH Jena, Germany