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Zoltán Lajos Bay

1900 – 1992

Hungarian physicist

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About Zoltán Lajos Bay

Lived 1900 – 1992 (aged 92). Zoltán Lajos Bay was a Hungarian physicist, university teacher, nuclear physicist, engineer, inventor and professor, known for Electron multiplier, Meter and Radar astronomy.

Zoltán Lajos Bay (July 24, 1900 – October 4, 1992) was a Hungarian physicist, professor, and engineer who developed technologies, including tungsten lamps and microwave devices. He was the leader of the second group to observe radar echoes from the Moon (Moonbounce). From 1930, he worked at the University of Szeged as a professor of theoretical physics.

Bust and plaque commemorating Zoltán Bay in Újpest, Hungary. The plaque on the right lists his achievements. In 1923 at Tungsram Ltd., a research laboratory was established for improving light sources, mainly electric bulbs. As a result of Bay's research, the 1983 conference of the International Weights and Measures Bureau accepted, as a standard, the definition of a meter (metre) as recommended by Bay.

In 1998, the State of Israel recognized him as among the Righteous Among the Nations and listed his name at Yad Vashem as rescuer number 6497. A relative with the same name invented Bay radial speaker:BayZ

On August 28, 2025, the International Astronomical Union named a small impact crater on the Moon after him. It is located near the lunar south pole and has a diameter of .

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Known for
Electron multiplier, Meter, Radar astronomy
Education
Eötvös Loránd University
Employers
Budapest University of Technology and Economics, University of Szeged, George Washington University
Awards
Righteous Among the Nations
Also known as
Zoltan Bay, Zoltan Lajos Bay

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Zoltán Lajos Bay's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Zoltán Lajos Bay?

Hungarian physicist (1900–1992)

When was Zoltán Lajos Bay born?

Zoltán Lajos Bay was born on 24 July 1900 in Gyula.

When did Zoltán Lajos Bay die?

Zoltán Lajos Bay died on 4 October 1992 in Washington, D.C..

What was Zoltán Lajos Bay's occupation?

Zoltán Lajos Bay was a physicist, university teacher, nuclear physicist, engineer, inventor and professor.

What was Zoltán Lajos Bay known for?

Zoltán Lajos Bay was known for Electron multiplier, Meter and Radar astronomy.

What nationality was Zoltán Lajos Bay?

Zoltán Lajos Bay was Hungarian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Zoltán Lajos Bay

· Wikidata: Q218889

· DBpedia: Zoltán Lajos Bay

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Zoltán Lajos Bay. https://biography.guide/zoltan-lajos-bay/

MLA: "Zoltán Lajos Bay." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/zoltan-lajos-bay/.

Chicago: "Zoltán Lajos Bay." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/zoltan-lajos-bay/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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