Eugen Glueckauf facts for kids

Eugen Glueckauf (born Eugen Glückauf) was a smart scientist. He was born in Germany in 1906 and later became a British citizen. He was known for his amazing work in nuclear power and chemistry.

Life and Early Studies

Eugen Glückauf was born on April 9, 1906, in Eisenach, Germany. His father, Bruno Glückauf, was a clothier, and his mother was Elsa Pretzfelder.

Eugen was very good at math when he was in school. He started university at the University of Berlin. Later, he moved to the Technische Hochschule at Charlottenburg. He finished his studies there in 1930 and earned his doctorate degree (Dr Ing) two years later.

Moving to England

Life in Germany became difficult, so Eugen Glückauf moved to England. At first, things were not easy for him there. But then, a professor named Herbert Freundlich helped him. This led him to Friedrich Paneth, another professor, who needed an assistant.

Eugen's first big project was to find out how much helium was in the air. This was tricky because helium and neon are very similar. He solved it using a special method called a "twelve-stage adsorption—desorption cascade." This is a complex way to separate gases.

Working with Professor Paneth

In 1938, Professor Paneth moved to Durham to teach chemistry. Eugen joined him there. However, in 1940, Eugen was held for four months on the Isle of Man. Professor Paneth helped him get released. He also got Eugen a grant to study the amount of ozone in the atmosphere.

Work on Atomic Energy

In 1944, Eugen Glueckauf was asked to join a secret project. It was called "Tube Alloys" and was about atomic energy. His job involved using special methods like ion-exchange and gas chromatography. These methods help to separate different types of atoms, called isotopes.

The next year, he earned a Master of Science (MSc) degree from the University of London.

Later Achievements

Eugen Glueckauf wrote more than 100 scientific papers. In 1961, he published a very important book called Atomic Energy Waste. This book became a key guide for many scientists. He also worked on other areas like radiochemistry and how chemicals dissolve in water.

Because of his important contributions, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1969. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.

His Family Life

Eugen Glückauf married Irma Elise Auguste Trepper in 1934. She was also from Germany. Eugen once sent his wife a telegram asking if she could learn English shorthand in three days. She did it! After that, she worked part-time as Professor Paneth's secretary until their daughter, Barbara, was born in 1938.

Eugen officially became a British citizen in Durham on May 14, 1946. His wife Irma became a citizen a few days later. Eugen Glueckauf passed away on September 12, 1981. Irma died on September 3, 1989. Both died in the village of Chilton.