The development of mathematical physics at Leipzig. I: The beginning of C. Neumann's era (Q5954198)

In the sixties of the nineteenth century there was a lack of mathematical teachers at the University of Leipzig. The Philosophical Faculty discussed the nomination of Alfred Clebsch, Hermann Hankel, Carl Neumann and others. Finally the Ministry of Culture and Education appointed C. Neumann. Carl Neumann (1832-1925) received his education in Königsberg, went to university and studied with his father, Franz Ernst Neumann, professor of physics and mineralogy at Königsberg. C. Neumann qualified for lecturing in mathematics at Halle, became professor at Basel and Tübingen. His favorite research area was mathematical physics. Already in the years before his call to Leipzig he dealt with problems of potential theory. He was interested in optics, theory of heat and electrodynamics. He refused mathematics without references to natural sciences. In the opinion of C. Neumann, the aim of mathematical physics, was to find some principles, from which it was possible to deduce the laws of physics with mathematical methods only. For additional information about the work of C. Neumann see \textit{O. Hölder} [Math. Ann. 96, 1-25 (1926; JFM 52.0027.03)].