Georg Stetter was an
AustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n-
GermanGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
nuclear physicist. Stetter was Director of the Second Physics Institute of the
University of ViennaThe University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
. He was a principal member of the German nuclear energy project, also known as the Uranium Club. In the latter years of World War II, he was also the Director of the Institute for Neutron Research. After the war, he was dismissed from his university positions, and he then became involved in dust protection research. After his dismissal was overturned, he became Director of the First Physics Institute of the University of Vienna, and he began research on aerosols. In 1962, Stetter became a full Member of the
Austrian Academy of SciencesThe Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every field, particularly in fundamental research...
. In that same year, the Academy established their Commission for Clean Air, and Stetter served as its chairman until 1985.
Education
In 1914, Stetter studied at the
Technische Hochschule Wien (today, the
Technische Universität WienVienna University of Technology is one of the major universities in Vienna, the capital of Austria. Founded in 1815 as the "Imperial-Royal Polytechnic Institute" , it currently has about 26,200 students , 8 faculties and about 4,000 staff members...
). After one semester, he volunteered for military service. He began his service with the
Radiodetachement des Kampftruppen und Kampfverbände Telegraphenregiments St. Pölten (Radiodetachement of the Combat Troops and Battle Units Telegraph Regiment St. Pölten). Later he was transferred to the leadership of a field radio station. Among other awards for his military service, he received the
Goldenes Militär-Verdienstkreuz (
Golden Military Merit CrossThe Military Merit Cross was the highest bravery award of the Kingdom of Prussia for non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers. It was also known as the Golden Military Merit Cross to distinguish it from the Military Decoration 1st Class The Military Merit Cross (Militär-Verdienstkreuz)...
). His service awakened in him interest in electromagnetic waves and electronics. In 1919, after
World War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Stetter studied physics and mathematics at the
Universität WienThe University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
(University of Venna). He received his doctorate in 1922.
Career
Upon receipt of his doctorate, Stetter became a teaching assistant at the
II. Physikalische Institut der Wiener Universität (Second Physics Institute of the University of Vienna).
The close association of the
II. Physikalische Institut with the
Institut für Radiumforschung (
Institute for Radium ResearchThe Institute for Radium Research was an Austrian research institute associated with the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna. The Institute's researchers won multiple Nobel Prizes...
) of the
Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften (
ÖAW,
Austrian Academy of SciencesThe Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every field, particularly in fundamental research...
) in Vienna brought Stetter in close contact with nuclear physics. Stetter’s pioneering work in the use of electronics to measure the energy of nuclear particles earned him the
Haitingerpreis (Haitinger Prize) of the
ÖAW in 1926. He completed his
HabilitationHabilitation 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...
at the University in 1928. In 1934, he became an
ordentlicher Professor (ordinarius professor) and Director of the
II. Physikalische Institut. In 1935, he became the President of the
Wiener Chemisch-Physikalischen Gesellschaft (Vienna Chemico-Physical Society). In 1937, he became
Vertreter des Gauvereins Österreich im Vorstand der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft (Austrian District Association representative of the Board of the
German Physical SocietyThe Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft is the world's largest organization of physicists. The DPG's worldwide membership is cited as 60,000, as of 2011...
). In 1938, he became a member of the
Deutschen Akademie der Naturforscher (German Academy of Natural Scientists) in Halle. In 1940, he became a Corresponding Member of the
Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften (Austrian Academy of Sciences). He was also the Director of the
Vereins zur Förderung des physikalischen und chemischen Unterrichts (Association for the Promotion of Teaching Physics and Chemistry). Stetter also joined the Nazi Party.
Soon after the discovery of
nuclear fissionIn nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts , often producing free neutrons and photons , and releasing a tremendous amount of energy...
in 1939, the
German nuclear energy projectThe German nuclear energy project, , was an attempted clandestine scientific effort led by Germany to develop and produce the atomic weapons during the events involving the World War II...
