Christian Doppler
Christian Andreas Doppler (/ˈdɒplər/; 29 November 1803 – 17 March 1853)[1] was an Austrian
mathematician and physicist. He formulated the principle – now known as the Doppler effect – that
the observed frequency of a wave depends on the relative speed of the source and the observer.
Biography
Portrait of Doppler in a 1907 copy of
"Abhandlungen," no.161
Early life and education
Doppler was born in Salzburg (today Austria) in 1803. Doppler was the second son born to Johann
Evangelist Doppler and Theresia Seeleuthner (Doppler). Doppler's father, Johann Doppler, was a
third-generation stone mason in Salzburg.[2] As a young boy, Doppler showed promise for his
family's trade.[3] However, due to his weak health, Doppler's father encouraged him instead to pursue
a career in business. Doppler started elementary education at the age of 13.[4] After completion, he
moved on to secondary education at a school in Linz.[4] Doppler's proficiency in mathematics was
discovered by Simon Stampfer, a mathematician in Salzburg. Upon his recommendation, Doppler
took a break from high school to attend the Polytechnic Institute in Vienna in 1822.[3] Doppler
returned to Salzburg in 1825 to finish his secondary education.[2] After completing high school,
Doppler studied philosophy in Salzburg and mathematics and physics at the University of Vienna
and Imperial–Royal Polytechnic Institute (now TU Wien). In 1829, he was chosen for an assistant
position to Professor Adam Von Burg at the Polytechnic Institute of Vienna, where he continued his
studies.[5] In 1835, he decided to immigrate to the
Christian Doppler
United States to pursue a position in academia.[6]
Before departing for the United States, Doppler
was offered a teaching position at a state-
operated high school in Prague, which convinced
him to stay in Europe.[6] Shortly after, in 1837 he
was appointed as an associate professor of math
and geometry at the Prague Polytechnic Institute
(now Czech Technical University in Prague). He
received a full professorship position in 1841.[2]
Family
In 1836, Doppler married Mathilde Sturm, the Born 29 November 1803
[3] Salzburg, Electorate
daughter of goldsmith Franz Sturm. Doppler
and Mathilde had five children together. Their first of Salzburg, Holy
Roman Empire
child was Mathilde Doppler who was born in
1837. Doppler's second child, Ludwig Doppler Died 17 March 1853
was born in 1838. Two years later, in 1840 Adolf (aged 49)
Doppler was born. Doppler's fourth child, Bertha Venice, Kingdom of
Doppler was born in 1843. Their last child Lombardy–Venetia,
Hermann was born in 1845.[2] Austrian Empire
Nationality Austrian
Alma mater Imperial–Royal
Polytechnic Institute
University of Vienna
Prague Polytechnic
Known for Doppler effect
Spouse Mathilde Sturm (m. 1836)
Children 5
Scientific career
Institutions Prague Polytechnic
Academy of Mines
and Forests
Development of the Doppler effect
University of Vienna
Notable students Gregor Mendel
Doppler's birth house in the Makart
square in Salzburg, just next door to
where Mozart's family had lived. A
Doppler research and memorial
society is now housed there.[7]
Plaque on the house in Prague in
which Doppler lived from 1843 to
1847
In 1842, at the age of 38, Doppler gave a lecture to the Royal Bohemian Society of Sciences and
subsequently published Über das farbige Licht der Doppelsterne und einiger anderer Gestirne des
Himmels ("On the coloured light of the binary stars and some other stars of the heavens").[2] In this
work, Doppler postulated his principle (later named the Doppler effect) that the observed frequency
of a wave depends on the relative speed of the source and the observer, and he later tried to use this
concept to explain the visible colours of binary stars (this hypothesis was later proven wrong).
Doppler also incorrectly believed that if a star were to exceed 136,000 kilometers per second in
radial velocity, then it would not be visible to the human eye.[8]
Later life
Doppler continued working as a professor at the Prague Polytechnic, publishing over 50 articles on
mathematics, physics and astronomy, but in 1847 he left Prague for the professorship of
mathematics, physics, and mechanics at the Academy of Mines and Forests (its successor is the
University of Miskolc[9]) in Selmecbánya (then Kingdom of Hungary, now Banská Štiavnica Slovakia).
Doppler's research was interrupted by the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. In 1849, he fled to Vienna[1]
and in 1850 was appointed head of the Institute for Experimental Physics at the University of
Vienna. While there, Doppler, along with Franz Unger, influenced the development of young Gregor
Mendel, the founding father of genetics, who was a student at the University of Vienna from 1851 to
1853.[10]
Death
Doppler died on 17 March 1853 at age 49 from a pulmonary disease in Venice (at that time part of
the Austrian Empire). His tomb is in the San Michele cemetery on the Venetian island of San
Michele.[11][12]
Full name
Some confusion exists about Doppler's full name. Doppler referred to himself as Christian Doppler.
The records of his birth and baptism stated Christian Andreas Doppler. Doppler's middle name is
shared by his great-great-grandfather Andreas Doppler.[3] Forty years after Doppler's death the
misnomer Johann Christian Doppler was introduced by the astronomer Julius Scheiner. Scheiner's
mistake has since been copied by many.[2]
