Dr. Alexandre Mermillod-Blondin is a Principal Investigator heading a DFG-funded project on 'Micromachining with few-cycle pulses' at the Max Born Institute. His research focuses on fundamental laser-matter interactions and direct laser writing of 3D micro-optical systems in transparent materials. Key investigations include plasma formation mechanisms in dielectrics, relaxation dynamics, and applications in photonic device fabrication. His group utilizes phase-contrast microscopy and time-resolved techniques to characterize ultrafast processes.
Cornelius Faber is a University Professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Münster, Germany, where he leads the Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance research group. His work focuses on developing and implementing novel MRI techniques that extend the boundaries of magnetic resonance imaging in terms of spatial and temporal resolution, sensitivity, and specificity for physiological, structural, and molecular changes. He actively participates in the "Cells in Motion" interdisciplinary research initiative at the university. Professor Faber's research spans multiple critical areas in medical imaging and biomedical science. His primary expertise lies in MRI cell tracking , enabling visualization of cellular dynamics in vivo. He has made significant contributions to infection imaging , developing methods to detect and characterize microbial infections using MRI. His work on MR methodology development has advanced quantitative imaging techniques, while his research on multimodal integration in MR and MRI contrast mechanisms has provided deeper insights into molecular and cellular processes. His research bridges physics, engineering, and biomedical applications, with particular relevance to inflammation, cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Analysis of Professor Faber's extensive publication record reveals a clear evolution from fundamental MRI technique development toward increasingly sophisticated applications in disease models. His recent work demonstrates a strong trend toward multimodal imaging approaches that combine MRI with complementary techniques such as mass spectrometry, optical imaging, and PET. This integration creates comprehensive diagnostic platforms that provide both anatomical and molecular information. A notable pattern is the focus on cellular dynamics, particularly immune cell behavior in inflammatory conditions and tumor microenvironments, with applications spanning neuroscience, oncology, and cardiology. Professor Faber leads a multidisciplinary research team of approximately 15 members, including scientists, doctoral students, technicians, and medical students. His laboratory is deeply integrated with the University of Münster's research infrastructure, particularly the Multiscale Imaging Centre. The group's work contributes significantly to advancing preclinical MRI methodologies while maintaining strong clinical relevance, with numerous publications in high-impact journals across medical imaging, neuroscience, and biomedical engineering disciplines.
Paul Repgen is a Researcher in the Department of Nonlinearity Engineering at Ruhr University Bochum's Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. His research focuses on ultrafast laser systems, fiber optics, and nonlinear amplification techniques, with a particular emphasis on high-repetition-rate pulse generation and environmental stability of laser systems. He collaborates closely with Prof. Dr. Ömer Ilday and contributes to advancing applications in industrial laser technology and photonics. His work integrates theoretical and experimental approaches to optimize laser performance, including harmonic mode-locking mechanisms and pulse stabilization strategies inspired by Brownian particle dynamics. Key contributions include record GHz repetition rate systems in burst mode and high-energy pulse generation through controlled Kerr nonlinearity. Paul Repgen's research has led to innovations in all-fiber laser oscillators, Mamyshev-based regenerators, and thulium-doped fiber systems, demonstrating exceptional stability and power scalability. His articles reflect a strong focus on advancing ultrafast laser technology for applications in materials processing, telecommunications, and fundamental optics research.
Lisa Randolph is a researcher at Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, affiliated with the Institute for Sustainable Hydrogen Economy (INW). Her work focuses on advanced diagnostics in high-energy-density physics and ultrafast material dynamics using X-ray techniques. Institute: Institute for Sustainable Hydrogen Economy (INW) Location: Brainergy Park Jülich Building / Room 0 Her research spans X-ray spectroscopy , plasma physics , and nanoscale dynamics , with emphasis on probing laser-induced phenomena in solids and plasmas. Recent publications highlight applications of X-ray free-electron lasers and Thomson scattering for structural and thermal analysis. Scientific trends in her work include ultrafast heating processes , shock compression diagnostics , and vacuum birefringence experiments . Key subfields involve solid-density plasma evolution , picosecond surface correlations , and nanometric dynamics .
