Jean-Pierre Blaser †
Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Blaser, emeritus ETH professor of Experimental Physics and first director of the Paul Scherrer Institute, passed away on 29 August 2019, at the age of 96.
We extend our sincere condolences to his family and to all who have met him during his time at ETH Zurich and appreciated working with him.
Obituary Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Blaser
Jean-Pierre Blaser studied physics at ETH Zurich and was awarded his doctorate in 1952, having worked under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Paul Scherrer, the later namesake of the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI. In 1959, Jean-Pierre Blaser left the University of Neuchâtel, where he was Director of the Observatory and Professor of Astrophysics, and joined ETH Zurich as a Professor of Experimental Physics.
Jean-Pierre Blaser's mission was to build a national cyclotron in Switzerland, complementary to CERN, which had just been founded in Geneva. With the approval of the Federal Councils, his vision was implemented and in 1968 the Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research SIN was founded. Until 1987, Jean-Pierre Blaser was its director and led the development and construction of the accelerator systems, with the ring cyclotron as the centrepiece. Among other things, his quick wit and willingness to critically examine statements enabled him to realize a proton accelerator with very high intensity within budget and on time.
In 1986 Jean-Pierre Blaser led the project for the merger of SIN with the neighbouring Federal Institute for Reactor Research (Eidgenössisches Institut für Reaktorforschung EIR) to the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI. In 1988 he became the first director of PSI and was heading the institute until his retirement in 1990. His love for astrophysics never ceased, and after his resignation he served as an expert for space missions. Furthermore, Jean-Pierre Blaser also promoted the use of charged particle beams for tumour treatment right from the start. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Universities of Lausanne, Friborg and Geneva for his work. He also received awards from the Swiss Cancer League and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer.
Jean-Pierre Blaser was a gifted university teacher and has taught many generations of electrical engineers in physics. His lectures were always vivid and full of experiments in the lecture hall. Exercises were not abstract, but related to everyday engineering problems.
The members of ETH Zurich, his former students as well as his colleagues will honour his memory.