Heinrich Greinacher
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Greinacher was a Swiss physicist
. He is regarded as an original experimenter and is the developer of the magnetron and the Greinacher multiplier.
Greinacher was the only child of master shoemaker Heinrich Greinacher and his wife Pauline, born Münzenmayer. He went to school in St. Gallen and studied physics
at both Zurich
, Geneva
and Berlin
. He also trained as a pianist
at the Geneva Conservatory of Music. Originally a German citizen, he was naturalized in 1894 as a Swiss citizen. In Berlin, Greinacher attended the lectures of Max Planck
and received a doctorate in 1904 under Emil Warburg
. He did his habilitation
in 1907 at the University of Zurich
, and in 1912, he moved to Zurich on a permanent basis. From 1924 to 1952, he was full professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Bern and the director of the Physical Institute (formerly Physics Cabinett).
In 1912, Greinacher developed the magnetron and gave a fundamental mathematical description of this tube. In 1914, he invented the Greinacher multiplier (a rectifier circuit for voltage doubling). In 1920, he generalized this idea to a cascaded voltage multiplier
, and developed detection methods for charged particles (proportional counter
, spark counter
). In the 1930s, using an independently invented Greinacher-style multiplier to research atomic nuclei, British
researchers discovered artificial radioactivity.
Greinacher was married twice: in 1910 to the German Marie Mahlmann, with whom he had two children, and then again in 1933 to Frieda Urben from Inkwil
.
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...
. He is regarded as an original experimenter and is the developer of the magnetron and the Greinacher multiplier.
Greinacher was the only child of master shoemaker Heinrich Greinacher and his wife Pauline, born Münzenmayer. He went to school in St. Gallen and studied physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at both Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
and Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
. He also trained as a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
at the Geneva Conservatory of Music. Originally a German citizen, he was naturalized in 1894 as a Swiss citizen. In Berlin, Greinacher attended the lectures of Max Planck
Max Planck
Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck, ForMemRS, was a German physicist who actualized the quantum physics, initiating a revolution in natural science and philosophy. He is regarded as the founder of the quantum theory, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918.-Life and career:Planck came...
and received a doctorate in 1904 under Emil Warburg
Emil Warburg
Emil Gabriel Warburg was a German Jewish physicist who during his career was professor of physics at the Universities of Strassburg, Freiburg and Berlin. He was president of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft 1899-1905. He was a friend of Albert EinsteinHe was a member of the Warburg family...
. He did his habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in 1907 at the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
, and in 1912, he moved to Zurich on a permanent basis. From 1924 to 1952, he was full professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Bern and the director of the Physical Institute (formerly Physics Cabinett).
In 1912, Greinacher developed the magnetron and gave a fundamental mathematical description of this tube. In 1914, he invented the Greinacher multiplier (a rectifier circuit for voltage doubling). In 1920, he generalized this idea to a cascaded voltage multiplier
Voltage multiplier
thumb|right|280px|Villard cascade voltage multiplier.A voltage multiplier is an electrical circuit that converts AC electrical power from a lower voltage to a higher DC voltage, typically by means of a network of capacitors and diodes....
, and developed detection methods for charged particles (proportional counter
Proportional counter
A proportional counter is a measurement device to count particles of ionizing radiation and measure their energy.A proportional counter is a type of gaseous ionization detector. Its operation is similar to that of a Geiger-Müller counter, but uses a lower operating voltage. An inert gas is used to...
, spark counter
Spark-chamber detector
A spark chamber is a particle detector, a device used in particle physics for detecting electrically charged particles. They were most widely-used as research tools from the 1930s to the 1960s, and have since been superseded by more sophisticated detectors such as drift chambers and silicon detectors...
). In the 1930s, using an independently invented Greinacher-style multiplier to research atomic nuclei, British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
researchers discovered artificial radioactivity.
Greinacher was married twice: in 1910 to the German Marie Mahlmann, with whom he had two children, and then again in 1933 to Frieda Urben from Inkwil
Inkwil
Inkwil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Inkwil has an area, , of . Of this area, or 49.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 36.0% is forested...
.
Foundation
A foundation was established in Bern in 1988 with the name of Heinrich-Greinacher-Stiftung from the estate of the couple Frieda and Heinrich Greinacher. Interest income of the Foundation's capital is used to fund the Heinrich Greinacher Prize and for the promotion of young researchers and scientists.Publications
- Negotiations of the Swiss Society of Natural Sciences. Issue 154 (1974), p. 239-251 (with a catalog)
- Hans Erich Hollmann:physics and technology of the ultra-waves. Volume 1 Production ultrakurzwelliger oscillations.