T. W. Hänsch

Biography

Abstract

Theodor W. Hänsch is an atomic physicist at Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik. He was awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physics along with John L. Hall "for their contributions to the development of laser-based precision spectroscopy, including the optical frequency comb technique."

Important Dates

October 30, 1941Birth, Heidelberg (Germany).

1969Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Heidelberg (Universität Heidelberg), Heidelberg (Germany).

1970 – 1986Postdoctoral Fellow (1970-1972); Associate Professor (1975-1982); and Professor (1982-1986), Stanford University, Stanford (Calif.).

1980Awarded Otto Klung Prize.

1983Awarded Herbert P. Broida Prize.

1983Awarded Comstock Prize in Physics, National Academy of Science.

1985Awarded William F. Meggers Award.

1986Awarded Michelson Medal.

1986 – presentDirector and Scientific Member, Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics (Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik), Munich (Germany).

1986 – presentProfessor of Experimental Physics, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich (Universität München), Munich (Germany).

1987Awarded Italgas Prize for Research and Innovation.

1989Awarded King Faisal International Prize.

1989Awarded Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize.

1995Awarded Einstein Prize for Laser Science.

2000Awarded Arthur L. Schawlow Award.

2002Awarded SUNAMCO Medal.

2002Awarded Matteucci Medal.

2005Awarded I. I. Rabi Award.

2005Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics with John L. Hall "for their contributions to the development of laser-based precision spectroscopy, including the optical frequency comb technique".

2005Awarded Otto Hahn Prize.

2005Awarded Bambi Award.

2006Awarded Carl Friedrich von Siemens Prize.

2006Awarded Rudolf Diesel Gold Medal.

2009Awarded James Joyce Prize.

Occupation

Atomic physicist.

Places

Birth

Heidelberg (Germany)

Graduate Education

Heidelberg (Germany)

Employment

Stanford (Calif.)

Munich (Germany)

Subjects

Atomic and molecular physics.

Electromagnetic fields.

Lasers.

Light particles.

Relationships

People

Family

Hänsch, Karl

Father.

Hänsch, Marta

Mother.

Advisors & Collaborators

Eckstein, James Neil

Advised by Hänsch at Stanford University.

Greiner, Markus

Advised by Hänsch at Harvard University.

Hall, J. L. (John L.), 1934-

Shared the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physics "for their contributions to the development of laser-based precision spectroscopy, including the optical frequency comb technique."

Haroche, S.

Collaborated on a laser experiment.

Schawlow, Arthur L., 1921-1999

Post-doctoral advisor at Stanford University and both employed at Stanford University.

Toschek, Peter E.

PhD advisor at University of Heidelberg (Universität Heidelberg).

Vuletić, Vladan

Advised by Hänsch at Universität München.

Weidemüller, Matthias

Advised by Hänsch at Universität München.

Wieman, C. E. (Carl Edwin)

Advised by Hänsch at Stanford University, "Polarization spectroscopy and the measurement of the Lamb shift in the ground state of hydrogen."

Colleagues

Bardeen, William A.

Both employed at Stanford University.

Bjorken, James D.

Both employed at Stanford University.

Cabrera, Blas

Both employed at Stanford University.

Chodorow, Marvin

Both employed at Stanford University.

Dorfan, Jonathan

Both employed at Stanford University.

Fairbank, William Martin, 1917-1989

Both employed at Stanford University.

Fetter, Alexander L., 1937-

Both employed at Stanford University.

Freedman, Stuart J.

Both employed at Stanford University.

Hofstadter, Robert, 1915-1990

Both employed at Stanford University.

Laughlin, Robert B.

Both employed at Stanford University.

Meyerhof, Walter E. (Walter Ernst), 1922-

Both employed at Stanford University.

Schwartz, Melvin, 1932-2006

Both employed at Stanford University.

Sprouse, Gene D.

Both employed at Stanford University.

Susskind, Leonard

Both employed at Stanford University.

Turner, Michael Stanley

Both employed at Stanford University.

Walecka, John Dirk, 1932-

Both employed at Stanford University.

Webster, David Locke, 1888-1976

Both employed at Stanford University.

White, Robert M., 1938-

Both employed at Stanford University.

Will, Clifford M., 1946-

Both employed at Stanford University.

Wojcicki, Stanley G., 1937-

Both employed at Stanford University.

Additional

Glauber, Roy J., 1925-

Won Nobel Prize in the same year for different project.

Javan, Ali, 1926-

Kopfermann, Hans

Walther, H. (Herbert), 1935-2006

Institutions

Major Positions

Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik

Director and Scientific Member.

Stanford University. Department of Physics

Post-doctoral Fellow; Associate Professor; and Professor.

Universitat Munchen. Fakultat fur Physik

Professor of Experimental Physics.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Physical Society

Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (1963- )

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Awarded 1983 Comstock Prize in Physics.

Universität Heidelberg

Obtained PhD in Physics (1969).

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Jeff Hecht laser pioneer interviews, 1984-1991.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Theodor Wolfgang Hänsch, 1984 January 19.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

Peter Toschek's Early years of laser spectroscopy in Germany, 2010.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

Atomic physics 13: thirteenth International Conference on Atomic Physics, Munich, Germany, 1992/ editors, H. Walther, T.W. Hänch, B. Neizert.

Subject

Encyclopaedia Britannica - Theodore W. Hänsch.

Theodor W. Hänsch Nobel Prize biography.