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Going for Cold

A Biography of a Great Physicist, Kurt Mendelssohn

  • Book
  • © 2021

Overview

Authors:
  1. J. G. Weisend II

    1. Accelerator Division, European Spallation Source, Lund, Sweden

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  2. G. Terence Meaden

    1. St Peter’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

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  • Describes Mendelssohn's groundbreaking work in cryogenics and low temperature physics
  • Includes his fundamental research on superconductivity and superfluidity
  • Explores his work beyond research in expanding cryogenics from a scientific discipline to a major global industry

Part of the book series: Springer Biographies (SPRINGERBIOGS)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xx
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Foundations: Berlin 1906–1925

    • J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden
    Pages 1-6

  3. University: Berlin 1925–1931

    • J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden
    Pages 7-11

  4. Transitions: Breslau/Oxford 1931–1933

    • J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden
    Pages 13-21

  5. All Things Super: Oxford 1933–1939

    • J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden
    Pages 23-40

  6. War and Controversy: 1940–1945

    • J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden
    Pages 41-46

  7. Studies and Students Oxford 1945–1973

    • J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden
    Pages 47-62

  8. Connections: 1945–1980

    • J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden
    Pages 63-71

  9. Travel: 1945–1980

    • J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden
    Pages 73-84

  10. Writings

    • J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden
    Pages 85-94

  11. Pyramids

    • J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden
    Pages 95-100

  12. Correction to: Going for Cold

    • J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden
    Pages C1-C2

  13. Back Matter

    Pages 101-130
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Keywords

About this book

This short but revealing biography tells the story of Kurt Mendelssohn FRS, one of the founding figures in the field of cryogenics, from his beginnings in Berlin through his move to Oxford in the 1930s, and his groundbreaking work in low temperature and solid state physics. He set up the first helium liquefier in the United Kingdom, and did fundamental research that increased our understanding of superconductivity and superfluid helium.

Dr. Mendelssohn's vision extended beyond his scientific and technical achievements; he saw the potential for growth of cryogenics in industry, visiting China, Japan and India to forge global collaborations, founded the leading scientific journal in the field and established a conference series which still runs to this day. He published two monographs which remain as classics in the field.



This book explores the story behind the science, in particular his relationships with other key figures in the cryogenics field, most notably Nicholas Kurti at Oxford, and his work outside cryogenics, including his novel ideas on the engineering of the pyramids.




Reviews

“The book brings out several strands of value for the reader. … The book … gives valuable insight for non-scientists on the things that count in the life of a scientist. … The reviewer has no hesitation in commending it to anyone with an interest in science, particularly low temperature science, and science in Oxford.” (John Vandore, Cold Facts, Vol. 37 (4), 2021)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Accelerator Division, European Spallation Source, Lund, Sweden

    J. G. Weisend II

  • St Peter’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    G. Terence Meaden

About the authors

John Weisend is currently a Senior Scientist and Group Leader for Specialised Technical Services at The European Spallation Source. He received his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he investigated engineering applications of He II. He has worked at the SSC Laboratory, the Centre D’Etudes Nucleaires Grenoble, the Deutsches Elecktronen-Synchrotron Laboratory (DESY), the Stanford Linear Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), the National Science Foundation and Michigan State University 
Dr. Weisend’s research interests include He II and large scale accelerator cryogenics. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cryogenic Society of America (CSA). He has led the CSA Short Course Program since 2001. He is Chief Technical Editor of Advances in Cryogenic Engineering. In addition to co-authoring more than 60 technical papers, Dr. Weisend is the co-author (with N. Filina) of Cryogenic Two-Phase Flow andthe editor of the Handbook of Cryogenic Engineering, Editor of Cryostat Design (Springer, 2016) and Cryogenic Safety (Springer, 2018).

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Going for Cold

  • Book Subtitle: A Biography of a Great Physicist, Kurt Mendelssohn

  • Authors: J. G. Weisend II, G. Terence Meaden

  • Series Title: Springer Biographies

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61199-6

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-61198-9Published: 04 March 2021

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-61201-6Published: 05 March 2022

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-61199-6Published: 03 March 2021

  • Series ISSN: 2365-0613

  • Series E-ISSN: 2365-0621

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XX, 130

  • Number of Illustrations: 47 b/w illustrations, 9 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Low Temperature Physics, History of Science, Engineering Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer

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