Hertha Wambacher facts for kids

Hertha Wambacher was an important Austrian physicist. She was born in Vienna, Austria, on March 9, 1903. She passed away in Vienna on April 25, 1950. Hertha Wambacher is well-known for her important research on cosmic rays. She also helped discover "disintegration stars" with her mentor, Marietta Blau.

Early Life and Studies

Hertha Wambacher finished high school in 1922. She attended a special girls' high school in Vienna. After that, she went to the University of Vienna. She first studied chemistry, then changed to physics.

Working with Marietta Blau

Hertha Wambacher completed her Ph.D. in physics in 1932. Her main supervisor was Marietta Blau. Wambacher and Blau continued to work together after Hertha finished her studies. They worked at the Institute for Radium Research in Vienna.

Their research focused on a special way to find tiny particles. They used a photographic method. This method helped them detect particles that carry an electric charge. In 1937, both Blau and Wambacher received the Lieben Prize. This was a big award from the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Discovering Cosmic Rays

Also in 1937, Blau and Wambacher made an exciting discovery. They found "disintegration stars" on photographic plates. These plates had been placed high up, about 2300 meters above sea level. This was to expose them to cosmic radiation.

What are Disintegration Stars?

Cosmic rays are tiny, fast-moving particles from space. When these particles hit the nuclei (centers) of atoms in the photographic plates, they cause a reaction. This reaction creates new particles. The tracks of these new particles look like tiny "stars" on the photographic plates. This discovery was a big step in understanding cosmic rays.

Later Life and Work

Marietta Blau had to leave Austria in 1938. Hertha Wambacher kept working on cosmic rays. She continued to study how cosmic ray particles interact with materials. In 1940, she earned her university teaching certification. This allowed her to teach classes at the University of Vienna.

In 1945, Hertha Wambacher was removed from her teaching job. This was because she had been part of a political party that was no longer allowed. She was held in Russia for a time and returned in 1946. Even though she became ill with cancer, she still worked in a research lab in Vienna.

Hertha Wambacher passed away from cancer on April 25, 1950. Her work helped us understand more about the universe and the tiny particles within it.