Theodor W. Hänsch - Biography#

Biography, Nobel Prize Organization
Full CV (2010)

Curriculum vitae#

Focus of Research:

Ultraprecise laser spectroscopy, quantum physics of ultracold atoms

Consulting

• 2007 Cold Quanta Inc., Boulder, CO, USA, Scientific Advisory Board
• Optical Comb, Inc., Tokyo, Japan, Scientific Advisory Board
• Zett Optics, Göttingen, Germany, Scientific Advisory Board
• 2006- Imprimatur Capital, London, UK, Scientific Advisory Board
• 2001- Menlo Systems GmbH, Martinsried, Germany, Co-Founder
• 1999 - TUI Optics GmbH, Martinsried, Germany, Scientific Advisory Board
• 1997 - Nanophotonics AG, Mainz, Germany, Board of Directors
• 1987 - 93 Siemens AG, Munich, Germany, Central Research Laboratory
• 1985 - 95 American Healthcare Fund, USA, Scientific Advisory Board
• 1985 - 92 Melles Griot Inc., USA, Scientific Advisory Board
• 1976 - 80 IBM Research Laboratories, Almaden, USA

• 2006 Venice Intl. University, Chairman
• Intl. Workshop on Precision Physics of Simple Atomic Systems (PSAS),
• Intl. School of Physics “Enrico Fermi”, “Metrology and Fundamental Constants”, Varenna, Co-Director
• 2000 Intl. Conf. „Hydrogen Atom II", Castiglione della Pescaia, Co-Organizer
• 1997 DPG-Schule für Physik, „Diodenlaser“, Bad Honnef, Co-Director
• „Frontiers in Laser Spectroscopy“, Varenna, Co-Director
• 1994 Intl. School of Physics „Enrico Fermi“,
• 1992 12th Intl. Conference on Atomic Physics, München, Co-Organizer
• 1988 Intl. Conference „Hydrogen Atom“, Pisa, Co-Organizer
• 1987 15th Intl. Conf. on Quant. Electronics, Baltimore, Co-Chairman
• 1986 14th Intl. Conf. on Quant. Electronics, San Francisco, Program Co-Chair
• 1985 7th Intl. Conf. on Laser Spectroscopy, Maui, Hawaii, Co-Chairman
• 1983 International Conference on Lasers, Canton, China, Steering Committee
• 1983 Industrial Affiliates Symposium, Stanford University, Organizer
• 1975 2nd Intl. Conf. on Laser Spectroscopy, Megève, Co-Chairman,(since 1987 Co-Chairman)
• 1973 - Steering Committee, International Conference on Laser Spectroscopy,

• 2009 King Abdullah Institute of Nanotechnology, Chairman, Intl. Science Council
• 2009 IQOQI, Innsbruck & Wien, Austria, Scientific Advisory Board Member
• Research Council (Forschungsausschuß), LMU, Munich
• Member of Jury, Berthold Leibinger Innovation Award
• 2007- Advisory Board, Dahlem Conferences, Free University of Berlin
• Directive Council (Kuratorium), 850th Birthday of the City of Munich
• 2006- Directive Council (Kuratorium), Deutsches Museum, München
• 2005- SUPA Advisory Committee, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
• Universiteit van Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• 2004 Assessment Committee, Physics Research,
• Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck
• 2004- Advisory Board, Center for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information,
• 1999 - Advisory Board, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt
• 1997 Arthur L. Schawlow Prize Committee (APS)
• 1996 - Scientific Advisory Board, Max-Born-Institut, Berlin
• 1993 - King Faisal International Prize Committee
• 1994 - 97 Stern-Gerlach-Preis-Komitee (DPG)
• 1994 - 96 STAC Committee, VIRGO Gravitational Wave Observatory
• 1993 - Executive Council, LENS, Florence, Italy
• 1992 - 93 NSF Review Panel, LIGO Gravitational Wave Observatory
• 1991 Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, Physics Department, Scientific Board
• 1990 - 97 Rudolf-Kaiser-Preis-Komitee (DPG)
• 1989 - 90 BMFT Referee Board, BESSY II - Project, Berlin
• 1988 Italgas Prize Committee
• 1986 Davisson Germer Prize Committee (APS), Chairman
• 1985 Herbert P. Broida Prize Committee (APS)
• 1984 Frederic Ives Medal Committee (OSA)
• Panel on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, U.S. Natl. Res. Council
• 1983 - 85 Steering Committee, Physics Survey, U.S. National Research Council
• 1982 - 86 IUPAP, Commission on Quantum Electronics
• 1981 Herbert P. Broida Prize Committee (APS)
• 1979 R. W. Woods Prize Committee (OSA)
• 1978 - 84 Executive Committee, Center for Materials Research, Stanford University
• 1977 – 85 Joint Council of Quantum Electronics (Representative of OSA)
• 1977 - 83 Evaluation Panel, Optical Physics Division, National Bureau of Standards
• 1977 - 79 Numerical Data Advisory Board, U.S. National Research Council
• 1977 R. W. Woods Prize Committee (OSA)
• 1976 - 78 Board of Directors, Optical Society of Northern California
• 1976 William F. Meggers Award Committee (OSA)

