Life
Irving Langmuir ( Irving Langmuir , 1881 January 31 - August 16, 1957), American chemist, physicist, 1932 Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry. Langmuir was born in New York in 1881, is the third child in the home. His parents always encouraged him to observe nature, and careful records of his observations. 11 years old, Langmuir was found not normal vision, and later through the correction, he observed that many things are not observed in the past, which made his interest in the natural sciences has increased a lot. Langmuir's brother is also a chemist, there are a lot of influence on his scientific interest. In 1903, Langmuir Metallurgical Engineering from Columbia University graduate, graduating in 1906 from the University of Goettingen, Germany Dr., under the tutelage of Nernst. Dr. Langmuir's research NERNST light related.
Langmuir most famous book is "The Arrangement of Electrons in Atoms and Molecules", published in 1919. The book based on Gilbert N. Lewis cube atomic theory and theoretical basis of chemical bonds Walter Kossel (Walther Kossel), based on an overview of the "concentric circle theory of atomic structure." Langmuir and Lewis was involved in the work of this controversy, Langmuir presentation skills contributed to the popularity of the theory, although the theory itself rely mainly on the findings of the Lewis and recognized.
Langmuir also studied the phenomenon of thermionic emission, is one of the early studies of plasma scientists, in 1928 he first proposed the "plasma" (plasma) this word to describe the substance in the gas discharge tube . From 1909 to 1950, General Electric, Langmuir advanced areas of physics and chemistry, the inflatable incandescent invention, hydrogen welding, because he works on surface chemistry was awarded the 1932 Connaught Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He was the first industrial chemist to become Nobel Prize winners, near Socorro, New Mexico "atmosphere Langmuir Laboratory (Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research)" to his name, while the US study the surface chemistry journals called "Langmuir (Langmuir)".
Langmuir introduced the concept of electron temperature, in 1924 he invented a process for measuring the temperature and quality - Langmuir probe (Langmuir probe). After World War I, Langmuir work on atomic theory, defines today's isotopes and valence of these concepts. He and Katherine Blodgett film study, the introduction of the concept of "monolayer" (monolayer). He developed during World War II military equipment, including methods of ice on aircraft wings melted, and he found a dry ice and stored at low temperature iodine compounds can be used as artificial rainfall.
research
Initially his contributions to science from his bulb (continuation of his doctoral work) research. His first major development is to improve the diffusion pumps, high vacuum tube of the invention eventually led. A year later, he and his colleagues discovered the tungsten filament Lewi Tonks filled with an inert gas such as argon, greatly extend the lamp life. He also found that tightening coil filament, improve its efficiency. These are important historical development of incandescent bulbs. At this point, he began work in chemistry, he found that the introduction of a tungsten filament lamp is separated into a hydrogen atom, a hydrogen molecule, and a layer formed on a surface of one atom thick bulb.
His research assistant in the vacuum tube defect is his cousin William White.
In 1917, he published a paper on the chemical film, and later became the 1932 Nobel Chemistry Prize foundation. Oil Langmuir adsorption theory as a molecule thick film after the water with the hydrophilic side facing the (perhaps alcohol or acid), aliphatic chains, and hydrophilic groups and hydrophobic groups together with the water on the surface. Known from the oil volume and area, which makes the molecular structure of prior art spectral investigation, it can easily determine the film thickness.
when he continued to study different gas and vacuum environments filaments, he began to study the hot filament (thermal electron emission charged particle emission). He was one of the first scientists to work in plasma was the first to call these ionized gas, that name, because they remind him of plasma. Langmuir and Tonks found that electron density is referred to as the Langmuir waves.
He introduced the concept of electron temperature, and invented in 1924, called an electrostatic probe conventional Langmuir probe diagnostic method of measuring the temperature and density of plasma physics. Biased current measuring probe tip functions as a bias voltage to determine the local plasma density and temperature. He also found a hydrogen atom, he invented a welding process using atomic hydrogen; a first plasma welding strips ever. TIG welding, plasma welding, has been developed to.
old age
Langmuir chairman of Institute of Radio Engineers in 1923.
and Catherine B. Blodgett his studies with films and surface adsorption. They introduced the concept of a monolayer (one molecular layer thick material) and a physical description of such a two-dimensional surface. In 1932 because he "found that the surface chemistry and research" won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1938, Langmuir's scientific interests began to shift Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. One of his first venture, although tangential relationship to, yes entomologist Charles HT Townsend claimed to refute deer fly more than 800 miles per hour of flight. Langmuir estimate the true speed of 25 kilometers per hour to fly.
windrows observed after drifting seaweed in the Sargasso Sea, he found that the sea surface wind circulation driven. It is called Langmuir circulation.
During World War II, Langmuir work to improve the Navy's sonar to detect submarines, and later developed a smokescreen to protect aircraft wing de-icing methods. This research led him to the theory that the introduction of the low temperature of dry ice and iodine to 1 full wet clouds may lead to precipitation (cloud Live); although frequent practice, especially in Australia and China, the efficiency of this technique remains today controversial.
The term "pathological science" Langmuir created in 1953, described the study in accordance with the scientific method, but unconscious bias or subjective effects of pollution. This is pseudo-science, it does not follow the scientific method guise. In his original speech, he proposed the example of ESP and UFOs pathological science, since then, the label has been applied to Polywater shall and cold fusion.
his house in Schenectady, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
Personal life
Langmuir in 1912 and Marion Mersereau married, he adopted two children: Kenneth and Barbara. After a short illness, he died of a heart attack in Woods Hole, Massachusetts in 1957. His obituary ran on the New York Times' front page.
Honor
American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1918)
Perkin Medal (1928) < / p>
Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1932)
Benjamin Franklin Medal (1934)
· J · John Carty national Academy of Sciences Award (1950)
mountain Langmuir Alaska (elevation 8022 feet / 2445 meters), is named after him (Chugach national forest, copper River, branch AK)
Langmuir College, a residential college at the University of Stony Brook H- four, 1970 named as his name
patent
consistent with Langmuir, US Patent 1,180,159, "incandescent lamp"
consistent with Langmuir, US Pat. 1,244,217, "electron discharge apparatus and method of operating same"
Langmuir, U.S. Patent No. 1,251,388, "method and apparatus for controlling the X-ray tube"