, also known as the
Uranverein (Uranium Club), started under the
ReichsforschungsratThe Reichsforschungsrat was created in Germany in 1937 under the Education Ministry for the purpose of centralized planning of all basic and applied research, with the exception of aeronautical research...
(RFR, Reich Research Council) of the
ReichserziehungsministeriumThe Reichserziehungsministerium was officially known as the Reichsministerium für Wissenschaft, Erziehung und Volksbildung .-Background:...
(REM, Reich Ministry of Education). The
Heereswaffenamt (HWA, Army Ordnance Office) soon squeezed out the RFR and started the formal German nuclear energy project under military auspices. Military control of the
Uranverein was initiated on 1 September 1939, the day World War II began, and the first meeting was held on 16 September 1939. The meeting was organized by
Kurt DiebnerKurt Diebner was a German nuclear physicist who is well known for directing and administrating the German nuclear energy project, a secretive program aiming to built weapon of mass destruction for the Nazi Germany during the course of World War II...
, advisor to the HWA, and held in Berlin. The invitees included
Walther BotheWalther Wilhelm Georg Bothe was a German nuclear physicist, who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1954 with Max Born....
,
Siegfried FlüggeSiegfried Flügge was a German theoretical physicist and made contributions to nuclear physics. He worked at the Kaiser-Wilhelm Institut für Chemie and worked in the German Uranverein...
,
Hans Geiger,
Otto HahnOtto Hahn FRS was a German chemist and Nobel laureate, a pioneer in the fields of radioactivity and radiochemistry. He is regarded as "the father of nuclear chemistry". Hahn was a courageous opposer of Jewish persecution by the Nazis and after World War II he became a passionate campaigner...
,
Paul HarteckPaul Karl Maria Harteck was a German physical chemist. He was arrested by the allied British and American Armed Forces and incarcerated at Farm Hall for six months in 1945 under Operation Epsilon.-Education:Harteck studied chemistry at the University of Vienna and the Humboldt University of Berlin...
,
Gerhard HoffmannGerhard Hoffmann was a German nuclear physicist. During World War II, he contributed to the German nuclear energy project, also known as the Uranium Club.-Education:...
,
Josef MattauchJosef Mattauch was a German physicist known for his work in the investigation of the isotopic abundances by mass spectrometry. He developed the Mattauch isobar rule in 1934.-Mattauch-Herzog geometry mass spectrometer:...
, and Georg Stetter. A second meeting was held soon thereafter and included
Klaus ClusiusKlaus Clusius was a German physical chemist from Breslau , Silesia. During World War II, he worked on the German nuclear energy project, also known as the Uranium Club; he worked on isotope separation techniques and heavy water production...
,
Robert DöpelGeorg Robert Döpel was a German experimental nuclear physicist. He was a participant in a group known as the “first Uranverein,” which was spawned by a meeting conducted by the Reichserziehungsministerium, in April 1939, to discuss the potential of a sustained nuclear reaction...
,
Werner HeisenbergWerner Karl Heisenberg was a German theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to quantum mechanics and is best known for asserting the uncertainty principle of quantum theory...
, and
Carl Friedrich von WeizsäckerCarl Friedrich Freiherr von Weizsäcker was a German physicist and philosopher. He was the longest-living member of the research team which performed nuclear research in Germany during the Second World War, under Werner Heisenberg's leadership...
. Also at this time, the
Kaiser-Wilhelm Institut für Physik (KWIP, Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics, after WW II the
Max Planck Institute for PhysicsMax Planck Institute for Physics is a physics institute in Munich, Germany that specializes in High Energy Physics and Astroparticle physics. It is part of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and is also known as the Werner Heisenberg Institute, after its first director.It was founded as the Kaiser Wilhelm...
