Helmut Zacharias

Prof. Dr. Helmut Zacharias is a distinguished Professor of Experimental Physics at the Physical Institute of the University of Münster, where he leads a dynamic research group focused on ultrafast surface dynamics, quantum materials, and molecular spintronics. He is affiliated with the Center for Soft Nanoscience (SoN) and the Center for Nanotechnology (CeNTech), and has led numerous national and international research projects funded by DFG, EU Horizon 2020, and Volkswagen Foundation.

His education includes a Dr. rer. nat. from the University of Bielefeld (1978) and habilitation there in 1984. He has held leadership roles as Managing Director of the Physical Institute, Dean of the Physics Department, and co-founder of CeNTech and SoN. He has also served on the ERC Starting Grant Panel and organized major international conferences.

• PhD, University of Bielefeld (1978)
• Habilitation, University of Bielefeld (1984)

His research centers on chiral molecule-based spin filters, graphene and nanoribbons, ultrafast electron dynamics, and interstellar photochemistry. His group uses advanced techniques such as time-resolved photoemission, high-harmonic generation, and free-electron lasers (FLASH, European XFEL) to probe electron behavior at surfaces. The work has significant implications for spintronics, quantum computing, and astrochemistry.

The recent publications reflect a strong focus on chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS), electron dynamics in 2D materials, and ultrafast pump-probe experiments at FELs. Themes include spin filtering through DNA and bacteriorhodopsin layers, band structure engineering in graphene nanoribbons, and desorption dynamics in interstellar ice analogs.

His scientific honors include:

• Habilitation Prize, Westfälisch-Lippische Universitätsgesellschaft (1984)
• Heisenberg Fellowship, DFG (1986)

Prof. Zacharias has supervised over 30 doctoral students and numerous master’s and bachelor’s candidates, fostering a strong training environment. His group has received significant funding for projects such as CHIRAL (spintronics), EUROPAH (interstellar molecules), and development of optical systems for FLASH and European XFEL. He collaborates internationally with institutions including Weizmann Institute, Max Planck Institutes, TU Berlin, and UC Berkeley.

His laboratory specializes in ultrafast laser systems, including OPCPA, Mott polarimeters, and PEEM setups, enabling cutting-edge experiments in surface science and quantum materials. The group continues to push boundaries in understanding electron-spin interactions in chiral systems and dynamics in low-dimensional carbon materials.