Herbert Mataré

Herbert F. Mataré in 1990Herbert Franz Mataré (22 September 1912 – 2 September 2011 ) was a German physicist. The focus of his research was the field of semiconductor research. His best-known work is the first functional European transistor, which he developed and patented together with Heinrich Welker in the vicinity of Paris in 1948, independent from the Bell Labs engineers who had developed the first transistor shortly before.

Biography Born in Aachen, Mataré studied mathematics, chemistry, electrochemistry, nuclear physics, and solid-state physics at the Technical University of Aachen, and received the degree "Diplom-Ingenieur" in Applied Physics. In addition, he studied mathematics, physics, and chemistry at the University of Geneva. This European invention was presented to the public on 18 May 1949 as the "Le Transistron".

In 1951/1952, Mataré founded Intermetall in Düsseldorf, the first company to offer diodes and transistors.

Controversial views

Mataré contributed articles to the scientific racist journal Mankind Quarterly. In his book Conscientious Evolution (1982) he discussed a broad range of topics including genetic engineering, eugenic measures, controlled procreation, sterilization, and capital punishment. Matare's ill-advised articles and text were poorly formulated and lacking in scientific basis. The anthropologist H. James Birx described the book as deeply prejudiced, "neither a careful examination of the promise of human genetics nor a contribution to the science of organic evolution."

Awards (selection) Life Fellow IEEE Member emeritus New York Academy of Sciences Eduard Rhein Ring of Honor, Eduard Rhein Foundation, 2008.

Literature

Patents The following list can only present a part of the more than 80 patents which Mataré has filed.