Heike Kamerlingh Onnes

Heike Kamerlingh Onnes (September 21, 1853 – February 21, 1926) was a Dutch physicist. Onnes' scientific career was spent exploring extremely cold refrigeration techniques and the associated phenomena.

Early years and professorship

Onnes was born in Groningen, Netherlands. His father, Harm Kamerlingh Onnes, was the brickworks owner. His mother was Anna Gerdina Coers of Arnhem.

Related Topics:
Groningen - Netherlands

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In 1870, Onnes attended the University of Groningen. Onnes studied under Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff at the University of Heidelberg from 1871 to 1873. Onnes, again at Groningen, obtained his masters in 1878 and a doctor's degree in 1879. His thesis was "Nieuwe bewijzen voor de aswenteling der aarde" (tr. New proofs of the rotation of the earth).

Related Topics:
1870 - University of Groningen - Robert Bunsen - Gustav Kirchhoff - University of Heidelberg - 1871 - 1873 - 1878 - 1879

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From 1882 to 1923 he served as professor of experimental physics at the University of Leiden. In 1904, Onnes founded a very large cryogenics lab and invited other researchers to the location. Onnes being held in high reguard by the scientific community was because of this institution. In 1908 Onnes was the first physicist who made this liquefaction of helium possible (using cryostats). Onnes managed, using the Joule-Thomson effect, to lower the temperature to less than one degree above the absolute minimum (0.9 K). By then this was by far the coldest place on earth.

Related Topics:
Experimental physics - University of Leiden - 1904 - Cryogenics - 1908 - Helium - Cryostat - Joule-Thomson effect

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