Memories of my early work on lattice dynamics and X-ray diffraction

Abstract

I began advanced studies in theoretical physics at the University of Uppsala in the autumn of 1919 and attended in particular the fascinating lectures of C. W. Oseen who was then Professor of Mechanics and Mathematical Physics. After a few years he suggested that I should direct my attention to the problem of heat conduction in solids where P. Debye in 1913 had made an interesting initial investigation. I therefore studied the existing literature in lattice dynamics, in particular the original papers by P. Debye, M. Born and T. v. Karman, and also Born’s book Dynamic der Kristallgitter , which had appeared in 1915. My interest then changed from heat conduction to other problems.