Johannes Picht

Johannes Picht (born January 25, 1897 in Rathenow ; † June 23, 1973 ) was a German physicist.

Life

Growing up in Rathenow, Johannes Picht graduated from high school in Berlin-Karlshorst in 1919 . He then studied mathematics and physics at the University of Berlin, where he received his doctorate in 1925 under Max von Laue . He then worked as a research assistant at the Potsdam Observatory, the Einstein Institute Potsdam and the Askania Works.

In 1932 he completed his habilitation at the Technical University of Berlin, where he then taught as a professor for physical and technical optics. From 1949 to 1962 he was a professor for theoretical physics at the Pädagogische Hochschule Potsdam and was director of the institute for theoretical physics.

Picht's research and teaching focuses on optics, electron optics and atomic physics. In these areas he presented a total of over 100 publications, including standard works such as the “Introduction to the Theory of Electron Optics” (1939) and the two-volume “Lectures on Atomic Physics”.

In the 1950s Johannes Picht came into conflict with the GDR authorities. He threatened to strike several times in order to force vacancies to be filled and refused any political activity. In this context, he was also observed by the Ministry of State Security .

Awards

• State Prize of the University of Berlin (1924)

Fonts (selection)

• Introduction to the theory of electron optics , Leipzig 1939.
• The electron microscope. A generally understandable presentation of its physical and technical principles and its application in physics, technology, medicine and biology , Leipzig 1955
• Lectures on atomic physics , 2 volumes, Berlin 1956/57.
• Introduction to electron microscopy , Berlin 1966 (with Johannes Heydenreich).

swell

• Obituary in: Physical sheets. Vol. 30, No. 3, 1974, p. 125, available online at [1]
• Information No. 257/56 - Re: threat of strike by Professor Picht, Pädagogische Hochschule Potsdam, Institute for Theoretical Physics, in: Henrik Bispinck (edit): The GDR in view of the Stasi 1956. The secret reports to the SED leadership, Göttingen 2016, available online at [2]