Abstract.
I trace the origins of teaching and research in physics and astronomy during the 17th and 18th centuries at the Academy of Turku (Åbo), which was relocated to Helsinki in 1827 and renamed as the Imperial Alexander University of Finland, and which in turn in 1917 became the University of Helsinki. I discuss the growth of physics in Helsinki during the 19th century, which culminated in the opening of a large new Physical Institute in 1911, pointing out the individuals responsible for these developments and the sites associated with them. I also discuss related events, such as the founding of a new astronomical observatory and a new magnetic observatory and the development of technical education in Helsinki. I conclude by discussing the construction of an accelerator laboratory and other important developments in physics in Helsinki after 1945.
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Holmberg, P. Physics in Helsinki. Phys. perspect. 6, 76–113 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00016-003-0194-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00016-003-0194-7
- Academy of Turku (Åbo)
- Imperial Alexander University of Finland
- University of Helsinki
- Physical Cabinet
- Magnetic Observatory
- Physical Institute
- Polytechnical Institute
- University of Technology
- history of physics
- history of chemistry
- history of astronomy
- radioactivity
- physics education
- technical education
- Van de Graaff accelerator
- Georgius Alanus
- Friedrich Wilhelm August Argelander
- Adolf Edvard Arppe
- Pehr Adolf von Bonsdorff
- Henrik Gustav Borenius
- Count Per Brahe
- Nils Fontell
- Sigfrid Aronius Forsius
- Jacob Gadolin
- Gustaf Gabriel Hällström
- Viktor Theodor Homén
- Adalbert Krueger
- Kalervo V. Laurikainen
- Selim Lemström
- Adolf Moberg
- Johan Jakob Nervander
- Lars William Öholm
- J.A.J. Pippingsköld
- Lennart Simons
- Karl Fredrik Slotte
- August Fredrik Sundell
- Paavo E.Tahvonen
- Hjalmar Tallqvist
- Henrik Johan Walbeck
- Jarl A.Wasastjerna
- Fredrik Woldstedt