Universe Cluster mourns death of Paul Kienle

Our highly esteemed colleague and cluster emeritus, Professor Paul Kienle died on 29 January after a serious illness. Paul Kienle was an extremely dedicated physicist who conducted research until shortly before his death and demonstrated tremendous commitment to the the Excellence Cluster 'Universe'. His broad research interests included analysis of the fundamental properties of atoms and atomic nuclei, as well as their usage in solids and materials, research on the strong force between quarks and the investigation of the violation of fundamental symmetries in nature. He also worked as Scientific Director at the “Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung” (Society of Heavy Ion Research) - (GSI) on the design and expansion of the accelerator and experimental facilities which enable unique experiments to be carried out in the field of heavy ion research.

Paul Kienle has had links with TU München since his student days and has always been a strong advocate of physics in Munich. He obtained his doctorate and post-doctoral lecturing qualification as a student under Heinz Maier-Leibnitz. After receiving his doctorate in 1957, he became one of the first German scientists to undergo training in radiation protection at research reactors and accelerators at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in the United States. Following a subsequent professorship at the Chair of Nuclear Science at the TU Darmstadt, he returned to the TUM in 1965 to take up the E12 Chair (Hadron and Nuclear Physics). Together with Professor Mayer-Berkhout of the LMU, he set up the LMU and TU München accelerator laboratory (Maier-Leibnitz laboratory, MLL) over the following years. Paul Kienle was also active as Director of the Munich Research Reactor for several years.

On leave from the TU München, Paul Kienle took over the scientific directorship of the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI) in Darmstadt from 1984 to 1992. Upon returning to the TUM, he gave his students the opportunity to use the GSI’s experimental facilities which are the only ones of their kind in the world.

After his retirement in 1998, Paul Kienle not only produced countless scientific publications, he also undertook research visits, including to the University of Tokyo, during which he carried out studies into deeply bound pionic and kaonic states. He also took over the management of the Institut für Mittelenergiephysik (Institute of Intermediary Energy Physics) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna (Stephan Meyer Institute) for several years.

Paul Kienle supported the research carried out by the Universe cluster since its foundation in 2006 as a professor emeritus. He participated in various selection committees, demonstrating great enthusiasm and commitment, drew up project applications, e.g. the cluster renewal proposal and new junior research groups, and devotedly took part in the Universe cluster’s guest program.

Paul Kienle’s death came as a shock to many people and he will be greatly missed.