Zoltán Bay, whose name the Foundation bears
Zoltán Bay, the great Hungarian physicist who lent his name to this Foundation, was born a hundred years ago, at the turn of the 20th century. The electron multiplier, radio astronomy and the definition of the length of the metre based on the velocity of light are all innovations connected to his name, just to mention his most important achievements. Bay was a scientist who put the best results of basic research into practical realisation, and is thus a worthy choice to lend his name to the Foundation.
Zoltán Bay was born in Gyulavári on 24th July 1900. Having completed his secondary school studies in Debrecen, he soon became interested in the technical sciences. His inspirations were great Hungarian scientists such as János Bólyai and Loránd von Eötvös. In 1918, he became a member of the József Eötvös College and studied at the Royal Hungarian Péter Pázmány University. In 1923, he was awarded a secondary school teacher’s diploma, and in 1926 received his doctorate in physics. From 1926 to 1930, he worked on a scholarship in Germany, where he experienced the character-forming atmosphere of a scientific workshop, and where he also achieved significant results in examining discharges in nitrogen gas and demonstrating the presence of atomic nitrogen. On returning home, he was appointed head of the Department of Theoretical Physics at Szeged University. In 1936, he took over the management of the research laboratory of the United Incandescent Lamps and Electrical Co. He became a correspondent member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1937 and an ordinary member in 1945. In 1938, he was appointed professor at the Department of Nuclear Physics at the Technical University of Buda-pest. In 1946, he carried out successful Moon-radar experiments. Leaving Hungary in 1948, he continued his research as a professor at the George Washington University, USA. His most important achievement here was to complete work on development of the electron multiplier, which he had begun in Hungary in 1938.
In 1955, Bay became head of the Department of Nuclear Physics at the National Bureau of Standards, where he measured the frequency and velocity of light by a previously unknown method. As a result of his research, the conference of the International Weights and Measures Bureau held in 1983 accepted as a standard the definition of a metre as recommended by Bay. He retired at the age of 72. In 1981, he was elected an honorary member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He died on 4th October 1992 at his home in Washington.
In 1955, Bay became head of the Department of Nuclear Physics at the National Bureau of Standards, where he measured the frequency and velocity of light by a previously unknown method. As a result of his research, the conference of the International Weights and Measures Bureau held in 1983 accepted as a standard the definition of a metre as recommended by Bay. He retired at the age of 72. In 1981, he was elected an honorary member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He died on 4th October 1992 at his home in Washington.