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Peter Grünberg

German physicist, and Nobel Prize in Physics laureate (1939-2018) · Germany · Scientists · Died at 78

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He found a way to make magnetic fields whisper their secrets to electrical currents - a discovery that let hard drives shrink from room-sized cabinets to shirt pockets.

ScientistsScientistPhysicsGermanyEurope20th Century

A life in dates

2018Died7 April 20182016Friendship AwardAward2011Honorary MemberAward2008Honorary CitizenshipAwardHonorary Doctor of the Saarland UniversityAwardOrder of Merit of North Rhine-WestphaliaAwardThe seal of the city of PilsenAward2007Japan PrizeAwardStern-Gerlach MedalAward2006European Inventor AwardAwardWolf Prize in PhysicsAward2003Ritter-von-Gerstner MedalAward1998German Future PrizeAward1994IUPAP Magnetism Award and Néel MedalAwardJames C. McGroddy Prize for New MaterialsAward1939Born18 May 1939

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Peter Gruenberg 01Peter Gruenberg 01DSC 0204 PM11 PG JFDSC 0204 PM11 PG JFGMR Sensor Nachbau 01GMR Sensor Nachbau 01Grünberg, Peter (1939)Grünberg, Peter (1939)Peter Gruenberg 02Peter Gruenberg 02Peter Gruenberg 03Peter Gruenberg 03Peter Gruenberg 04Peter Gruenberg 04Peter Grünberg playing guitarPeter Grünberg playing guitar

Awards

Friendship Award2016
Honorary Member2011
Hall of Fame of German Research2009
Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia2008
Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany2008
Honorary Citizenship2008
The seal of the city of Pilsen2008
Honorary Doctor of the Saarland University2008
Nobel Prize in Physics2007
Stern-Gerlach Medal2007
Japan Prize2007
Wolf Prize in Physics2006
European Inventor Award2006
Clarivate Citation Laureates2006
Ritter-von-Gerstner Medal2003
German Future Prize1998
EPS Europhysics Prize1997
James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials1994
IUPAP Magnetism Award and Néel Medal1994
Honorary Doctor of the RWTH Aachen University

In their orbit

Father: Theodor Grünberg

About this person

Peter Andreas Grünberg was born 18 May 1939 in Germany and trained as a physicist. Working alongside Albert Fert, he discovered giant magnetoresistance - a quantum effect where tiny changes in magnetic alignment produce dramatic shifts in electrical resistance. The finding unlocked a revolution in data storage, enabling the gigabyte hard disk drives that would power the digital age. The work earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics. Grünberg died 7 April 2018.

Country
Germany
Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1939 to 2018 · aged 78

In common with Peter

Werner HeisenbergBoth received Hall of Fame of German ResearchAlbert FertBoth received IUPAP Magnetism Award and Néel MedalLeo EsakiBoth received James C. McGroddy Prize for New MaterialsKonstantin NovoselovBoth received EPS Europhysics PrizeYoichiro NambuBoth received Wolf Prize in PhysicsMichel MayorBoth received Wolf Prize in Physics

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