Krausz Ferenc

Ferenc Krausz is a Hungarian-Austrian physicist born in 1962, currently serving as Director of the Munich-Centre for Advanced Photonics (since 2010) and Chair of Experimental Physics at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (since 2004). He previously held leadership roles at the Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik (MPQ) and Vienna University of Technology.

• Director, Munich-Centre for Advanced Photonics (2010–present)
• Director, MPQ, Garching, Germany (2003–present)
• Full Professor, LMU Munich (2004–present)

Educational Background:

• M.Sc. Electrical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology (1985)
• Ph.D. Quantum Electronics, Vienna University of Technology (1991)
• Habilitation, Quantum Electronics, Vienna University of Technology (1993)

Research Focus

Krausz pioneered advancements in attosecond physics, enabling real-time observation of electron dynamics in matter. His work spans nonlinear light-matter interactions, generation of ultrashort light pulses (infrared to X-ray), and development of brilliant X-ray and charged-particle sources for physics and biomedicine. His innovations in chirped multilayer mirrors revolutionized intense few-cycle light pulses, expanding ultrafast science applications.

Scientific Contributions & Collaborations

Krausz co-founded Femtolasers GmbH (Vienna) and Ultrafast Innovations GmbH (joint venture with Max Planck Society and LMU Munich), commercializing ultrafast laser technologies. He drove Pan-European initiatives including LASERLAB Europe, Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI), and Marie Curie networks, fostering cross-border scientific cooperation.

Honors & Memberships

• Nobel Prize in Physics (2023)
• Wolf Prize in Physics (2022)
• Member, German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• Member, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
• Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Prize (2006)

Personal

As a dual citizen of Hungary and Austria, Krausz resides in Garching, Germany, with his family. He emphasizes the importance of European unity in scientific progress.