Scientist. A physicist, he was the first person to see an atom. Inventor of the atom-probe field ion microscope, the field emission electron microscope, and the field ion microscope. Studied engineering with a physics emphasis at the Technical University in Berlin with Nobel Prize winner Gustav Hertz. He received his doctorate in 1936 but was not able to continue his academic career until after World War II due to his refusal to join the Nazi party. He also did research for Siemens and was the director of research at Stabiliovolt from 1937 to 1946. Returning to the academic world in 1947, he received his Habilitation from the Technical University in 1950 and was appointed a professor at the Free University of Berlin in 1951 and then Penn State in 1952, where he used the field ion microscope to become the first person to "see" an atom in October 1955. He received numerous honorary degrees and was elected to the National Academies of Engineering and Sciences. He was awarded the National Medal of Science posthumously by Jimmy Carter in November 1977. He was the Evan Pugh Professor of Physics at Penn State and was named to emeritus status in 1976, shortly before he died of a stroke suffered while attending the National Academy of Science meeting in Washington, DC.
Scientist. A physicist, he was the first person to see an atom. Inventor of the atom-probe field ion microscope, the field emission electron microscope, and the field ion microscope. Studied engineering with a physics emphasis at the Technical University in Berlin with Nobel Prize winner Gustav Hertz. He received his doctorate in 1936 but was not able to continue his academic career until after World War II due to his refusal to join the Nazi party. He also did research for Siemens and was the director of research at Stabiliovolt from 1937 to 1946. Returning to the academic world in 1947, he received his Habilitation from the Technical University in 1950 and was appointed a professor at the Free University of Berlin in 1951 and then Penn State in 1952, where he used the field ion microscope to become the first person to "see" an atom in October 1955. He received numerous honorary degrees and was elected to the National Academies of Engineering and Sciences. He was awarded the National Medal of Science posthumously by Jimmy Carter in November 1977. He was the Evan Pugh Professor of Physics at Penn State and was named to emeritus status in 1976, shortly before he died of a stroke suffered while attending the National Academy of Science meeting in Washington, DC.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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