Frederik Zernike (July 16, 1888 - March 10, 1966) was a Dutch physicist and winner of the Nobel prize for physics in 1953 for his invention of the phase contrast microscope, an instrument that permits the study of internal cell structure without the need to stain and thus kill the cells.

Among other contributions, he worked on Zernike polynomials, a mathematical technique since used in advanced optic systems for overcoming aberration.

Zernike was a professor of theoretical physics at the Groningen University. The university complex to the north of the city of Groningen is named after him (Zernike park).

External link

• Frits (Frederik) Zernike Photo http://www.nobel-winners.com/Physics/frits_zernike.html