I sketch the lives and work of the Norwegian physicist Kristian Birkeland (1867–1917) and the English mathematician Sydney Chapman (1888–1970), focusing particularly on Chapman’s controversy with Birkeland over the origin and development of auroras, a controversy that Chapman conducted with Birkeland for more than fifty years after Birkeland’s death.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Sidney Borowitz is Professor Emeritus of Physics at New York University.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Borowitz, S. The Norwegian and the Englishman. Phys. perspect. 10, 287–294 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00016-007-0372-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00016-007-0372-0