Background
Fritz London was born on March 7, 1900 in Breslau, Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland). He was the son of Franz London (1863-1917), a mathematics professor, and Luise (Hamburger) London.
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 Munich, Germany
In 1921 Fritz Wolfgang London submitted a treatise to his philosophy professor for his information and criticism. Unexpectedly, this work became the dissertation for his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Munich (now Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich).
University of Paris, 75005 Paris, France
In 1937 Fritz Wolfgang London received a Ph. D. in physics from the University of Paris.
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 Munich, Germany
In 1921 Fritz Wolfgang London submitted a treatise to his philosophy professor for his information and criticism. Unexpectedly, this work became the dissertation for his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Munich (now Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich).
University of Paris, 75005 Paris, France
In 1937 Fritz Wolfgang London received a Ph. D. in physics from the University of Paris.
1928
Berlin, Germany
Erwin Schrödinger and Fritz London in Berlin
https://www.amazon.com/Une-conception-nouvelle-supra-conductibilit%C3%83%C2%A9-French/dp/2705665366/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Une+conception+nouvelle+de+la+supraconductibilit%C3%A9&qid=1576840484&s=books&sr=1-1
1937
Fritz London was born on March 7, 1900 in Breslau, Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland). He was the son of Franz London (1863-1917), a mathematics professor, and Luise (Hamburger) London.
After a classical secondary education, Fritz Wolfgang London studied physics, mathematics, and philosophy at the universities of Bonn, Frankfurt, and Munich. In 1921 London submitted a treatise to his philosophy professor for his information and criticism. Unexpectedly, this work became the dissertation for his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Munich (now Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich). But London's scholarly interests soon changed from philosophy to theoretical science. In 1927, with Walter Heitler, he formulated a seminal study in quantum chemistry concerning homoeopolar bonding which came to be known as the Heitler-London Theory. In 1937 he received a Ph. D. in physics from the University of Paris.
In 1927, together with the German Irish physicist Walter Heitler, London published the first quantum mechanical explanation of the molecular bond in hydrogen molecules and worked further to found chemistry upon quantum mechanics.
Fritz Wolfgang London left Nazi Germany in 1933 and moved to Oxford, England. There, in collaboration with his equally gifted brother, Heinz, the London equations of superconductivity were established in 1935. This led to a lifelong investigation of the peculiar phenomena, associated with extremely low temperatures, known as superconductivity and superfluidity. Fritz London held appointments at Oxford University and the Institut Henri Poincaré (University of Paris) before accepting in 1939 a position as professor of theoretical chemistry (from 1949 also a joint appointment in physics) at Duke University in Durham. He became a United States citizen in 1945.
At Duke London continued his investigation of the effects of low temperature, concentrating on the existence of strong diamagnetism and the behavior of liquid helium. This work culminated in the publication of Superfluids in two volumes: Macroscopic Theory of Superconductivity (1950) and Macroscopic Theory of Superfluid Helium (1954). These studies are landmarks in modern low-temperature physics.
In 1953 London was named James B. Duke professor of chemical physics at Duke.
Fritz Wolfgang London made a significant contribution to the understanding of electromagnetic properties of superconductors with the London equations and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on five separate occasions.
In 1953 the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences awarded him the prestigious Lorentz Medal in recognition of his scientific achievements; he was the first American citizen, and the first person serving an American institution, to be so honored.
Moreover, Fritz London is memorialized by the annual Fritz London Memorial Lecture at Duke University and by the biannual international Fritz London Award in low-temperature physics.
In 1929, in Berlin, Fritz London married Edith Caspary, an artist. They had two children, Francis Michael and Rose Louise.
Fritz was the greatest influence on his brother Heinz's childhood. Throughout their lives the two brothers maintained a close relationship.
