Michael Rohlfing

Prof. Dr. Michael Rohlfing is a theoretical physicist at the Institute of Solid State Theory, University of Münster. His research focuses on electronic structure, optical excitations, and many-body perturbation theory in 2D materials and hybrid heterostructures. He leads the AG Rohlfing group, which develops and applies ab initio methods to study surfaces, interfaces, and nanoscale systems.

• Current projects include optical excitations in TMDC heterostructures under pressure (DFG since 2020) and electronic interface states in weakly bound systems (SFB 103, A13).

His group investigates phenomena such as excitonic effects, electron-phonon interactions, and spin-orbit-driven surface states, with applications in nanotechnology and optoelectronics. Recent work explores trions, image potential effects, and valley-selective interlayer coupling in materials like CrSBr and MoS2.

Key publications highlight exciton dynamics in 2D systems, strain-tunable optical properties, and first-principles simulations of scanning tunneling microscopy images. His research team is involved in the Collaborative Research Center 1083 (Structure and Dynamics of Internal Interfaces) and the Computational 2D Materials Database (C2DB).

• Scientific awards include the Heisenberg Fellowship (DFG, 2001-2004) and recognition for STM simulations and electron correlation studies.

Prof. Rohlfing supervises numerous Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students, including recipients of the Infineon PhD Award (Matthias Drüppel, 2017). His group regularly contributes to public workshops and collaborative experimental-theoretical studies.