Max Felix Theodor von Laue (9.10.1879 —24.04.1960) was a German theoretical physicist and a member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences (1921). He was born in Pfaffendorf. He graduated from the University of Berlin (1903), where he worked as an assistant to M. Planck; in 1909—12 he was at the University of Munich, in 1912—14 professor at the University of Zurich, from 1919 professor at the University of Berlin and from 1921 deputy director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Physics (until October 1943). In 1945 — 46 he was interned in England. In 1946 he returned to Göttingen, where until 1951 he was deputy director of the Physical Institute, and in 1951— 59 he was director of the Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry (Berlin).
His research was in the field of optics, crystal physics, superconductivity, relativity, quantum theory, atomic physics and solid-state physics. In 1912 he worked out the theory of the interference of X-rays in crystals, proposing that crystals be used as diffraction gratings for X-rays. In the same year the theory received experimental confirmation in the experiments of W. Friedrich and P. Knipping. The discovery of the interference (diffraction) of X-rays confirmed their electromagnetic nature, established their place on the scale of waves and proved the periodic atomic structure of crystals. This discovery led to the creation of a powerful means of studying the structure of matter — X-ray structural analysis. For the discovery of the diffraction of X-rays von Laue was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1914. He was an active populariser of relativity and the author of many works, especially on the theory of gravitation. He also worked on the history of physics.
A foreign member of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1930).