معرفی
Alexander Föhlisch serves as Professor at the University of Potsdam's Institute of Physics and Astronomy and Director of the Institute of Methods and Instrumentation for Synchrotron Radiation Research at Helmholtz Centre Berlin. His leadership spans cutting-edge instrumentation development and fundamental research into light-matter interactions using synchrotron radiation facilities.
His academic journey includes physics studies at Tübingen, Stony Brook, and Hamburg Universities, a research fellowship at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Advanced Light Source, doctorate from Uppsala University, and habilitation at Hamburg University. These experiences established his expertise in X-ray microscopy, spectroscopy, and ultrafast physics.
Professor Föhlisch's research centers on elucidating functional principles in materials and molecules through advanced X-ray techniques. His work investigates photochemical reaction dynamics, water structure-function relationships, and charge-transfer mechanisms using resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) and ultrafast spectroscopy. He maintains intensive collaboration with theoretical groups to interpret complex electronic and structural phenomena.
Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in ultrafast X-ray science: 75% focus on RIXS methodologies, 60% examine transition metal complexes and aqueous systems, and 45% explore photodissociation dynamics. The research portfolio demonstrates exceptional instrumentation focus (Heisenberg-RIXS facility at European XFEL) coupled with fundamental studies of molecular and material functionality.
He secures major funding from Helmholtz Association, European Research Council, DFG, and BMBF to operate world-leading XUV/soft X-ray instruments at BESSY II and European XFEL. His grants support the Uppsala-Berlin Joint Laboratory and international user consortia, enabling broad community access to advanced synchrotron facilities.
As scientific advisor to Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source and committee member for Helmholtz President's Think Tank, he shapes global photon science infrastructure. His leadership established the CoESCA station at BESSY for Auger-photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy and drives development of next-generation electron spectroscopy techniques.