Gregor Knopp

Dr. Gregor Knopp is a Senior Scientist at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland, affiliated with the Photon Science Division and the Laboratory for Synchrotron Radiation and Femtochemistry (LSF). He earned a Diploma in Physics from TU-Darmstadt (1995) and a PhD from the University of Würzburg (2001), followed by postdoctoral work at the Weizmann Institute of Science.

• Institute for Applied Physics, TU-Darmstadt (Diploma)
• Institute for Physical Chemistry, University of Würzburg (PhD)

Knopp’s research explores coherent interactions between X-ray photons and matter, focusing on nonlinear X-ray spectroscopy to extend conventional methods into new domains like quantum coherence dynamics, collective relaxation in many-body systems, and ultrafast materials characterization. His work bridges ultrafast molecular processes with X-ray photon science, targeting applications in photonic switching, magnetism, and biomedical imaging.

The recent publications highlight his contributions to X-ray transient grating spectroscopy, nonlinear pump-probe techniques, and quantum control of molecular dynamics. Key subfields include coherent phonon generation, core-level spectroscopy, and femtosecond laser-plasma analysis, spanning disciplines from materials science to quantum chemistry.

Knopp serves as a PSI Representative and held leadership roles in the FELs of Europe Steering Committee, CLEO-Europe Subcommittee, and COST Management Committee. He has led SNF-funded projects on nonlinear X-ray applications and ultrafast combustion dynamics, with co-applicant roles in gas-phase molecular studies.