Lothar Wolfgang Nordheim

Lothar Wolfgang Nordheim
Lothar Nordheim, 1963 at Copenhagen
Born(1899-11-07)7 November 1899
Died10 October 1985(1985-10-10) (aged 85)
Alma materUniversity of Göttingen
Known forField electron emission:
• Fowler–Nordheim-type equations
• Fowler–Nordheim tunneling
• Schottky–Nordheim barrier
Quantum Boltzmann equation
Fuchs-Nordheim method
Scientific career
FieldsStatistical physics
InstitutionsDuke University
Academic advisorsMax Born
Doctoral studentsWalter Goad

Lothar Wolfgang Nordheim (November 7, 1899, Munich – October 5, 1985, La Jolla, California) was a German-born American theoretical physicist. He was a pioneer in the applications of quantum mechanics to solid-state problems, such as thermionic emission, work function of metals, field electron emission, rectification in metal-semiconductor contacts and electrical resistance in metals and alloys. He also worked in the mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics, cosmic rays and in nuclear physics.