Infrared Colloquium — 100th Birthday of Prof. Dr. Ludwig Walther

On June 18, 2026, we invited to a colloquium to mark the 100th birthday of Prof. Dr. Ludwig Walther. He was the founder of infrared measurement technology in Dresden and, as a professor of technological processes in electronics at the TUD Dresden University of Technology starting in 1971, had a significant influence on his field for 20 years and beyond.

Numerous associates, colleagues, doctoral students, members of our faculty, and the family of Prof. Dr. Ludwig Walther gathered in the Werner-Hartmann Building. This laboratory building is now the heart of the Institute of Solid-State Electronics, which Prof. Dr. Ludwig Walther co-founded and led until his retirement in 1991.

The program was opened by Prof. Dr. Caroline Murawski, who began by presenting Prof. Walther’s biography. Our dean, Prof. Dr. Andreas Richter, then delivered a welcome address on behalf of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. Winfried Kempe provided a technical introduction to the origins of IR measurement technology based on CdHgTe IR sensors. Dr. Jörg Schieferdecker of Heimann Sensor GmbH explained the historical development of pyrometers and thermopiles through to state-of-the-art thermal imaging sensor arrays. Following this, the former Director of the Institute of Solid-State Electronics, Prof. Dr. Gerald Gerlach, provided an overview of research at the institute after 1994. Finally, Dr. Matthias Heinze of InfraTec GmbH described the extremely successful commercialization of IR technology since the 1990s and paid special tribute to Prof. Walther’s contribution to this achievement. In closing, Prof. Murawski looked to the future and presented current and upcoming projects on infrared sensor technology in biomedical applications.

© Ron Hildebrandt

After the colloquium, guests were invited to take laboratory tours, giving them the opportunity to explore the current state of research at the Institute of Solid-State Electronics. The tour included visits to the vacuum technology laboratory—where highly sensitive infrared sensors are still manufactured today—as well as the institute’s optics laboratory.

Over refreshments, there was a lively exchange about infrared measurement technology today and, of course, vivid recollections of experiences and stories from the early days. We are delighted by the exceptionally positive response our infrared colloquium generated among the visitors and, in particular, among the colleagues of Prof. Dr. Ludwig Walther. Many thanks to all the speakers for their personal insights and to all the guests for attending!

Impressionen vom Kolloquium