Theodor W. Hänsch

Prof. Theodor W. Hänsch is a Carl Friedrich von Siemens Professor of Physics at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) and Director at the Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik. His research focuses on ultraprecise laser spectroscopy, quantum physics of ultracold atoms, and applications in frequency combs and antimatter studies. He has held positions at Stanford University (1975–1986) and has been a visiting professor at institutions like Caltech and the College de France.

Education: Physics Diploma (1966), PhD 'summa cum laude' (1969) from University of Heidelberg. Early roles included Assistant Professor at Heidelberg (1969–1970) and NATO Fellow at Stanford (1970–1972).

Research interests span quantum optics, atomic physics, and ultrafast phenomena. Notable contributions include foundational work on frequency combs, trapped ions, and precision measurements. He co-founded Menlo Systems GmbH (2001) and serves on multiple scientific advisory boards for companies like Cold Quanta and Zett Optics.

Hänsch has organized major conferences such as the International School of Physics 'Enrico Fermi' (2006) and the Hydrogen Atom II conference (2000). He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and Optical Society of America, and holds honorary memberships in the German Physical Society, European Physical Society, and Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

His awards include the Nobel Prize in Physics (2005, shared with J.L. Hall and R. Glauber), King Faisal Prize (1989), and Leibniz Prize (1988). He has delivered prestigious named lectures worldwide, including the Enrico Fermi Lectures (2000) and the Niels Bohr Lecture (2002).

Leadership roles include membership in the German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina, U.S. National Academy of Sciences (Foreign Associate), and Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. He has also advised governmental bodies and served on evaluation panels for major projects like LIGO and BESSY II.