# Wolfgang Paul

> German physicist (1913–1993)

**Wikidata**: [Q57227](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57227)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Paul)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/wolfgang-paul

## Summary
Wolfgang Paul (1913–1993) was a German physicist and university teacher renowned for his development of the quadrupole ion trap. He was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics and played a significant role in the scientific community as a member of the Göttingen Eighteen, who authored the 1957 Göttingen Manifesto. His academic career was affiliated with major German institutions, including the University of Bonn and the Technical University of Munich.

## Biography
- **Born:** August 10, 1913
- **Died:** December 7, 1993
- **Nationality:** German
- **Education:** University of Göttingen, Technical University of Munich
- **Known for:** Development of the quadrupole ion trap; physics research
- **Employer(s):** University of Bonn, University of Göttingen, Technische Universität Berlin, Technical University of Munich
- **Field(s):** Physics (study of matter and its motion, along with related concepts such as energy and force)

## Contributions
Wolfgang Paul's most significant technical contribution is the development of the **quadrupole ion trap**, a device used to trap and analyze charged particles. This invention is cited as his notable work and was a primary factor in his recognition as a leading physicist. Beyond his experimental work, Paul contributed to the scientific discourse on nuclear policy as a member of the **Göttingen Eighteen**, the group of eighteen German nuclear researchers who authored the **1957 Göttingen Manifesto**. Throughout his career, he engaged in the broader field of physics, contributing to the academic discipline as a university teacher and researcher across multiple prestigious institutions.

## FAQs
### What is Wolfgang Paul best known for inventing?
Wolfgang Paul is best known for inventing the quadrupole ion trap, a type of ion trap used to confine charged particles using dynamic electric fields.

### Which universities was Wolfgang Paul affiliated with?
Paul was affiliated with several major German institutions, including the University of Bonn, the University of Göttingen, the Technische Universität Berlin, and the Technical University of Munich.

### What awards did Wolfgang Paul receive?
He received numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Physics, the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts, the Robert Wichard Pohl Prize, and the Dirac Medal for the Advancement of Physics.

### Who were the Göttingen Eighteen?
The Göttingen Eighteen were a group of eighteen German nuclear researchers, including Wolfgang Paul, who authored the 1957 Göttingen Manifesto regarding nuclear policy.

### Was Wolfgang Paul a member of any scientific academies?
Yes, he was a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the North Rhine-Westphalia Academy for Sciences and Arts, the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

## Why They Matter
Wolfgang Paul's work in physics, specifically the invention of the quadrupole ion trap, provided a fundamental tool for mass spectrometry and the study of atomic particles, influencing both experimental physics and chemistry. His involvement in the Göttingen Manifesto placed him at the center of ethical debates regarding nuclear weapons in post-war Germany, demonstrating the influence of scientists on public policy. As a member of numerous national and international academies, such as the Leopoldina and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, his career helped bridge the German scientific community with the global scientific establishment during the 20th century.

## Notable For
- **Nobel Prize in Physics:** Awarded for the development of the ion trap technique.
- **Quadrupole Ion Trap:** Invention of the device used to trap ions.
- **Göttingen Manifesto:** Co-authorship as a member of the Göttingen Eighteen in 1957.
- **Academic Memberships:** Member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, North Rhine-Westphalia Academy for Sciences and Arts, Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
- **Honorary Degrees:** Honorary doctor of the University of Uppsala and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
- **Other Awards:** Recipient of the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts, the Robert Wichard Pohl Prize, and the Dirac Medal for the Advancement of Physics.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Wolfgang Paul was born on August 10, 1913, and passed away on December 7, 1993. He pursued his education in physics at prominent German institutions, including the University of Göttingen and the Technical University of Munich. His field of work was defined broadly as physics, the study of matter and its motion, along with related concepts such as energy and force.

### Academic Career and Affiliations
Paul served as a university teacher and physicist at several key research universities. His professional affiliations included:
- **University of Bonn:** A public research university located in Bonn, Germany, established in 1818.
- **University of Göttingen:** A university in the city of Göttingen, Germany, established in 1734.
- **Technische Universität Berlin:** A public research university in Berlin, Germany, with inception dates noted as 1879 and 1946.
- **Technical University of Munich:** A public research university in Germany established in 1868.

### Research and Inventions
Paul's most recognized contribution to science is the **quadrupole ion trap**. This device is categorized as a type of ion trap and represents his notable work. The invention is central to his legacy in the field of experimental physics, particularly in the manipulation and study of charged particles.

### Political and Social Stance
Wolfgang Paul was politically engaged within the scientific community regarding nuclear issues. He was a member of the **Göttingen Eighteen**, a group consisting of eighteen German nuclear researchers. This group is notably responsible for authoring the **1957 Göttingen Manifesto**, a significant document concerning the position of German scientists on nuclear armament.

### Memberships and Academies
Throughout his career, Paul was elected to membership in various prestigious academies, reflecting his standing in the scientific community:
- **German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina:** The national academy of Germany, founded in 1652.
- **North Rhine-Westphalia Academy for Sciences and Arts:** An academy of sciences founded in 1970 (and noted again in 1993).
- **Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities:** An academy of sciences founded on May 22, 1909.
- **American Academy of Arts and Sciences:** A United States honorary society and policy research center founded in 1780.
- **Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony:** An academy of sciences in Göttingen, Germany, founded in 1751.

### Awards and Honors
Paul received extensive recognition for his contributions to physics and society:
- **Nobel Prize in Physics:** A yearly physics award given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (inception 1901).
- **Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts:** A civil class of the order founded on May 31, 1842.
- **Robert Wichard Pohl Prize:** An award of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.
- **Dirac Medal for the Advancement of Physics:** An Australian award for contribution to the study of physics, founded in 1979.
- **Honorary Doctorates:** He was named an honorary doctor of the University of Uppsala and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

### Legacy and Media
Paul's legacy is preserved through various physical and digital records. Media associated with him includes an audio file ("De-Wolfgang Paul.ogg"), images of his grave ("Grave of Wolfgang Paul 2.jpg"), and photographs of the Wolfgang Paul lecture hall at the University of Bonn ("Wolfgang Paul Hörsaal (Bonn) jm02212.jpg"). His official Nobel Prize biography is hosted at `https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1989/paul/facts/`. Numerous authority control identifiers, such as the GND (116061367) and ISNI (000000014012556), catalog his contributions to the scientific record.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Catalog of the German National Library
3. Library of Congress Authorities
4. [Source](http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1989/)
5. [Source](https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/about/amounts/)
6. [Source](http://www.science.unsw.edu.au/alumni/dirac-lecture-series)
7. Mathematics Genealogy Project
8. [Leopoldina: Detail](https://www.leopoldina.org/mitglieder/mitgliederverzeichnis/detail/wolfgang-paul/)
9. [Wolfgang Paul | American Academy of Arts and Sciences](https://www.amacad.org/person/wolfgang-paul)
10. [Wolfgang Paul](https://adw-goe.de/la/members/personendetails/person/wolfgang-paul/)
11. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
12. Croatian Encyclopedia
13. Munzinger Personen
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. Virtual International Authority File