Prof. Dr. Martin Hofmann is Chairholder of Photonics and Terahertz Technology at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), part of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. He leads research in optical materials, semiconductor lasers, and THz technology. His academic journey includes a doctorate (1994) and habilitation (2000) from Philipps University of Marburg, followed by roles as Scientific Assistant and Head of the Optoelectronic Devices and Materials Group before assuming his current position in 2007. Research Interests: Focuses on THz radiation sources , semiconductor laser characterization , and biomedical optical applications . His work bridges fundamental physics with applied technologies like compact THz systems and photonics for industrial and medical use. Publications: Recent work emphasizes THz generation using VCSELs, mode-locked lasers, and holographic measurement techniques. Key themes include coherent THz systems, dispersive optics, and miniaturized photonic components. Affiliations: Active in RUB’s Photonics and Terahertz Technology department, contributing to projects like TopING doctoral program and Spin-off promotions. Lab activities involve developing compact THz instruments and advanced laser systems.
Ayhan Demircan is an Adjunct Professor at the Leibniz School of Optics and Photonics in Leibniz University Hannover. He leads the Micro and Nano Photonics task group and contributes to institutions including the Institute of Quantum Optics , Ultrafast Laser Laboratory , and Hannover Centre for Optical Technologies (HOT) . His work spans photonics, quantum optics, and nonlinear dynamics, with applications in terahertz technology, soliton physics, and optical modeling. Research Interests: Photonics, quantum optics, terahertz radiation, soliton dynamics, nanophotonics, and computational modeling of optical systems. Key Institutions: Leibniz School of Optics and Photonics, Institute of Quantum Optics, HOT, and PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence. Technical Expertise: Develops Python-based tools for nonlinear Schrödinger equations, optical parametric oscillators, and ultrafast laser systems. Contact: demircan@iqo.uni-hannover.de
Prof. Thomas Cowan is the Director of the Institute of Radiation Physics at the Helmholtz Center Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). His research focuses on high-intensity laser-matter interactions, quantum electrodynamics (QED) under extreme conditions, and plasma diagnostics. He leads projects involving ultra-short pulse lasers, vacuum birefringence experiments, and advanced X-ray scattering techniques. Key collaborations include the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF) and the European XFEL facility. Research interests include laser-driven proton acceleration, solid-density plasma dynamics, and material behavior under megabar pressures. His work bridges fundamental physics with applications in radiobiology and advanced diagnostics. Notable projects involve developing spatio-temporal diagnostics for solid plasmas and exploring QED effects in strong electromagnetic fields. Publications highlight advancements in X-ray Thomson scattering, femtosecond temperature measurements, and vacuum birefringence experiments. His group uses facilities like the DiPOLE laser and ELBE radiation source to study ultrafast phenomena. Ongoing efforts focus on optimizing laser-driven proton beams for medical applications and improving the theoretical understanding of relativistic plasma interactions.
Peter Hommelhoff is a Professor in the Chair of Laser Physics at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) . His research focuses on dielectric laser acceleration , nanostructured electron sources , and quantum nanophotonics . Key Research Areas: Quantum-coherent control of free electrons Attosecond electron pulse generation Ultrafast dynamics in 2D materials (graphene, hexagonal systems) On-chip photonic particle acceleration Light-driven electron emission from nanotips Quantum interference in electron-photon interactions Recent Publications highlight advancements in dielectric laser accelerators (Nature, 2023), auto-ponderomotive beam control (Phys. Rev. Lett., 2024), and non-classical electron emission (Nature Physics, 2024). His work also explores graphene valley control and Bloch electron interferometry for material band-structure analysis. Laboratory Context: The Chair of Laser Physics at FAU investigates nanostructured electron sources , photonic control of charged particles , and quantum applications in electron microscopy and sensing. Collaborations span quantum nanophotonics , attosecond science , and integrated photonic circuits .