• 2007- Laser & Photonics Review, Editorial Board
• 1998 - Springer Series in Optical Sciences, Editorial Board
• 1997 - 06 Physics in Perspective, Board of Editors
• 1985 - 95 Physics Today, Advisory Committee
• 1983 - Applied Physics B (Springer Verlag), Board of Editors
• 1981 - 84 Journal of the OSA, Associate Editor
• 1975 - Optics Communications, Advisory Editor
• 1975 - 83 Metrologia

• 2011 Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft, Honorary Member
• 2010 European Physical Society, Honorary Member
• Academia Europea, Member
• German University Association (DHV), Germany, Honorary Member
• 2009 Optical Society of America, Honorary Member
• 2008 Intl. Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, (IRWF), NY, USA, Honorary Member
• 2007 European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Austria, Honorary Member
• Leibniz Society, Zwickau, Honorary Member
• Physikalischer Verein, Frankfurt/Main, Honorary Member
• Pontifical Academy of Science, Member
• 2006 German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina, Member
• The Society of Sigma Xi, Life Member
• Académie des Sciences, Institut de France, Foreign Associate
• 2005 Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences, Member
• Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Italy, Foreign Associate
• 2002 U.S. National Academy of Science, Foreign Associate
• 2000 Laser Institute of America, Life Member
• 1991 Bavarian Academy of Arts and Sciences, Member
• 1986 The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Life Member
• 1983 American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Member
• Optical Society of America, Fellow
• 1973 American Physical Society, Fellow

