Friedrich Hund (born 4.02.1896) is a German theoretical physicist and a member of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences. He was born in Karlsruhe. He graduated from the University of Göttingen (1922). In 1925—27 he worked at the University of Göttingen; in 1927—29 he was professor at the University of Rostock, in 1929 —46 at the University of Leipzig, in 1946 — 51 at the University of Jena, in 1951—56 at the University of Frankfurt, and in 1956 — 64 at the University of Göttingen.
His work concerned quantum mechanics, the quantum theory of atoms, molecules and solids, general questions of quantum theory, quantum chemistry, and the history of physics. Together with R. Mulliken and E. Wigner he developed the method of molecular orbitals and laid the foundations of the theory of molecular spectra. In 1927 he proposed an empirical way of determining the arrangement of levels in multiplets (Hund's rules). He studied the regularities of the interaction of angular momenta in diatomic molecules (Hund's cases).