Helmut BraunBig PIG, Supervisor, Friend & Colleague!!!Chris Bee – CPPM & CERN

Big PIG

In NA9 EMC – Helmut was the “BIG PIG” The undisputed leader and visionary of the PIG

(Particle Identification Group) The system comprised:

3 Threshold Gas Cerenkov counters: C0 (neo-pentane), C1(nitrogen) & C2 (neon)

1 Aerogel Cerenkov: CA 1 Time of Flight system: TF

Helmut was in particular the architect, installer, commissioner and physical defender (see later) of C0

A student on NA9 I came to CERN first as a Lancaster Graduate student in 1980 Joined the PIG group working on the nitrogen Cerenkov C1 In agreement with my boss, Terry Sloan, Helmut became my

effective supervisor at CERN, and I worked closely together with his Wuppertal students Manfred & Heiner

Other notable PIGS: Ian Bird, Guy Coignet, John Coughlan, , Joerg Gayler, Philippe Heusse, Francois Montanet, Mark Schneegans, Sarah Wheeler

I learnt a lot – and fast – I had no choice! Helmut lived and worked at 100km/h!!

He gave his graduate students patience, unfailing support & encouragement as well as being an exceptional teacher

His infectious laugh was inspiring – and useful to warn young students in advance when he was approaching your office!!!

Braun vs. Osborne

A well-remembered incident when I was on EMC C0 – filled with “deadly” neo-pentane was a

permanent safely worry in particular in the event of fire

2 gas exhaust emptying systems were installed A slow one: few minutes - no damage used for

planned gas extraction A fast one: about a minute but some internal

damage unavoidable to C0 –for emergencies

Braun vs. Osborne

I was on night shift with shift leader Tony Osborne EMC s/w chief (together with Gottfried Kellner) &

latterly of IT Helmut was the on-call PIG The fire alarm went off, Tony called Helmut who

arrived rapidly Tony (not known for his mild disposition…) was

desperate to hit the C0 ‘red” button to action the emergency emptying

Helmut was desperate not to have “his” C0 destroyed

Braun vs. Osborne

A pitch battle ensued in the counting room with YT observing - Helmut prevailed & saved C0

The Pompiers arrived to declare a false alarmTony announced: “I was wrong, I was wrong.

Helmut, you’re a f****** hero”!!!

A Good Friend & Colleague

Helmut was always full of life, jokes, smiles & good humour

He was always keen to instigate trips to Café Abbe (for a fondue) Café de l’Aviation (for a Super Caravelle – or in

latter times an A380.!!!) Some downtown bar

What counted for him most was enjoying good company and good humour

A Good Friend & Colleague

It was a pleasure and an honour to have studied under, worked with, and enjoyed the great friendship of Helmut

He was an exceptional man & an exceptional physicist

I have received many messages from ex-colleagues from EMC days expressing similar sentiments

He is sorely missed by physics, ATLAS & all his colleagues & friends but his resonant laugh will always echo around the corridors of B40!!!

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Helmut Braun

A Thinking Man A Social Man