Ralph Ernstorfer

Prof. Dr. Ralph Ernstorfer is a full professor at Technische Universität Berlin's Institute for Optics and Atomic Physics, where he leads the Ultrafast Nanoscience group. He simultaneously holds a Max Planck Fellowship at the Fritz Haber Institute's Department of Physical Chemistry, heading the Structural & Electronic Surface Dynamics research group. His dual affiliation enables cutting-edge research in ultrafast phenomena.

Research Focus: Ernstorfer's group investigates out-of-equilibrium electronic and atomic structures in solids and heterostructures using advanced ultrafast techniques. Core methodologies include:

• Time- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (trARPES)
• Femtosecond electron diffraction and microscopy
• Ultrafast optical spectroscopy

Current research themes encompass exciton dynamics in 2D materials, topological properties of quantum materials, light-induced phase transitions, and machine learning applications in spectroscopy.

Awards & Recognition:

• Max Planck Fellowship (2022-2027) for collaborative research on ultrafast electron dynamics in nanoscale materials

Academic Leadership: Ernstorfer advises doctoral candidates including Tania Mukherjee and leads multiple funded projects:

• ERC project 'FLATLAND' studying electron-lattice-spin correlations in 2D semiconductors
• DFG projects within CRC 951 HIOS and SPP 2244 2D Materials consortium
• Coordination of TRR227 collaborative research network on ultrafast spin systems

He oversees laboratories at both TU Berlin and FHI equipped with MHz XUV lasers, femtosecond electron diffractometers, and multidimensional ARPES systems.