Paul, Wolfgang (1913-1993), a German physicist, was known for his work on molecular beam physics, mass spectrometry, and high energy electron physics. He developed the “Paul trap,” a mass spectrometer that traps free electrons and ions, using electric and magnetic fields. Mass spectrometers separate ionized (electrically charged) atoms or molecules according to their mass and electric charge. Paul developed the ion trap technique at the same time as American Hans Dehmelt. For this work, the two scientists shared half of the 1989 Nobel Prize for physics. The other half was won by Norman F. Ramsey for work in a different field.
Paul was born in Lorenzkirch, a small village in Saxony, Germany. He grew up in Munich, where his father was a professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at the university. Paul began studying physics in 1932 at the Technical University of Munich, and two years later at the Technical University of Berlin where he received his Ph.D. in 1939. For his Ph.D., Paul studied properties of the atomic nucleus. He was exempted from military service during World War II (1939-1945). He was a professor at the University of Gottingen in the early 1940’s, where he continued his work on mass spectrometry.
In 1952, Paul was appointed Director of the Physics Institute at Bonn University, where he concentrated on mass spectrometry, molecular beam physics, and high energy electron physics. Under his direction, more advanced particle accelerators were built.
Paul’s work in accelerator physics led to his appointment as director of the nuclear physics division of CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) between 1964 and 1967. CERN, the world’s largest research center for the study of subatomic particles, is located near Geneva, Switzerland. Paul held many senior posts in German scientific research and was an adviser to government bodies.
