Born in Berlin, Germany, on 13 June 1911, he studied physics under Nobel Laureate Gustav Hertz at the Technical University in Berlin, obtaining a doctoral degree in 1936. He was appointed professor of physics at The Pennsylvania State University in 1952 and became a naturalized American citizen in 1962. He was appointed Evan Pugh Research Professor of Physics in 1968. Müller was the inventor of the field ion microscope which allowed him to be the first person ever to see an atom. Other inventions included the field emission microscope and the atom-probe. He was the author of two books, four book chapters and more than 200 journal articles. Müller retired in 1976 as Evan Pugh professor emeritus of physics and died on 17 May 1977, at the age of 65.
From the description of Erwin W. Mueller papers, 1950-1976. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 192153757
