Erika Helga Ruth Böhm-Vitense (June 3, 1923 – January 21, 2017)[1] was a German-born American astrophysicist known for her work on Cepheid variables and convection in stellar atmospheres.
Böhm-Vitense was born Erika Helga Ruth Vitense on 3 June 1923 in Kurau, Germany. She was the second of three girls. Her parents, Wilma and Hans Vitense were both teachers. She, along with her sisters, was raised in Lübeck, Germany.[2]
Education
Erika started her undergraduate studies at University of Tübingen in 1943. However, she moved to Kiel University in 1945 in favor of a stronger astronomy department than at her first institution. She completed her undergraduate degree in 1948.[2]
She remained at Kiel for her graduate studies, working with Albrecht Unsöld. Erika successfully defended her thesis Continuous absorption coefficients as a function of pressure and temperature in the Sun in 1951 and received her doctorate degree.[2]
Work and research efforts
After receiving her Ph.D., Erika remained at Kiel as a Research Associate.
Two years after receiving her Ph.D., she published Die Wasserstoffkonvektionszone der Sonne. Mit 11 Textabbildungen which translates to The hydrogen convection zone of the Sun. With 11 text illustrations. This is one of her most famous works as it has been cited 287 times since its publication.[3]
After getting married in 1954, she and her husband visited Lick Observatory and University of California, Berkeley for one year. Upon their return to Kiel, her husband, who was also an astrophysicist, was given a tenure track position, but she was not.
In 1968, they both moved to the University of Washington where she started as Senior Research Associate. She was awarded a full-time professor position in 1971, and became a professor emeritus later on.[4] During her time at the University of Washington, she made fundamental contributions to the understanding of stellar binaries, stellar temperatures, chromospheric activity, rotation, and convection.[5] She also made substantial contributions to the fundamentals of Mixing Length Theory.[6] She continued this work through the rest of her career.
Around 1978, Erika realized that the ultraviolet band of light was the best way to make observations of stellar chromospheres. The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) launched in January 1978, and she was able to use this data to further her work.[7]
Notable works
Erika has over 300 academic papers on the Harvard Astrophysics Data System, of which she is the first author on more than two-thirds of these publications.[8]
Die Wasserstoffkonvektionszone der Sonne. Mit 11 Textabbildungen (Zeitschrift für Astrophysik: 1953)
Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics (Cambridge University Press: 1989) ISBN0-521-34869-2
Personal life
Erika met her husband, Karl-Heinz Böhm at Kiel, where he was also in astrophysics. They married in 1953 and had four children: Hans, Manfred, Helga, and Eva.[2]
Death
Erika died on 21 January 2017 in Seattle, Washington.[4]
Honors and awards
Best thesis prize at Kiel University in 1951.
Annie Jump Cannon Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 1965.[9]
Elected as Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Karl Schwarzschild Medal from the Astronomische Gesellschaft in 2003[10]
References
^"Erika Helga Ruth Bohm-Vitense". Evergreen Washelli. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
^ abcd"Erika Böhm-Vitense (1923 - 2017)". American Astronomical Society. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
^Vitense, E. (1953). "Die Wasserstoffkonvektionszone der Sonne. Mit 11 Textabbildungen". Zeitschrift für Astrophysik. 32. Bibcode:1953ZA.....32..135V.
^ ab"Remembering Prof. Erika Böhm-Vitense". University of Washington. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
^"Spring 2017 - ASTR 576 A Sp 17: Astronomy Colloquium". University of Washington. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
^David Arnett, W (2014). "3D and Some Other Things Missing from the Theory of Massive Star Evolution". Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. 9: 459. arXiv:1408.0326. doi:10.1017/S1743921314007406.
