Arnold Sommerfeld

Arnold Johannes Wilhelm Sommerfeld, was a German theoretical physicist who pioneered developments in atomic and quantum physics, and also educated and mentored many students for the new era of theoretical physics. He served as doctoral supervisor and postdoc supervisor to seven Nobel Prize winners and supervised at least 30 other famous physicists and chemists. Only J. J. Thomson's record of mentorship offers a comparable list of high-achieving students.

5 December 1868

Born on the same birth day (5 December): Calvin Trillin • Ellis Parker Butler • George Shepherd (artist) • Hilary Koprowski • Peter Pohl • Pieter Oud • Sajid Javid

Born in the same month (December 1868): Charles Harvey Bollman • Emanuel Lasker • Fritz Haber • George W. Fuller • Harvey S. Firestone • Jaan Tõnisson • Jesse Burkett