The Excellence Cluster mourns the death of Klaus Schreckenbach

The Excellence Cluster Universe mourns the death of its founding member Prof. Dr. Klaus Schreckenbach, who unexpectedly died on 13 September.

Klaus Schreckenbach, born in 1943 in Marienwerder (East Prussia), studied and graduated at the TU München (TUM), where he was habilitated in 1985 with the work „High-resolution electron spectroscopy in atomic, nuclear and particle physics" at the chair E18. After research stays at the Institute Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble and the Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA, he returned to the TUM in 1991 as professor for experimental physics and became the Technical Director of the "Atomic Egg", the first research reactor in Garching, shortly after that. His main responsibilities included the safety analysis, installation and commissioning of the cold source and the development of a positron source. As Technical Director of the new Research Neutron Source in Garching (FRM II), he continued this work from 1999 until his retirement in December 2005. After his retirement as Professor in 2009, Klaus Schreckenbach continued to work at the Physics Department of the TUM and was actively involved in teaching.

His particular scientific passion was building the world's most intense positron source NEPOMUC at FRM II for which he was recognized as the spiritual father. Due to his important work in particle physics with neutrons, he had also great interest in the formation of a very strong source for ultra-cold neutrons, which is currently built at the FRM II in the framework of the Excellence Cluster. He provided valuable support for this project. As a result of his scientific work, Klaus Schreckenbach had also an important influence on neutrino physics.

Even after his retirement, Klaus Schreckenbach was very active in science and took over many important tasks in the Excellence Cluster. He supported the Cluster with his wisdom and his selfless advice in many decisions. We are deeply shaken by his sudden death, because he was not only a colleague but a long-time friend for many of us. We will always remember his friendly nature. Our deepest sympathy goes to his family, especially this wife and the two sons.