Heinrich Rohrer

Heinrich Rohrer – Life, Achievements, and Memorable Quotes

Heinrich Rohrer (1933–2013), Swiss physicist and Nobel laureate, co-invented the scanning tunneling microscope—a breakthrough in nanotechnology. Delve into his biography, scientific legacy, and inspiring reflections.

Introduction

Heinrich Rohrer stands as one of the luminaries of 20th-century physics. His work with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM), in collaboration with Gerd Binnig, opened up the atomic world to direct imaging and manipulation—a foundation of modern nanoscience. Beyond that, Rohrer’s vision of interdisciplinarity, humility, and scientific freedom offers enduring lessons. This article traces his life, his scientific path, and some of his most memorable sayings.

Early Life and Family

Heinrich Rohrer was born on June 6, 1933, in Buchs, canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Zürich, transitioning from a more agrarian life to urban surroundings.

In school, his interests spanned classical languages and the natural sciences.

Rohrer married Rose-Marie Egger in 1961; their relationship was a steadying presence in his life.

Heinrich Rohrer passed away on May 16, 2013, at his home in Wollerau, Switzerland, aged 79.

Education and Formative Years in Physics

In autumn 1951, Rohrer enrolled at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), where his physics education was shaped by prominent figures such as Wolfgang Pauli and Paul Scherrer.

For his PhD (mid-1950s), Rohrer worked under Peter Grassmann, studying how superconductors change length when transitioning to superconductivity under applied magnetic fields—a problem highly sensitive to mechanical vibrations and precision.

During his graduate years, he also performed his research late at night when the town was quiet, minimizing vibrational interference—a reflection of both dedication and experimental subtlety.

Scientific Career & Breakthroughs

Joining IBM Research & Early Work

In 1963, Rohrer joined IBM Research Laboratory in Rüschlikon, Switzerland, under director Ambros Speiser.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the collaboration between Rohrer and Gerd Binnig (who joined IBM later) led to the development of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM).

The first demonstration and subsequent refinements of the STM revolutionized surface science, nanotechnology, and condensed matter physics.

Nobel Prize and Later Career

In 1986, Rohrer and Binnig were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics (half share) for the design of the scanning tunneling microscope. The other half that year went to Ernst Ruska.

That same year, Rohrer was also elevated to IBM Fellow, and he led the physics department of the IBM research lab from 1986 to 1988.

Over time, his recognition expanded: he was elected to prestigious societies, received honorary positions, and contributed to both national and international scientific communities.

His name continues to be honored: the Heinrich Rohrer Medal is awarded triennially by Japan’s Surface Science Society together with IBM Zurich and the Swiss Embassy, to recognize distinguished achievements in surface science and nanotechnology.

A Nanotechnology Center named for Binnig & Rohrer was also established as a joint ETH Zurich / IBM facility in Rüschlikon.

Legacy & Influence

Heinrich Rohrer’s legacy is broad and transformative:

• Pioneer of Nanoscience: The STM remains a foundational tool in nanoscale imaging and manipulation, directly enabling the field of nanotechnology.

• Interdisciplinarity Advocate: Rohrer believed that the coming “nanometer age” would necessarily require interdisciplinary approaches.

• Champion of Scientific Freedom: He emphasized the importance of giving scientists freedom to make mistakes and explore, rather than being constrained by excessive competition or rigid metrics.

• Model of Humility: Despite his accolades, Rohrer often reflected critically on scientific norms, biases, and the need for openness to novelty.

• An inspiration to generations: His work and ethos continue to influence researchers in physics, materials science, surface science, and beyond.

Memorable Quotes

Here are some of Heinrich Rohrer’s notable reflections and insights:

“The coming nanometer age can, therefore, also be called the age of interdisciplinarity.”

“To my knowledge significant progress has never been born of competition. … In science, being ‘better’ than others is of little practical value. Examples of how absurd the idea of scientific competition is are abundant.”

“We live of novelty in science. So when you do something new, you have to overcome certain beliefs that it cannot be done, that it is not interesting and so on.”

“I lost all respect for angstroms.”

“We had the freedom to make mistakes. That’s something very important. Unfortunately, this freedom for scientists gets more and more lost. … Otherwise, you do the common things. You don’t dare to do something beyond what everybody else thinks.”

“Young people are not yet biased in their mind. They are not completely taken by their expert opinions. Expert opinions have a difficulty to go beyond of what they know. When you start in a new field, from the point of view of a scientist, you certainly are 20 years younger, because in the new field you’re not yet biased and you look at certain things a little bit more relaxed and a little bit more open.”

These utterances reflect his humility, empathy for fresh perspectives, and a view of science as exploration rather than competition.

Lessons & Insights

From Rohrer’s life and work, we can draw a number of enduring lessons:

1. Break disciplinary boundaries — Many breakthroughs arise when one steps beyond rigid silos and welcomes insights from multiple fields.

2. Value freedom and tolerance for mistake — Innovation often requires space to fail, to question, to deviate.

3. Retain an openness to the new — Established frameworks can blind us to possibilities; fresh eyes see differently.

4. Be humble about measurement — At the atomic scale, assumptions, bias, and technical limits must be questioned.

5. Balance vision with care — Rohrer’s path shows that bold scientific ambition works best when coupled with rigorous care, collegiality, and integrity.

Conclusion

Heinrich Rohrer’s journey from rural Switzerland to the frontiers of nanotechnology is a testament to curiosity, perseverance, humility, and interdisciplinary thinking. His co-creation of the scanning tunneling microscope reshaped how we see and manipulate atoms; his reflections on scientific culture challenge us to keep openness and freedom at the heart of inquiry. In both his experiments and his ethos, Rohrer continues to guide and inspire.