caption doctoral_advisor death_date death_place birth_place image_size nationality field birth_date known_for prizes image article_title name alma_mater
lester -lrb- left -rrb- 1927 germer -lrb- right -rrb- with clinton joseph davisson clinton davisson 3 october 1971 shawangunk ridge , new york , usa chicago , illinois , usa 300px american physicist 10 october 1896 davisson-germer experiment elliott cresson medal -lrb- 1931 -rrb- davisson and germer.jpg lester germer
 lester germer columbia university
lester germer

lester halbert germer -lrb- october 10 , 1896 -- october 3 , 1971 -rrb- was an american physicist .
with clinton davisson , he proved the wave-particle duality of matter in the davisson -- germer experiment , which was important to the development of the electron microscope .
these studies supported the theoretical work of de broglie .
he also studied thermionics , erosion of metals , and contact physics .
he was awarded the elliott cresson medal in 1931 .
a former fighter pilot in world war i , germer subsequently worked at bell labs in new jersey .
in 1945 -lrb- at the age of 49 -rrb- , germer launched a side career as a rock climber .
he climbed widely around the northeast united states , and especially at new york 's shawangunk ridge .
although the appalachian mountain club was dominant in the area at the time , and strictly regulated rock climbing , lester was never associated with the club , and found himself in conflict with the leading climber in the area hans kraus , who was head of the amc 's safety committee .
he was once turned down for climbing certification with the comment `` likes people too much and is too enthusiastic . ''
lester was known for being generous and friendly .
he was once called `` a one man climbing school . ''
in 1971 , one week before his 75th birthday , lester germer died of a massive heart attack while lead climbing a rock climb at the shawangunk ridge -lrb- `` eyebrow '' , 5.6 -rrb- .
until that moment , lester had a twenty six year perfect safety record in rock climbing ; he had never even taken a leader fall .
