At the crossroads of many disciplines

Meet our new doctoral researcher Florian Schweiger.

Working at the crossroads of many research disciplines is what our new IMPRS-APS doctoral candidate Florian Schweiger enjoys most about his research. In his PhD, Florian is working in the field of laser-driven ion acceleration in Prof. Jörg Schreiber’s group at LMU. Get to know Floran and his research in this interview.

What’s the main research focus of your PhD?

Laser-driven ion acceleration is a promising successor to conventional linear and ring accelerators. Thanks to the ultra-high intensities of modern lasers, ions can be accelerated over distances of only a few micrometres, which could make future accelerators far more compact and cost-efficient. So far, however, the process suffers from strong shot-to-shot fluctuations and finding the right combination of laser and target settings is challenging. In my PhD, I use machine-learning methods to efficiently find the best settings, working towards a stable laser-ion accelerator for applications such as radiation therapy that demand precise control over the ion-beam properties.

What excites you most about this field?


Laser-driven ion acceleration sits at the crossroads of many disciplines, from ultra-short high-intensity laser physics to plasma physics and machine learning. Working at this crossroads is what I enjoy most, as every problem pushes me to develop across several disciplines at once.

What and where did you study?
 

I did both my Bachelor's and Master's in Physics at LMU, in the beautiful city of Munich.

What attracted you to the IMPRS-APS program?

The chance to exchange ideas with peers from a wide range of research areas was a big draw for me. On top of that, the program offers a rich set of opportunities to keep developing myself, both scientifically and personally.

What skills do you want to develop during your PhD?


I want to deepen my physical understanding and sharpen my problem-solving skills. At the same time, I'd like to keep growing on the project-management side, since modern experiments depend on coordinating many moving parts.

What is something you enjoy doing outside of research?

Outside of research, I like to go hiking or road cycling, enjoy playing video games, and love working on Arduino-based DIY electronics projects.

Thanks for the interview!

 

Pictures: Florian Schweiger