Hendrika Johanna van Leeuwen

Hendrika Johanna van Leeuwen (July 3, 1887 – February 26, 1974) was a Dutch physicist known for her early contributions to the theory of magnetism.Her thesis [1][2] explained why magnetism is an essentially quantum mechanical effect,[3] a result now referred to as the Bohr–Van Leeuwen theorem.She continued to investigate magnetic materials at the "Technische Hogeschool Delft" (now called the Delft University of Technology), first as "assistant" between September 1920 and April 1947, and then she was promoted to "lector in de theoretische en toegepaste natuurkunde" (reader in theoretical and applied physics).[4][5] Hendrika van Leeuwen was the sister-in-law of Gunnar Nordström, known as the "Einstein of Finland", who studied in Leiden with Paul Ehrenfest, the successor of Lorentz.Her sister Cornelia (Nel) also started a PhD in Leiden, under Willem Hendrik Keesom, but stopped when she married Nordström and moved with him to Helsinki.
tussenvoegselsDutch family namesThe HagueLeiden UniversityBohr-van Leeuwen theoremPhysicistDelft University of TechnologyThesisDoctoral advisorHendrik Antoon LorentzmagnetismBohr–Van Leeuwen theoremNiels BohrGunnar NordströmPaul EhrenfestWillem Hendrik KeesomJournal de Physique et le RadiumSpringerAlbert Einstein