- Email: [email protected]
Klaus Debertin
ARTICLE IN PRESS
Applied Radiation and Isotopes 66 (2008) 683–684 www.elsevier.com/locate/apradiso
Obituary
Klaus Debertin
Professor Dr. Klaus Debertin, head of the Radioactivity Department of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt from 1985 until 1996, died on Tuesday, 31 July 2007, at the age of 74 years. Klaus Debertin was born on 22 June 1933 in Darmstadt, Germany, and grew up in Frankfurt. After his school education, he studied physics at the Johann-WolfgangGoethe-University in Frankfurt. He received his diploma in physics in 1960 and his Ph.D. (Dr. phil. nat.) in nuclear physics in 1965 from the university of Frankfurt. After his graduation, he worked for some years in nuclear physics at the universities of Frankfurt and Freiburg. On 1 September 1968, Klaus Debertin joined the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Braunschweig, where he started his scientific career with experimental studies on burn-up of nuclear fuel elements at PTB’s nuclear research reactor, which became operational a short time before. The instrumental methods in gamma-ray spectrometry, which were used for these investigations, were further developed to perfection by Klaus in the following years. The main field of application of gammaray spectrometry at that time was research on the decay properties of radioactive isotopes. In 1972, PTB established a new laboratory within the Radioactivity Department, which was especially dedicated to this new working field. 0969-8043/$ - see front matter doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2008.02.003
Klaus Debertin was the first chief of this laboratory. In 1980, Klaus Debertin changed to the fundamentals of radionuclide metrology, when he became head of the laboratory Radioactivity Standards at the PTB. Eventually, in 1985, he was appointed as head of the Radioactivity Department, which was responsible for absolute and relative activity measurements, radiation spectrometry and environmental radioactivity at that time. This position he held until his retirement in September 1996. Klaus Debertin was a worldwide recognized expert in radionuclide metrology. A large number of publications demonstrate his scientific excellence. His expertise and experience were sought after in important committees, both national and international. As an example, he was appointed to member of Section II of the Consultative Committee for Standards of Ionizing Radiation (CCEMRI). He was a member of several technical committees of the national German Institute for Standardization (DIN) and of IEC and ISO. Klaus Debertin was particularly engaged in the International Committee for Radionuclide Metrology (ICRM). He was its vice president from 1988 to 1990. The International ICRM symposium on Nuclear Decay Data: Spectrometric Methods, Measurements and Evaluations has been organized by Klaus Debertin and his co-workers
ARTICLE IN PRESS 684
Obituary / Applied Radiation and Isotopes 66 (2008) 683–684
at the PTB in Braunschweig, Germany. It was held from 5 to 9 June 1989. Most of us hold a copy of the textbook ‘‘Gamma- and X-ray Spectrometry with Semiconductor Detectors’’, that has been written by Klaus Debertin and his colleague and friend Richard G. Helmer. It became a definitive book on photon spectrometry and still is compulsory reading for students and scientists working in this field.
Klaus Deberin was a colleague and supervisor who was highly respected by all of us. We will hold his memory in the highest esteem. Herbert Janssen Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Braunschweig, Germany E-mail address: [email protected]
Applied Radiation and Isotopes 66 (2008) 683–684 www.elsevier.com/locate/apradiso
Obituary
Klaus Debertin
Professor Dr. Klaus Debertin, head of the Radioactivity Department of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt from 1985 until 1996, died on Tuesday, 31 July 2007, at the age of 74 years. Klaus Debertin was born on 22 June 1933 in Darmstadt, Germany, and grew up in Frankfurt. After his school education, he studied physics at the Johann-WolfgangGoethe-University in Frankfurt. He received his diploma in physics in 1960 and his Ph.D. (Dr. phil. nat.) in nuclear physics in 1965 from the university of Frankfurt. After his graduation, he worked for some years in nuclear physics at the universities of Frankfurt and Freiburg. On 1 September 1968, Klaus Debertin joined the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Braunschweig, where he started his scientific career with experimental studies on burn-up of nuclear fuel elements at PTB’s nuclear research reactor, which became operational a short time before. The instrumental methods in gamma-ray spectrometry, which were used for these investigations, were further developed to perfection by Klaus in the following years. The main field of application of gammaray spectrometry at that time was research on the decay properties of radioactive isotopes. In 1972, PTB established a new laboratory within the Radioactivity Department, which was especially dedicated to this new working field. 0969-8043/$ - see front matter doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2008.02.003
Klaus Debertin was the first chief of this laboratory. In 1980, Klaus Debertin changed to the fundamentals of radionuclide metrology, when he became head of the laboratory Radioactivity Standards at the PTB. Eventually, in 1985, he was appointed as head of the Radioactivity Department, which was responsible for absolute and relative activity measurements, radiation spectrometry and environmental radioactivity at that time. This position he held until his retirement in September 1996. Klaus Debertin was a worldwide recognized expert in radionuclide metrology. A large number of publications demonstrate his scientific excellence. His expertise and experience were sought after in important committees, both national and international. As an example, he was appointed to member of Section II of the Consultative Committee for Standards of Ionizing Radiation (CCEMRI). He was a member of several technical committees of the national German Institute for Standardization (DIN) and of IEC and ISO. Klaus Debertin was particularly engaged in the International Committee for Radionuclide Metrology (ICRM). He was its vice president from 1988 to 1990. The International ICRM symposium on Nuclear Decay Data: Spectrometric Methods, Measurements and Evaluations has been organized by Klaus Debertin and his co-workers
ARTICLE IN PRESS 684
Obituary / Applied Radiation and Isotopes 66 (2008) 683–684
at the PTB in Braunschweig, Germany. It was held from 5 to 9 June 1989. Most of us hold a copy of the textbook ‘‘Gamma- and X-ray Spectrometry with Semiconductor Detectors’’, that has been written by Klaus Debertin and his colleague and friend Richard G. Helmer. It became a definitive book on photon spectrometry and still is compulsory reading for students and scientists working in this field.
Klaus Deberin was a colleague and supervisor who was highly respected by all of us. We will hold his memory in the highest esteem. Herbert Janssen Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Braunschweig, Germany E-mail address: [email protected]