• 2011 Honorary Membership, German Physical Society (DPG)
• Honorary Doctorate, University of Strathclyde (Doctor of Science)
• 2010 Honorary Professor, National Chiang Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
• Honorary Chair Professor, University System of Taiwan
• Sayling Wen Excellent Lecture Award, National Central University, Taiwan
• Bavarian Constitution Medal in Gold,
• Order of Merit Advanced Grant, European Research Council
• 2009 James Joyce Award, University College, Dublin, Ireland
• Orden Pour Le Mérite f. Scientists & Arts, Germany
• 2008 Honorary Doctorate, Bar-Ilan-University, Tel Aviv, Israel
• 2007 Medal “De Scientia et Humanitate Meritis”, Acad. Sci., Czech Republic
• Honorary Citizen, City of Florence, Italy
• Carl Friedrich von Siemens Prize and Chair
• Rudolf Diesel Gold Medal, German Institute of Interventions
• Garbsen Ring, City of Garbsen
• Grosses Bundesverdienstkreuz mit Stern (Order of Merit, Germany)
• Ioannes Marcus Marci Medal, Czech Spectroscopic Society
• 2006 Honorary Doctorate, University of St. Andrews (Doctor of Science)
• Honorary Doctorate, Free University, Berlin (Dr. rer. nat. h.c.)
• Grand Officer Cross (Order of Merit, Republic of Italy)
• 2006 Honorary Citizen, City of Garching
• Nobel Prize in Physics, jointly with Prof. J. L. Hall and Prof. R. Glauber
• Bambi Award, Burda Media
• Bavarian of Year, Bavarian Television
• Otto-Hahn-Prize, DPG, GDCh, and City of Frankfurt/M
• Frederic Ives Medal, Optical Society of America
• 2005 I. I. Rabi Award, IEEE
• Bayerischer Maximiliansorden (Order of Merit, Bavaria)
• 2003 Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse (Order of Merit, Germany)
• Alfried Krupp Prize for Science
• 2002 Matteucci-Medal, Italian National Academy of Sciences
• SUNAMCO Medal, International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
• 2001 Quantum Electronics and Optics Prize, European Physical Society
• Philip Morris Research Prize (atom laser)
• Arthur L. Schawlow Award, Laser Institute of America
• 2000 Stern-Gerlach Medal, Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
• Bavarian of the Year, Bavarian Television
• 1998 Philip Morris Research Prize (atomic clock)
• 1996 Arthur L. Schawlow Prize for Laser Science, American Physical Society
• 1995 Einstein Medal for Laser Science
• 1989 King Faisal International Prize for Science, Saudi Arabia
• 1988 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Preis, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
• 1987 Italgas Prize for Research and Innovation, Italgas, Torino
• 1986 Michelson Medal, The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia
• 1985 William F. Meggers Award, Optical Society of America
• Herbert P. Broida Prize, American Physical Society
• 1983 Cyrus B. Comstock Prize, U.S. National Academy of Science
• 1980 Otto Klung Prize, Freie Universität Berlin
• 1977 Alexander von Humboldt Senior U.S. Scientist Award
• Alfred P. Sloane Research Fellow
• 1973 California Scientist of the Year, Calif. Museum of Science and Industry
• Science Prize, Helmholtz-Gymnasium, Heidelberg
• 1961 Scheffel-Prize, Helmholtz-Gymnasium, Heidelberg
• 1960 Munich Fellow, Helmholtz-Gymnasium, Heidelberg

• Texas A & M University at Doha, Quatar Foundation Distinguished Lecturer
• Technical University of Prague, Nobel Initiative, Honeywell Lecture
• 2009 University of Bonn, Plücker Lecture
• 2008 University of Ottawa, New Horizons Lecture
• 2007 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, David and Edith Harris Lecture
• Czech Spectroscopic Society, Ioannes Marcus Marci Lecture
• University of Oxford, Cherwell Simon Lecture
• Free University, Berlin, Einstein Lecture
• University of Lund, Rydberg Lecture
• 2006 University of Ulm, Willis Lamb Lecture
• 2004 University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, John Anderson Lecture
• Humboldt University, Berlin, Max von Laue Lecture
• University of Uppsala, Angström Lecture
• 2004 University of Toronto, Harry L. Welsh Lectures
• University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Llewellyn G. Hoxton Lecture
• 2004 Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen, Niels Bohr Lecture
• Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Erwin Schrödinger Lecture
• 2002 Northwestern University, Evanston, Walter and Christine Heilborn Lectures
• 2000 Scuola Normale, Pisa, Enrico Fermi Lectures
• 1999 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Richard C. Lord Lecture
• 1996 Scuola Normale, Pisa, Adriano Gozzini Lecture
• 1994 University of California, Berkeley, Emilio Segré Distinguished Lecture

• 2001 Caltech, Pasadena, Gordon Moore Distinguished Scholar
• 1995 - University of Florence, Italy
• 1992 Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris
• 1988 - Stanford University, Consulting Professor
• 1982 Fudan University, Shanghai, China
• 1979 University of Florence, Italy
• 1979 University of Kyoto, Japan
• 1978 College de France, Paris

• 1986 - Director at the Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Garching, Germany and Professor at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• 1975 - 86 Professor of Physics, Stanford University
• 1972 - 75 Associate Professor of Physics, Stanford University
• 1970 - 72 NATO Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University, with Arthur L. Schawlow
• 1969 - 70 Assistant Professor, University of Heidelberg, Institute of Applied Physics

• (Physics Diploma 1966, Doctor degree „summa cum laude“ 1969)
• 1961 - 69 University of Heidelberg
• 1952 - 61 Helmholtz-Gymnasium, Heidelberg (Abitur 1961)