Frans Michel Penning
Encyclopedia
Frans Michel Penning was a Dutch physicist
. The Penning trap
, used for storing charged particles, as well as the Penning mixture
and Penning effect of gas discharge tubes are named after him. He also invented a type of cold cathode
vacuum gauge known as Penning gauge.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
. The Penning trap
Penning trap
Penning traps are devices for the storage of charged particles using a homogeneous static magnetic field and a spatially inhomogeneous static electric field. This kind of trap is particularly well suited to precision measurements of properties of ions and stable subatomic particles which have...
, used for storing charged particles, as well as the Penning mixture
Penning mixture
A Penning mixture , named after Frans Michel Penning, is a mixture of gases used in electric lighting or displaying fixtures. Although the popular phrase for the most common of these is a neon lamp, it's more efficient to have the glass tube filled not with pure neon, but with a Penning mixture,...
and Penning effect of gas discharge tubes are named after him. He also invented a type of cold cathode
Cold cathode
A cold cathode is a cathode used within nixie tubes, gas discharge lamps, discharge tubes, and some types of vacuum tube which is not electrically heated by the circuit to which it is connected...
vacuum gauge known as Penning gauge.