Claus Bethke

Abstract

Dr. K. Bethke
Senior System Architect XRD, PANalytical

Dr. rer. nat. Klaus Bethke studied physics at the university RWTH Aachen, Germany, and at the
FZ (Research center) Juelich. At FZ Juelich he worked in Prof. H. Ibach’s IGV (Surface science
institute) in Prof. J. Kirschner’s group for his diploma thesis. This thesis dealt with building up a
new magneto-optic Kerr method at the VUV – electron spin polarized experiment at the BESSY I
synchrotron in Berlin in order to investigate surface magnetism of mono-layer systems.

He performed his doctoral thesis at RWTH Aachen in the Institute for Metallurgy and Metal physics
(IMM), under Prof. K. Luecke and Prof. G. Gottstein. The thesis investigated the correlation of
micro-orientation distribution functions of textures to macroscopic properties, in particular of the
well known ridging phenomenon in Fe17% Cr alloy. Together with his doctorate studies he built up
a TEM group as representative for the IMM Institute at the GFE Aachen (the Aachen Institute for
Electron Microscopy).

His post doctorate project (1994-1995) was to work with three institutes, the IMM, the GFE and the
IfK (Institute for Crystallography - Prof. G. Heger) in order to co-ordinate a TEM group including the
equipment for both institutes at the GFE.

For more than 10 years (starting 1995) he has been with PANalytical, a company in the Spectris
group, formerly Philips Analytical, a world leader in the supply of X-ray equipment. For 3 years he
headed the XRF development department during which time the group developed several
mainstream X-ray fluorescence spectrometers. After that he was appointed XRF Senior System
Architect when for a period of 4 years his main interest was in strategically partnering Research
institutes and industry where he channeled the fundamental research into the industrial
development processes. Already during this time he was heavily involved in pushing the
development of specialized X-ray detectors.

For the last 4 years he has been Senior System Architect XRD for Life Sciences at PANalytical,
and as such he is responsible for innovating projects in the framework of technology transfer
between international research centers & industrial development. He is project leader of the
Medipix activities at PANalytical, this entails the transfer of technology between CERN, the Medipix
collaboration (www.cern.ch/medipix), and PANalytical.

The multi-disciplinary approach of his work in both science and in industry, and promoting
methodology and devices from the scientific world into industry are the foundation of his
enthusiasm.

Klaus Bethke
PANalytical, NL
e-mail: klaus.bethke@panalytical.com