Robin Santra

Ultrafast processes in intense light fields

Robin Santra leads the Theory Group at the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) at DESY. He is also Professor of Physics at the University of Hamburg. One of his research interests focuses on the microscopic, quantum-mechanical characterisation of the interaction of X-rays with atoms and molecules. The information obtained is important for maximising the utility of novel radiation sources, such as the X-ray free-electron lasers FLASH at DESY and the European XFEL. Of central interest is the exploration of novel techniques made possible by the extremely short X-ray pulse duration and the extremely high intensity offered by the X-ray free-electron lasers. This includes, for instance, investigations of opportunities for directly observing and manipulating the motion of electrons in matter. As electrons provide the glue that binds atoms together to form molecules, the ability to control electrons in matter could have revolutionary consequences for applications.

 

Academic career

since 2010 Head of Theory Group at the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) at DESY and Professor of Physics at the University of Hamburg
2010 Physicist, Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Group, Argonne National Laboratory, USA
2008-2010 Associate Professor Part-time, University of Chicago, USA
2007-2009 Physicist, Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Group, Argonne National Laboratory, USA
2005-2007 Assistant Physicist, Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Group, Argonne National Laboratory, USA
2004-2005 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Harvard University, USA
2002-2004 Postdoctoral Research Associate, JILA, University of Colorado, USA
2001-2002 Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Heidelberg
1998-2001 Dr. rer. nat. (comparable to PhD), University of Heidelberg
1992-1998 Diploma in Physics (comparable to MSc), University of Heidelberg