^"IUE Overview". European Space Agency. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
^"Query Results from the ADS Database". SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
^"Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy". American Astronomical Society. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
^"Recipients of the Karl Schwarzschild Medal". Astronomische Gesellschaft. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
External links
Karl Schwarzschild Medal laudation
UWA obituary
IAU affiliations
January 26, 2023
erika, böhm, vitense, erika, helga, ruth, böhm, vitense, june, 1923, january, 2017, german, born, american, astrophysicist, known, work, cepheid, variables, convection, stellar, atmospheres, bornerika, vitense, 1923, june, 1923kurau, stockelsdorf, schleswig, h. Erika Helga Ruth Bohm Vitense June 3 1923 January 21 2017 1 was a German born American astrophysicist known for her work on Cepheid variables and convection in stellar atmospheres Erika Bohm VitenseBornErika Vitense 1923 06 03 June 3 1923Kurau now to Stockelsdorf Schleswig Holstein GermanyDiedJanuary 21 2017 2017 01 21 aged 93 Seattle Washington U S Alma materUniversity of KielKnown forMixing Length theory Barium stars stellar astrophysicsSpouseKarl Heinz Hermann BohmChildren4AwardsAnnie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy Karl Schwarzschild MedalScientific careerFieldsAstrophysicsInstitutionsUniversity of Washington SeattleAcademic advisorsLudwig Biermann Albrecht Unsold Contents 1 Early life 2 Education 3 Work and research efforts 4 Notable works 5 Personal life 6 Death 7 Honors and awards 8 References 9 External linksEarly life EditBohm Vitense was born Erika Helga Ruth Vitense on 3 June 1923 in Kurau Germany She was the second of three girls Her parents Wilma and Hans Vitense were both teachers She along with her sisters was raised in Lubeck Germany 2 Education EditErika started her undergraduate studies at University of Tubingen in 1943 However she moved to Kiel University in 1945 in favor of a stronger astronomy department than at her first institution She completed her undergraduate degree in 1948 2 She remained at Kiel for her graduate studies working with Albrecht Unsold Erika successfully defended her thesis Continuous absorption coefficients as a function of pressure and temperature in the Sun in 1951 and received her doctorate degree 2 Work and research efforts EditAfter receiving her Ph D Erika remained at Kiel as a Research Associate Two years after receiving her Ph D she published Die Wasserstoffkonvektionszone der Sonne Mit 11 Textabbildungen which translates to The hydrogen convection zone of the Sun With 11 text illustrations This is one of her most famous works as it has been cited 287 times since its publication 3 After getting married in 1954 she and her husband visited Lick Observatory and University of California Berkeley for one year Upon their return to Kiel her husband who was also an astrophysicist was given a tenure track position but she was not In 1968 they both moved to the University of Washington where she started as Senior Research Associate She was awarded a full time professor position in 1971 and became a professor emeritus later on 4 During her time at the University of Washington she made fundamental contributions to the understanding of stellar binaries stellar temperatures chromospheric activity rotation and convection 5 She also made substantial contributions to the fundamentals of Mixing Length Theory 6 She continued this work through the rest of her career Around 1978 Erika realized that the ultraviolet band of light was the best way to make observations of stellar chromospheres The International Ultraviolet Explorer IUE launched in January 1978 and she was able to use this data to further her work 7 Notable works EditErika has over 300 academic papers on the Harvard Astrophysics Data System of which she is the first author on more than two thirds of these publications 8 Die Wasserstoffkonvektionszone der Sonne Mit 11 Textabbildungen Zeitschrift fur Astrophysik 1953 Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics Cambridge University Press 1989 ISBN 0 521 34869 2Personal life EditErika met her husband Karl Heinz Bohm at Kiel where he was also in astrophysics They married in 1953 and had four children Hans Manfred Helga and Eva 2 Death EditErika died on 21 January 2017 in Seattle Washington 4 Honors and awards EditBest thesis prize at Kiel University in 1951 Annie Jump Cannon Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 1965 9 Elected as Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Karl Schwarzschild Medal from the Astronomische Gesellschaft in 2003 10 References Edit Erika Helga Ruth Bohm Vitense Evergreen Washelli Retrieved February 3 2017 a b c d Erika Bohm Vitense 1923 2017 American Astronomical Society Retrieved November 30 2017 Vitense E 1953 Die Wasserstoffkonvektionszone der Sonne Mit 11 Textabbildungen Zeitschrift fur Astrophysik 32 Bibcode 1953ZA 32 135V a b Remembering Prof Erika Bohm Vitense University of Washington Retrieved November 30 2017 Spring 2017 ASTR 576 A Sp 17 Astronomy Colloquium University of Washington Retrieved December 3 2017 David Arnett W 2014 3D and Some Other Things Missing from the Theory of Massive Star Evolution Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union 9 459 arXiv 1408 0326 doi 10 1017 S1743921314007406 IUE Overview European Space Agency Retrieved December 3 2017 Query Results from the ADS Database SAO NASA Astrophysics Data System Retrieved November 30 2017 Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy American Astronomical Society Retrieved November 30 2017 Recipients of the Karl Schwarzschild Medal Astronomische Gesellschaft Retrieved November 30 2017 External links EditKarl Schwarzschild Medal laudation UWA obituary AAS obituary IAU affiliations Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Erika Bohm Vitense amp oldid 1037311104, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
