Walter Dieminger
Encyclopedia
Walter Dieminger, was a German
space scientist
and director of Germany's Max Planck Institute for Aeronomy from 1955 to 1975. Dieminger's research was focused on the ionosphere
.
, he worked at the Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt (German Experimental Institute for Aviation). With his focus on research of the ionosphere and electromagnetic waves at his new institute, called the Zentralstelle für Funkberatung (Central Counseling Office for Radio Communication), he was able to make predictions on shortwave
communication for the military and the police. The institute at Leobersdorf
continued to monitor the ionosphere until the end of World War II
.
A group of British physicists supervised the dissolution of the institute. The ionospheric physicist William Roy Piggott
opposed the dissolution and managed to transfer most of its scientists and equipment to Lindau am Harz
in the British sector of Germany. This research institute became, after several name changes, the Max Planck Institute for Ionospheric Research in 1948.
Dieminger became the director of the institute in 1951, which was renamed the Max Planck Institute for Aeronomy in 1958. He continued his research of the upper atmosphere and was able to participate in several international collaborations. For example, he established a station for ionospheric observations in Tsumeb
, Namibia
and cooperated with the Finnish EISCAT
facility in Sodankylä
. Dieminger was one of the most active scientists in the International Union of Radio Science
(URSI): Vice-President 1963-69, President 1969-72. He retired in 1975 but continued with his research. He died in 2000 in Northeim
.
, International Academy of Astronautics
and the Finnish Academy of Sciences. He was made an honorary citizen of Katlenbug-Lindau in 1975 and received the Federal Cross of Merit in 1975.
Germany
Germany , 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...
space scientist
Space science
The term space science may mean:* The study of issues specifically related to space travel and space exploration, including space medicine.* Science performed in outer space ....
and director of Germany's Max Planck Institute for Aeronomy from 1955 to 1975. Dieminger's research was focused on the ionosphere
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
.
Life and work
Dieminger studied physics between 1926 and 1935 at the University of Technology Munich. After receiving his Ph.D. for work on electromagnetic waves and the ionosphere with Jonathan ZenneckJonathan Zenneck
Jonathan Adolf Wilhelm Zenneck was a physicist and electrical engineer. Zenneck was born in Ruppertshofen, Württemberg. Zenneck contributed to researches in radio circuit performance and to the scientific and educational contributions to the literature of the pioneer radio art...
, he worked at the Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt (German Experimental Institute for Aviation). With his focus on research of the ionosphere and electromagnetic waves at his new institute, called the Zentralstelle für Funkberatung (Central Counseling Office for Radio Communication), he was able to make predictions on shortwave
Shortwave
Shortwave radio refers to the upper MF and all of the HF portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. Shortwave radio received its name because the wavelengths in this band are shorter than 200 m which marked the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first used...
communication for the military and the police. The institute at Leobersdorf
Leobersdorf
Leobersdorf is a town in the Baden district of Lower Austria, Austria.-Early settlements:First indices of settlement in the area date back to 3000 BC....
continued to monitor the ionosphere until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
A group of British physicists supervised the dissolution of the institute. The ionospheric physicist William Roy Piggott
William Roy Piggott
William Roy Piggott was a student of Sir Edward Appleton who transferred a large group of German specialists from Austria into the British Zone of Occupation in Germany in 1945...
opposed the dissolution and managed to transfer most of its scientists and equipment to Lindau am Harz
Lindau (Katlenburg-Lindau)
Lindau variously referred to as Lindau am Harz, Lindau and K-L-Lindau is a village in the southern Niedersachsen section of the Eichsfeld, Germany. Lindau belongs to the Gemeinde of Katlenburg-Lindau and to the Landkreis of Northeim...
in the British sector of Germany. This research institute became, after several name changes, the Max Planck Institute for Ionospheric Research in 1948.
Dieminger became the director of the institute in 1951, which was renamed the Max Planck Institute for Aeronomy in 1958. He continued his research of the upper atmosphere and was able to participate in several international collaborations. For example, he established a station for ionospheric observations in Tsumeb
Tsumeb
Tsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
and cooperated with the Finnish EISCAT
EISCAT
EISCAT is an acronym for the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association. It operates three incoherent scatter radar systems, at 224 MHz, 931 MHz in Northern Scandinavia and one at 500 MHz on Svalbard, used to study the interaction between the Sun and the Earth as revealed by disturbances in...
facility in Sodankylä
Sodankylä
-Twin towns: Kola, Russia, since 1968 Berlevåg, Norway, since 1971 Norsjö, Sweden, since 1977 Heiligenblut, Austria, since 1979-External links:* – Official website* * * * * *...
. Dieminger was one of the most active scientists in the International Union of Radio Science
International Union of Radio Science
The International Union of Radio Science is one of 26 international scientific unions affiliated to the International Council for Science.- History and objectives :...
(URSI): Vice-President 1963-69, President 1969-72. He retired in 1975 but continued with his research. He died in 2000 in Northeim
Northeim
Northeim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, seat of the district of Northeim, with, as of 2002, a population of 31 000. It's located on the German Half-Timbered House Road.-History:...
.
Honors
Dieminger was a member of several academic societies including the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Austrian Academy of SciencesAustrian Academy of Sciences
The 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...
, International Academy of Astronautics
International Academy of Astronautics
The International Academy of Astronautics is an international community of experts committed to expanding the frontiers of space. It is a non-governmental organisation established in Stockholm on August 16, 1960....
and the Finnish Academy of Sciences. He was made an honorary citizen of Katlenbug-Lindau in 1975 and received the Federal Cross of Merit in 1975.