), in
Berlin-DahlemDahlem is a locality of the Steglitz-Zehlendorf borough in southwestern Berlin. Until Berlin's 2001 administrative reform it was a part of the former borough of Zehlendorf. Dahlem is one of the most affluent parts of the city and home to the main campus of the Free University of Berlin with the...
, was placed under HWA authority, with Diebner as the administrative director, and the military control of the nuclear research commenced.
On 14 June 1939, Stetter submitted a secret patent to the
Deutschen Reichspatentamt (German Reich Patent Office) for the generation of energy through nuclear fission. The patent described a heterogeneous, moderated reactor, which would later be used widely. On 30 June 1958, the patent was re-registered in Austria, and it ran to 14 June 1971, when it was purchased by the
Österreichischen Studiengesellschaft für Atomenergie (Austrian Society for the Study of Atomic Energy).
As a participant in the
Uranverein, Stetter prepared reports with
Karl LintnerKarl Lintner is an Austrian nuclear physicist. During World War II, he worked on the German nuclear energy project, also known as the Uranium Club; he did research on the inelastic dispersion of fast neutrons in uranium. After the war, he taught and did nuclear research at the University of Vienna...
on the inelastic dispersion of fast neutrons. Circa 1942, Stetter led a group of six physicists and physical chemists in measuring atomic constants and neutron cross sections, as well as investigating
transuranic elementsIn chemistry, transuranium elements are the chemical elements with atomic numbers greater than 92...
. In 1943, when he additionally became Director of the
Institut für Neutronenforschung (Institute for Neutron Research), the
II. Physikalische Institut and the
Institut für Neutronenforschung were then under Stetter’s unified directorship. Due to the war, the institutes set up the
Aussenstelle Thumersbach (Thumersbach Branch Office) near
Zell am SeeZell am See is the capital city of the Zell am See district in the Austrian state of Salzburg. The city has about 10,000 inhabitants.Zell am See is a tourist destination and a transportation hub for the region...
,
Salzburg-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
. It was there that Stetter conducted his first research on cosmic radiation.
In 1945, during the occupation of Austria by the Allied powers, Stetter was dismissed from his positions at the University of Vienna, because of his membership in the
Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist Workers Party). From 1946 to 1948, he did not have a steady income; during this time, he worked in
Zell am See for the Salzburg provincial government (
Salzburger Landesregierung) and the American military government (
amerikanische Militärregierung) on dust protection devices (
Staubschutzgeräten). In 1949, he did pioneering work on an optical dust measuring device (
optisches Staubmessgerät) for the German Coal Mining Association (
deutschen Steinkohlenbergbauverein).
Stetter’s dismissal from his university positions was waived by the
Liquidator (Liquidator) in 1948 and by the
Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Administrative Court) in 1950.
After the death of Felix Ehrenhaft in 1952, Stetter was appointed ordinarius professor and Director of the
I. Physikalische Institut der Wiener Universität (First Physics Institute of the University of Vienna), where he started aerosol research. From 1955 to 1957, he was appointed head of the
Österreichischen Staub-(und Silikose) Bekämpfungsstelle (Austrian Dust and Silikosis Prevention Agency). At this agency, he came in contact with the problems of industrial hygiene and air pollution. In 1962, Stetter became a full Member of the
Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften (Austrian Academy of Sciences). In that same year, the Austrian Academy of Sciences established their
Kommission für Reinhaltung der Luft (Commission for Clean Air), and Stetter served as chairman from 1962 to 1985.
Stetter was an honorary member of the
Österreichischen Physikalischen Gesellschaft (Austrian Physical Society) and the
Chemisch Physikalischen Gesellschaft (Chemico-Physical Society). In 1966 he was awarded the
Schrödinger-Preis (Schrödinger Prize) of the
ÖAW. Stetter achieved emeritus status on 30 September 1967. In 1971, he received the
Ehrenmedaille der Stadt Wien (Honorary Medal of the City of Vienna) and in 1986 the
Österreichische Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst I. Klasse (Austrian Honorary Cross for Science and Art, First Class).
