Michael Wohlmuther, an internationally recognised expert on spallation physics and technologies, tragically passed away on 30 October 2025 in Lund, Sweden, at the age of 50.
Michael was born on 26 January 1975 in Bruck an der Mur, Austria. In 2003, he received his PhD from the Graz University of Technology for his thesis “An Intranuclear Cascade Event Generator”, written in collaboration with Forschungszentrum Jülich.
In his different roles, Michael contributed greatly to the development of targetry technologies, both from the physics and the engineering perspective. One of his major contributions was serving as project leader for the MEGAPIE project at PSI, the world’s first high-power liquid-metal spallation neutron source. More recently, he actively participated in the effort to develop the ESS high-power tungsten target and related material analyses.
His involvement extended beyond PSI and ESS, and included collaborations with CERN, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He influenced the global landscape of spallation, high-energy physics and radioactive-ion-beam target technologies, in both operational practice and post-irradiation analysis.
Michael’s work consistently achieved international recognition, and he served on important review panels and advisory committees, including the High-Power Targetry Workshop Scientific Program Committee and the FRIB Target Advisory Committee. He was also a founding member of CERN’s HiRadMat Scientific Board.
Michael was an invaluable member of the spallation targetry community for many years. He contributed to our shared endeavours with his vast expertise, his attention to detail and his kindness towards the people around him. He will be remembered for his warm and welcoming spirit, his readiness to greet everyone with a smile, and his genuine humility.
Our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with Michael’s family, his friends and all those who were fortunate enough to have known him. He will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.
