It is with deep sorrow that we must inform the physics community and the wider public of the passing of distinguished plasma theorist, former director of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and organizer of scientific research, Ing. Karel Jungwirth, DrSc.
Karel Jungwirth graduated from the Faculty of Technical and Nuclear Physics of the Czech Technical University in 1963 and became an important personality of Czech science. He worked at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, where he dealt with high-temperature plasma physics, controlled nuclear fusion, plasma instabilities and power systems of high-current charged particle beams. He also worked on power laser systems and was for many years the director of the Institute of Physics of the CAS.
His greatest contribution was the establishment and management of the Research Centre PALS (Prague Asterix Laser System), which was created thanks to his initiative and efforts to bring the top iodine laser system from the Max Planck Institute to the Czech Republic. This centre, built on the model of Garching, brought Czech research to the global level and enabled the development of laser physics in the Czech Republic.
Karel also contributed significantly to European projects that led to the construction of the large laser laboratory ELI Beamlines and the HiLASE Centre in Dolní Břežany.
He has received numerous awards for his contributions, including the Ernst Mach Medal for his contribution to the field of physics. His credo, “Science cannot be managed, but it has to be,” followed him throughout his career and perfectly described his approach to scientific research.
We will always remember Karel Jungwirth with respect, as an outstanding scientist, colleague and person whose contribution to Czech science will remain a lasting legacy.
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