Internal Reports
Reports were published in
Kernphysikalische ForschungsberichteKernphysikalische Forschungsberichte was an internal publication of the German Uranverein, which was initiated under the Heereswaffenamt in 1939; in 1942, supervision of the Uranverein was turned over to the Reichsforschungsrat under the Reichserziehungsministerium...
(
Research Reports in Nuclear Physics), an internal publication of the German
UranvereinThe German nuclear energy project, , was an attempted clandestine scientific effort led by Germany to develop and produce the atomic weapons during the events involving the World War II...
. The reports were classified Top Secret, they had very limited distribution, and the authors were not allowed to keep copies. The reports were confiscated under the Allied
Operation AlsosOperation Alsos was an effort at the end of World War II by the Allies , branched off from the Manhattan Project, to investigate the German nuclear energy project, seize German nuclear resources, materials and personnel to further American research and to prevent their capture by the Soviets, and...
and sent to the
United States Atomic Energy CommissionThe United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
for evaluation. In 1971, the reports were declassified and returned to Germany. The reports are available at the Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center and the
American Institute of PhysicsThe American Institute of Physics promotes science, the profession of physics, publishes physics journals, and produces publications for scientific and engineering societies. The AIP is made up of various member societies...
.
- Georg Stetter, Josef Schintlmeister
Josef Schintlmeister was an Austrian-German nuclear physicist and alpinist from Radstadt. During World War II, he worked on the German nuclear energy project, also known as the Uranium Club. After World War II, he was sent Russia to work on the Soviet atomic bomb project. After he returned to...
, Willibald JentschkeWillibald Jentschke was an Austrian-German experimental nuclear physicist. During World War II, he made contributions to the German nuclear energy project. After World War II, he emigrated to the United States to work at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, in Ohio, for the Air Force Materiel Command...
, Richard Herzog, Friedrich Prankl, Leopold Wieninger, Karl Kaindl, Franz Gundlach, Walter Biberschick, and Tullius Vellat Bericht über das II. Physikalische Institut der Wiener Universität G-345 (27 June 1945). [Institutional citations on the report were II. Physikalische Institut der Wiener Universität (Second Physics Institute of the University of Vienna), the Institut für Neutronenforschung (Institute for Neutron Research), and the Aussenstelle Thumersbach (Thumersbach Branch Office) near Zell am SeeZell am See is the capital city of the Zell am See district in the Austrian state of Salzburg. The city has about 10,000 inhabitants.Zell am See is a tourist destination and a transportation hub for the region...
, Salzburg-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
. The Second Physics Institute of the University of Vienna and the Institute for Neutron Research were unified under the directorship of Stetter. As a result of the war, personnel and equipment had been moved to Schwallenbach and Thumersbach.]
Selected literature
- Georg Stetter Die Massenbestimung von H-Partiklen, Zeitschrift für Physik, Volume 34, 158-177 (1925)
- Georg Stetter Die Massenbestimmung von Atomtrümmern aus Aluminium, Kohlenstoff, Bor und Eisen, Zeitschrift für Physik, Volume 42, Issue 9-10, pp. 741–758 (1927). Institutional affiliation: II. physikalisches Institut der Universität, Wien.
- E. A. W. Schmidt and G. Stetter Use of the electrometer tube amplifier for researches on protons [In German] Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Abt. Ila (1929)
- G. Ortner and G. Stetter On the choice of the coupling elements for an amplifier with small time constants [In German], Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Abt. Da (1933)
- G. Ortner and G. Stetter Pure nitrogen for ionization chambers [In German] Anz. Akad. Wiss. Wien (1933)
- G. Ortner and G. Stetter Electronic tube amplifiers for counting particles [In German] Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Abt. Ha (1938)
- G. Stetter Dust inspection by optical measurements [In German], Micro-tecnic (1949)