Henning Schmidt

Henning Schmidt is a Professor of Physics at Stockholm University, where he has held a permanent faculty position since 2011. He serves as Principal Investigator for the DESIREE (Double ElectroStatic Ion Ring ExpEriment) facility, a unique cryogenic ion storage ring infrastructure central to his research program. His academic background includes a PhD in Physics from Aarhus University (1991-1994).

Professor Schmidt's research focuses on fundamental ion-molecule interactions with direct applications to astrochemistry and interstellar medium processes. His experimental work centers on mutual neutralization reactions, radiative cooling dynamics of molecular ions, and fragmentation pathways of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Using the DESIREE facility's dual-ring cryogenic environment (13K), his group conducts state-resolved studies of reactions previously impossible to measure under astrophysically relevant conditions.

His recent publication record demonstrates exceptional productivity in high-impact journals including Science, Nature Chemistry, and Nature Communications. Key findings include the first measurement of hydronium-hydroxide mutual neutralization rates (Science 2024), quantification of radiative cooling in astrophysically relevant molecules, and discovery of isotope effects in fundamental ion reactions. These studies provide critical data for modeling molecular evolution in space.

Current research funding includes:

• Mutual neutralization experiments with atomic and molecular ions (Swedish Research Council 2023-2026)
• Extended DESIREE applications through new instrumentation (Swedish Research Council 2022-2026)
• Charge- and mass-transfer reaction studies (Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation 2018-2023)
• Ongoing DESIREE infrastructure support (continuous since 2010)

Professor Schmidt actively collaborates with international research groups across Europe and North America, particularly through CERN's FAIR project and European astrophysics consortia. His work bridges atomic physics, quantum chemistry, and observational astrophysics, providing laboratory validation for cosmic phenomena.