Thorsten Kamps is a Professor of Physics at Humboldt University of Berlin and Head of the Department of High-Brilliance Electron Beams at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin . He is also Deputy Project Manager for the Superconducting RF Electron Accelerator Laboratory SEALAB . Education: Graduate Physicist (Dipl.-Phys.) from TU Dortmund (formerly University of Dortmund), Doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.) from Humboldt University of Berlin Research Interests: Particle accelerator beam dynamics, diagnostics, superconducting radio-frequency photoinjectors (SRF photoinjectors), photocathode growth, instrumentation for bright electron beams, free-electron lasers, ultrafast scattering sources, and future trends of accelerator-driven light sources Expertise: Accelerator physics, beam physics of electron beams, photoinjectors, storage rings, electron beam diagnostics, free-electron lasers, and project management of large-scale accelerator projects Labs/Teams: Involved with SEALAB (Superconducting RF Electron Accelerator Laboratory), BERLinPro (Berlin Energy Recovery Linac Project), and collaborations with institutions like Royal Holloway University of London, DESY, and DELTA/University of Dortmund Publications Trends: Thorsten Kamps’ recent works focus on SRF photoinjectors, beam diagnostics, photocathode development, and thermal load studies. His research spans applications in ultrafast electron diffraction, laser-driven acceleration, and energy-recovery linacs, with collaborations across Europe and the US. Topics include interferometric beam monitoring, multi-alkali antimonide materials, and solenoid alignment for beam control. Teaching: Promotes education in accelerator physics through BSc and MSc courses, and supervises BSc, MSc, and PhD students. Develops practical experiments for internships in accelerator physics.
Dr. Tamás Nagy is a Department Head in the A3 Department of Ultrafast Lasers and Nonlinear Optics at the Max Born Institute in Berlin. His research focuses on ultrafast laser technology, high-energy few-cycle pulse generation, and advanced pulse characterization methods. He leads projects in energy-scalable hollow-core fiber compression, optical parametric amplification, and attosecond science. Education: PhD in Physics (summa cum laude, 2000), University of Szeged, Hungary MSc in Physics (with honor, 1994), Attila József University, Szeged Research Interests: Energy scaling of ultrafast lasers Few-cycle pulse compression and amplification Attosecond science and XUV spectroscopy Nonlinear optical phenomena in hollow-core fibers High-order harmonic generation Key Contributions: Developed scalable hollow-core fiber compression techniques achieving terawatt-level pulses Pioneered high-energy OPCPA systems beyond 10 mJ Advanced FROG and d-scan pulse characterization methods Awards: OSA Senior Member (2018) Professional Roles: General Chair: HILAS 2018 (Strasbourg) Program Chair: HILAS 2016 (Long Beach)
Dr. Martin Saraceno is a Senior Scientist at the Chair of Photonics and Ultrafast Laser Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. He holds a Diploma and Ph.D. in Physics from ETH Zurich (2007, 2011). Prior roles include Researcher at Cyber Laser Inc. (2012–2013) and Senior Scientist at the University of Neuchatel (2013–2016). He specializes in ultrafast lasers, THz technology, and high-power laser systems. Education: Diploma in Physics, ETH Zurich (2007) Ph.D. in Physics, ETH Zurich (2011) Research interests focus on high-power ultrafast lasers, THz generation, and advanced laser technologies. His work emphasizes energy scaling of modelocked oscillators, nonlinear compression, and applications in terahertz systems. Recent publications highlight advancements in laser-driven THz sources, multipass cell compressors, and Kerr-lens modelocking. His contributions include developing high-average-power lasers and novel compression techniques, advancing fields like laser engineering and nonlinear optics. He is affiliated with the High Energy Laser Lab and collaborates on cutting-edge photonics research.
Vincent Wanie is a Researcher at the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) within Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany. His work focuses on developing ultrafast laser-based technologies for time-resolved experiments, particularly few-femtosecond UV light pulses and electron/nuclear dynamics in photoexcited states of matter. Academic Career: Scientist (since 2021), Postdoctoral Researcher (2020–2021) at CFEL/DESY; PhD (2015–2020) and Fast-Track Master's (2014–2015) at INRS-ÉMT, Canada. Education: PhD in Energy and Materials Sciences (2020), thesis on few-femtosecond dynamics; visiting PhD at CFEL (2018–2020) and Politecnico di Milano (2016–2018). His research spans ultrafast laser technology, attosecond physics, and molecular dynamics. Key areas include high-order harmonic generation, plasmonic field sampling, and real-time tracking of electron/nuclear motion in molecules. Recent publications highlight advancements in deep-UV/XUV pulse generation and time-resolved molecular spectroscopy. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship for PhD research. Wanie's work contributes to refining attosecond science applications in chemical and material systems, with a focus on compact laser setups and international collaborations through his visiting positions at CFEL and Politecnico di Milano.
