At 21 years old, Bengt Strömgren completed a doctoral degree in astronomy and atomic physics, earning the highest academic marks at the University of Copenhagen. This achievement launched a career that spanned continents and institutions, redefining the field of astrophysics through his early and precise calculations regarding the chemical composition of stars and the behavior of interstellar matter.
Early Development and Academic Foundation
Born in 1908 in Gothenburg, Strömgren was the son of Elis Strömgren, a professor of astronomy. He completed his education at Metropolitanskolen and the University of Copenhagen. Demonstrating academic speed, he published his first research paper at age 14. He benefited from proximity to the work of Niels Bohr, which informed his decision to apply quantum mechanics to the study of stars.
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Strömgren became a lecturer at the University of Copenhagen in 1932. He expanded his international presence by joining the University of Chicago in 1936 at the invitation of Otto Struve. In 1940, he succeeded his father as a professor in Copenhagen. Amidst the German occupation of Denmark, he directed the construction of the Brorfelde Observatory. By 1951, he left Denmark to become director of the Yerkes and McDonald Observatories, later serving as the first professor of theoretical astrophysics at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
Contributions to Stellar Astrophysics
His research shifted the scientific understanding of stellar composition, determining that stars consist of approximately 70% hydrogen and 27% helium. He identified ionized hydrogen shells around stars, now known as Strömgren spheres. Furthermore, he developed the Strömgren photometric system, a four-colour method that advanced photoelectric photometry. His professional legacy includes serving as president of the International Astronomical Union from 1969 to 1975.
Honors and Institutional Affiliations
Throughout his career, Strömgren held memberships in numerous organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. His contributions were recognized through multiple awards, including the Bruce Medal in 1959, the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1962, and the Rosenkjær Award in 1963. The Danish government granted him several distinctions, culminating in his role as a Knight Grand Officer of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1978.
Fast facts
- Born: 1908, Gothenburg
- Died: 1987, Copenhagen
- Citizenship: United States, Sweden, Denmark
- Academic Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
- Key Discovery: Strömgren spheres
- Awards: Bruce Medal, Karl Schwarzschild Medal
- Languages: English, Danish, German, Swedish
Questions readers ask
What is the Strömgren photometric system?
It is a four-colour photoelectric system developed by Strömgren in the 1950s and 1960s to measure stellar light characteristics.
Where did Strömgren work in the United States?
He directed the Yerkes and McDonald Observatories and served as a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
Achievements
- Bruce Medal — 1959
- Held posts at Leiden University, University of Chicago and University of Copenhagen
- Educated at Metropolitanskolen and University of Copenhagen
- Fields of research: astronomy and astrophysics
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