2023 joint winner Professor Ferenc Krausz will give the annual Larmor Lecture at the School of Mathematics and Physics at Queen’s on Thursday 2 November 2023. Prof Krausz is Director of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and Professor of Experimental Physics-Laser Physics at the Ludwig Maximilian University, both situated in Munich, Germany. His talk will be entitled ‘Attosecond Science – From Capturing Electrons to Probing Human Health’.

He was announced as this year’s Nobel Physics winner earlier this month alongside Prof Pierre Agostini of Ohio State University, USA and Prof Anne L’Huillier of Lund University, Sweden. The trio’s research revolves around what happens with electrons in atoms during extremely small fragments of time – ‘attosecond’ science. Although their work is highly complex, fundamental science, it’s envisaged it will pave the way for improvements in electronics and disease diagnosis. They will receive their plaudits on 10 December – the anniversary of Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel’s death – at a ceremony in Oslo.

Prof Krausz has enthusiastically accepted the invitation to give a public lecture at Queen’s from its Head of School of Maths and Physics, Prof Mauro Paternostro.

Prof Paternostro said: “We are tremendously excited to host Prof Krausz, and so soon after his award was announced. “The School has a long tradition of seminal contributions to ultrafast atomic physics, both theoretically and experimentally. Having Prof Krausz as the next Larmor speaker is an amazing opportunity to celebrate the progress that the atomic-physics community has made in harnessing the fundamental processes that rule the interaction of light with matter.

“We are working with Prof Krausz to also arrange a masterclass so that early-career researchers and research students can be exposed to a world-calibre scientist and be inspired by his achievement.”

Members of the public are welcome to attend the lecture on Thursday 2 November at 4pm, but places are limited.

Register here: Annual Larmor Lecture.