Federico Furch is a Researcher at the Max Born Institute in Berlin, Germany, where he serves as Coordinator for Project 4.1 and contributes to Projects 1.2, 2.1, and 4.1. His work focuses on ultrafast laser development for advanced applications, including attosecond pump-probe spectroscopy, strong field physics, and material processing. Current role: Staff Scientist (since 2015) Previous positions: Postdoctoral researcher at MBI (2011-2015) and FOM-AMOLF (2010-2011) Education: PhD in Physics (2010, Colorado State University) and Licenciate degree in Physics (2004, University of Buenos Aires) His research emphasizes high-repetition-rate, high-average-power optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers (OPCPAs) at 800 nm, capable of delivering sub-4 fs pulses with controlled carrier-envelope phase (CEP) and energies up to 190 µJ. He also explores nonlinear techniques for single-cycle pulse compression and high-order harmonic generation in extreme ultraviolet wavelengths. Recent publications highlight his expertise in few-cycle laser systems, surface waveguide fabrication, and attosecond pulse characterization. Articles span 2025 to 2020, covering topics such as Refractive index sensing , Pulse compression , and Optical vortices , with keywords like Optics, Photonics, and Nonlinear Optics. Scientific award: OSA Ambassador 2018 for global inclusivity efforts in optics Patent: US 9,209,598 B1 for a cooling system in high-average-power lasers His research has produced innovations in laser technology, with applications in attosecond science and advanced material processing. Collaborations include institutions in Germany, the Netherlands, and the USA, reflecting an international scientific network.
Dr. Martin Kretschmar is a Researcher at the Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy in Berlin, Germany, where he works in research group A3: Ultrafast Lasers and Nonlinear Optics. His office is located in Building A, Room 3.27, and he can be contacted at martin.kretschmar@mbi-berlin.de or +49 30 6392 1271. Dr. Kretschmar's research focuses on cutting-edge developments in ultrafast laser technology and nonlinear optical phenomena. His work spans Attosecond science and pump-probe spectroscopy High-harmonic generation techniques Extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulse development Nonlinear ionization processes Terawatt-class few-cycle laser systems Advanced pulse characterization methods His research has significant implications for understanding fundamental light-matter interactions at extremely short timescales. Analysis of Dr. Kretschmar's publication record from 2019-2024 reveals a consistent focus on advancing ultrafast laser methodologies, particularly in the attosecond domain. His work demonstrates a progression from fundamental studies of high-harmonic generation toward increasingly sophisticated applications in spectroscopy and wavepacket imaging. The publications show strong collaborative efforts with international research teams while maintaining his position as a key contributor to experimental design and implementation.
Dr. Anton Husakou is a Researcher at the Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy, Berlin, where he leads the Attosecond Theory Group. His primary roles include Project Member in the 'Fundamentals of Extreme Photonics' and 'Ultrafast Laser Physics and Nonlinear Optics' initiatives. He holds a PhD in Physics from Freie Universität Berlin (2002) and a diploma in Physics from Belarus State University (1999). His research focuses on nonlinear optics in fibers/waveguides, nanooptics in metallic nanostructures, and strong-field phenomena in solids and gases. Notable contributions include theoretical models for supercontinuum generation, high-harmonic generation (HHG), and ultrafast plasma dynamics. He develops numerical methods to simulate spatiotemporal light dynamics, with applications in THz photonics and attosecond science. His articles emphasize ultrafast laser-matter interactions, plasma formation in dielectrics, and plasmonic effects in nanocomposites. Recent work explores ionization dynamics in solids and tunable UV/THz pulse generation through transient plasmonic resonances. Dr. Husakou collaborates widely, with over 100 publications in top journals like Nature Physics , Physical Review A , and Optics Express . While no formal awards are listed, his work is foundational to attosecond science and extreme nonlinear optics.
