Friedrich-Karl Thielemann
Encyclopedia
Friedrich-Karl "Friedel“ Thielemann (b. April 17, 1951 Mülheim an der Ruhr) is a German-Swiss theoretical astrophysicist.
Thielemann studied at the TH Darmstadt, where he in 1976 he acquired his Diplom
. In 1980 he earned his PhD under Wolfgang Hillebrandt (in Garching) and E. R. Hilf in nuclear astrophysics. As a post-doc he was with David Schramm
and David Arnett at the University of Chicago
, William A. Fowler at Caltech, Hans Klapdor at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, am Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik in Garching (with Hillebrandt) and at the University of Illinois (with J. W. Truran). Starting in 1986 he was Assistant Professor and from 1991 Associate Professor at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and at the Harvard Observatory of Harvard University
. In 1994 he became a professor at the University of Basel
. In 1995 he was a guest professor at the University of Turin
and from 1997 to 2001 a guest scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
.
Besides theoretical and computer-simulated astrophysics and nuclear astrophysics (including important nuclear reactions and properties of unstable stellar cores, equations of state of quark-matter and core matter of higher density), he worked on the modeling of astrophysical plasmas for important subatomic processes. He investigated, among other things, supernovae, X-ray bursts, gamma ray bursts, fusion of neutron stars, emergence of heavy elements, and evolution of chemical elements in galaxies.
In 1979 he received the Otto Hahn Medal
. Since 1998 he is a fellow of the American Physical Society
. In 2008 he received the Hans Bethe Prize
"for his many outstanding theoretical contributions to the understanding of nucleosynthesis
, stellar evolution
and stellar explosions." Since 2004 he is a member of the Swiss Research Council.
Thielemann studied at the TH Darmstadt, where he in 1976 he acquired his Diplom
Diplom
A Diplom is an academic degree in the German-speaking countries Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and a similarly named degree in some other European countries including Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Finland , Greece, Hungary, Russia, Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Ukraine...
. In 1980 he earned his PhD under Wolfgang Hillebrandt (in Garching) and E. R. Hilf in nuclear astrophysics. As a post-doc he was with David Schramm
David Schramm
David Norman Schramm was an American astrophysicist and educator, and one of the world's foremost experts on the Big Bang theory.Schramm was a pioneer in the study of Big Bang nucleosynthesis and its use as...
and David Arnett at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, William A. Fowler at Caltech, Hans Klapdor at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, am Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik in Garching (with Hillebrandt) and at the University of Illinois (with J. W. Truran). Starting in 1986 he was Assistant Professor and from 1991 Associate Professor at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and at the Harvard Observatory of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In 1994 he became a professor at the University of Basel
University of Basel
The University of Basel is located in Basel, Switzerland, and is considered to be one of leading universities in the country...
. In 1995 he was a guest professor at the University of Turin
University of Turin
The University of Turin is a university in the city of Turin in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy...
and from 1997 to 2001 a guest scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a multiprogram science and technology national laboratory managed for the United States Department of Energy by UT-Battelle. ORNL is the DOE's largest science and energy laboratory. ORNL is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, near Knoxville...
.
Besides theoretical and computer-simulated astrophysics and nuclear astrophysics (including important nuclear reactions and properties of unstable stellar cores, equations of state of quark-matter and core matter of higher density), he worked on the modeling of astrophysical plasmas for important subatomic processes. He investigated, among other things, supernovae, X-ray bursts, gamma ray bursts, fusion of neutron stars, emergence of heavy elements, and evolution of chemical elements in galaxies.
In 1979 he received the Otto Hahn Medal
Otto Hahn Medal
The Otto Hahn Medal is awarded by the Max Planck Society to young scientists and researchers in both the natural and social sciences. The prestigious award takes its name from the German chemist and Nobel Prize laureate Otto Hahn, who served as the first president of the Max Planck Society from...
. Since 1998 he is a fellow of the American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
. In 2008 he received the Hans Bethe Prize
Hans Bethe Prize
The Hans A. Bethe Prize, is presented annually by the American Physical Society.The prize honors outstanding work in theory, experiment or observation in the areas of astrophysics, nuclear physics, nuclear astrophysics, or closely related fields...
"for his many outstanding theoretical contributions to the understanding of nucleosynthesis
Nucleosynthesis
Nucleosynthesis is the process of creating new atomic nuclei from pre-existing nucleons . It is thought that the primordial nucleons themselves were formed from the quark–gluon plasma from the Big Bang as it cooled below two trillion degrees...
, stellar evolution
Stellar evolution
Stellar evolution is the process by which a star undergoes a sequence of radical changes during its lifetime. Depending on the mass of the star, this lifetime ranges from only a few million years to trillions of years .Stellar evolution is not studied by observing the life of a single...
and stellar explosions." Since 2004 he is a member of the Swiss Research Council.