Wolfgang Kurt Hermann "Pief"Panofsky (April 24, 1919 – September 24, 2007), was a German-Americanphysicist who won many awards including theNational Medal of Science.
Panofsky was born inBerlin, Germany to a family of art historiansDorothea andErwin Panofsky. His ancestors were of Jewish descent. He spent much of his early life inHamburg, where his father was a professor of art history. From the age of 10, he attended theJohanneum, where he received a classical education involving Latin and Ancient Greek, but little science.[3] At the age of 15, he moved with his family to the United States and enteredPrinceton University.[4] He graduated with an A.B. in physics fromPrinceton University, as salutatorian of his class,[3] in 1938 after completing a senior thesis, titled "The construction of a high pressure ionisation chamber", under the supervision ofWalker Bleakney.[5] He then received hisPh.D. in physics from theCalifornia Institute of Technology in 1942 after completing a doctoral dissertation, titled "A measurement of the value of h/e by the determination of the short wavelength limit of the continuous x-ray spectrum at 20 kV", under the supervision ofJesse W. M. DuMond.[6][2] In April 1942 he was naturalized as a U.S. citizen.[7]
During his college days, Panofsky was called "Pief" by fellow students who found his full name unpronounceable. The childhood nickname seemed to suit the ebullient physicist, and it stayed with him throughout his long life.[10] His elder brother, Hans A. Panofsky, was "an atmospheric scientist who taught atPennsylvania State University for 30 years and who was credited with several advances in the study of meteorology".[11]
Panofsky married Adèle Irène DuMond, daughter of his PhD advisor, in 1942.[12] Adèle Panofsky was also known at SLAC for her role in the building of the mountedPaleoparadoxia fossil skeleton display at the SLAC Visitors Center.[13]
Panofsky died at the age of 88 on September 24, 2007, inLos Altos, California, from a heart attack.Panofsky stayed active at SLAC until his last day of life.[20] He was survived by his wife of 65 years, Adele Panofsky, their five children, 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.[12]
^Wolfgang K. H. Panofsky, "Panofsky on Physics, Politics and Peace: Pief Remembers", Contributing Editor Jean Marie Deken, Springer, 2007.ISBN978-0-387-69731-4
^Wagner, Albrecht (2007). "Laudatio".Hamburger Universitätsreden. Neue Folge.24: 19.
^Wagner, Albrecht (2007-04-10),"Laudatio",Hamburger Universitätsreden, Neue Folge, Hamburg University Press, publishing house of the Hamburg State and University Library,ISBN978-3-937816-41-8, retrieved2025-07-14
Michael Schaaf und Hartwig Spitzer:Immediately after the explosion I fell asleep (PDF; 513 kB), Interview mit Wolfgang Panofsky, Arbeitsgruppe Naturwissenschaft und Internationale Sicherheit in der Universität Hamburg, 6. Juli 2006
Michael Schaaf und Hartwig Spitzer:Immediately after the explosion I fell asleep (PDF; 513 kB), Interview mit Wolfgang Panofsky, Arbeitsgruppe Naturwissenschaft und Internationale Sicherheit in der Universität Hamburg, 6. Juli 2006
Wolfgang K. H. Panofsky,Panofsky on Physics, Politics, and Peace: Pief Remembers (New York: Springer, 2007)
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