Professor Dr Helmut Rauch (✝︎)

Major research interests: Neutron optics, quantum physics, neutron interferometry and reactor physics
Helmut Rauch is known for research in the field of neutron physics, especially in the field of neutron optics. Most well-known is the development of the perfect crystal neutron interferometer done in cooperation with Professor Ulrich Bonse from the University of Dortmund and Professor Wolfgang Treimer from the Hahn-Meitner Institute in Berlin. This new method has been used for the realization of many fundamental experiments of quantum mechanics and created the basis for advanced neutron quantum optics methods.
Several other papers deal with basic questions of quantum mechanics like topological phases, decoherence, contextuality and the transition from a quantum behaviour to classical systems. He was 32 years director of the Atomic Institute of the Austrian Universities and responsible for the operation of the TRIGA reactor and in this connection involved in the discussion about nuclear energy.