Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY
A Research Centre of the Helmholtz Association

Jentschke Lectures

Every year, DESY organizes a lecture in memory of Professor Dr. Willibald Jentschke (held in English)

DESY Lecture Series in Memory of Professor Dr. Willibald Jentschke. Professor Willibald Jentschke was the founder and first director of DESY in Hamburg and remained in this position until 1970. He laid the foundation for a laboratory playing an outstanding role in research based on accelerators. His knowledge, competence, vision and personality shaped DESY until today. Willibald Jentschke passed away on 11 March 2002, a few months after his 90th birthday. Starting in 2002 DESY will organise annual lectures in memory of Willibald Jentschke.


Lecture 2024
SUB-ATOMIC MOTIONS – From capturing electrons to probing human health


Thursday, November 13, 2024
4:30 p.m.
DESY Auditorium

Prof. Dr. Ferenc Krausz
Physics Nobel Prize Laureate 2023
Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, Director Attosecond Physics
Prof. Dr. Ferenc Krausz Zoom (45 KB)

Prof. Dr. Ferenc Krausz (image: Magyar Nemzet, András Éberling)

Born at the dawn of the new millennium, attosecond “photography” has opened the door for capturing sub-atomic motions as they evolve in time. Control of the oscillating electric field of light has permitted the attosecond control of electrons with unprecedented precision in space and time.

Fundamental quantum phenomena, such as electron tunnelling and dipole oscillations in atoms or light-electron energy exchange in solids as well as fundamental classical phenomena, such as the field oscillations of visible light, became accessible to human observation in slow-motion replay.

These capabilities open new avenues for 21st-century science, technology and medicine. Some of them emerge from the ability to sample light fields with attosecond precision. Possible implications of these advances include hundred thousand times faster electronics and cost-effective monitoring of human health.


The Jentschke Lecture marks the highlight of the DESY Science Day. On this festive event DESY welcomes newly appointed Lead Scientists, celebrates recent scientific highlights, and awards the PhD thesis prize of the Association of the Friends and Sponsors of DESY (VFFD).

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