Randolf Pohl

Prof. Dr. Randolf Pohl is a Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching, Germany, leading the ERC-funded group on 'Muonic Atoms'. His work combines advanced laser spectroscopy with precision measurements in exotic atomic systems to investigate fundamental nuclear and atomic properties.

Research Interests: His primary research lies at the intersection of atomic, nuclear, and particle physics, focusing on muonic atoms — where an electron is replaced by a heavier muon. This enables ultra-precise measurements of nuclear charge and magnetization radii, particularly in hydrogen, deuterium, helium, lithium, and beryllium systems. His groundbreaking work on the proton radius using muonic hydrogen revealed a significant discrepancy with previous measurements — the 'Proton Radius Puzzle' — which became a Nature cover story in 2010. Subsequent work on the deuteron confirmed the trend and was published in Science.

Research Trends: His recent publications emphasize high-precision Lamb shift and hyperfine structure measurements in muonic systems, pushing the boundaries of bound-state quantum electrodynamics (QED), refining the Rydberg constant, and testing few-nucleon nuclear models. Experiments involve Penning traps, ion traps, laser systems, and particle accelerators, indicating a strong experimental and interdisciplinary approach.

• Scientific Awards:
• ERC Research Group Leader (implied by ERC funding)

Advising and Grants: Prof. Pohl actively supervises students and offers PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s thesis opportunities. His group is supported by an ERC grant, indicating significant competitive funding. He mentors students in experimental atomic physics, laser spectroscopy, and fundamental physics research.

Labs and Teams: He leads the 'AG Pohl' (Pohl Research Group) at MPQ, focusing on laser spectroscopy of light exotic systems. The team conducts experiments on muonic atoms and ions, operates laser systems, and collaborates on accelerator-based projects. They present regularly at DPG (German Physical Society) conferences and maintain a strong presence in the precision measurement community.