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International Max Planck Research School for Advanced Photon Science

Scientists in protective clothing behind an optical setup.

Exploring the Frontiers of Light-Matter Interaction

The International Max Planck Research School for Advanced Photon Science (IMPRS-APS) is a graduate school dedicated to the advancement of photon science, spanning areas such as ultrafast laser science, attosecond physics, high-precision spectroscopy, biomedical applications of advanced spectroscopic methods, data science, and laser particle acceleration. Doctoral candidates benefit from extensive training opportunities, including interdisciplinary scientific knowledge, soft skills, industry exposure, and more.

Latest News

Portrait photo of male person with beard, wearing a blue hoodie. In the back you can see yellow and brown leafs.

“A PhD shapes you in many ways”

April 21, 2026

We recently caught up with our alumnus Johannes Schötz, looking back at his PhD research and experiences and learning about his current work life at OmegaLambdaTec.

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Portrait photo in landscape of a male person (Marco Dassie) with glasses in blue clean room lab coat and hair net standing next to a laser setup.

A simple path to attosecond science

April 10, 2026

Our doctoral candidate Marco Dassie has published a new paper in J. Phys. Photonics.

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Portrait photo of Alina Bach (long, brown hair, wearing a red pullover) and Benedict Röken (blond hair, beard, dark-framed glasses, wearing a metal band shirt and a black hoody).

For a vivid and beneficial exchange at IMPRS-APS

April 08, 2026

Alina Bach and Benedict Röcken have been elected as our new PhD representatives.

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About IMPRS-APS

Established in 2006 at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) and directed by Nobel Laureate Prof. Ferenc Krausz, the IMPRS-APS provides a unique and stimulating environment for PhD students who are passionate about exploring the frontiers of light-matter interaction.

This initiative is part of a network of 68 International Max Planck Research Schools, which have become central to the Max Planck Society’s efforts to promote excellent doctoral education since 2000. Together, they provide talented German and international junior researchers with outstanding conditions to complete their doctorates.

Program Highlights

▶ Interdisciplinary collaboration
▶ Cutting-edge facilities
▶ Comprehensive training
▶ Career development

Student Experience

▶ Annual meetings
▶ Soft-skills courses
▶ Special lectures

Events

April 2026

Media Training: Writing Short News Items

Apr 16, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

“Effective Collaboration in Doctoral Supervision” (MCQST) (Prof. Gitte Wichmann-Hansen)

Apr 21, 2026 at 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Company Visit at Qlibri

Apr 28, 2026 from 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Upcoming Events

Company Visit at Qlibri

Apr 28, 2026 02:00 PM - 05:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Schellingstr. 4, 80799 Munich (2nd + 3rd floor)

Company Visit at DLR

May 21, 2026

DLR Oberpfaffenhofen

On-Site Career Day at TOPTICA

Jun 10, 2026 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Upcoming Talks

"Next generation mid-infrared frequency comb lasers: recent progress and opportunities" (Prof. Irina Sorokina)

May 12, 2026 02:30 PM (Local Time Germany)

Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Hans-Kopferman-Straße 1, 85748 Garching, Room: Herbert Walther Lecture Hall

"Ultrafast Dynamics and Strong-Field Phenomena in Liquid Crystals" (Dr. Laura Cattaneo)

Jun 15, 2026 09:15 AM - 10:15 AM (Local Time Germany)

Am Coulombwall 1, Room: LMU lecture hall

"To be announced" (Prof. Franck Lépine)

Jun 30, 2026 02:30 PM (Local Time Germany)

Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Hans-Kopferman-Straße 1, 85748 Garching, Room: Herbert Walther Lecture Hall

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IMPRS-APS on Social Media

YouTube

Find interviews with our doctoral candidates and alumni and impressions from our events on our YouTube channel.

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LinkedIn

Follow us on LinkedIn to always stay up to date with the latest news and events from the IMPRS-APS.

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Join our community!

As an IMPRS-APS member or alumnus, feel free to join our exclusive LinkedIn group - a place to exchange and connect.

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Image of an electron and a laser wave passing through each other

Attosecond Atomic and Solid-State Physics – Theory

Prof. Joachim Burgdörfer (TU Wien)

Graphic of an atom with two electrons spinning very fast.

Ultrafast Light Manipulating Spin- and Charge: Transient States of Matter

Prof. Martin Schultze (TU Graz)

Graphic of a microchip hit by a laser and information flowing through it.

Attosecond science (theory)

Apl. Prof. Vladislav Yakovlev (MPQ, LMU)

Attosecond physics in atoms and molecules

Prof. Abdallah Azzeer (KSU) - associated

Attosecond science (experiment)

Attosecond science (experiment)

Dr. Nicholas Karpowicz (MPQ)

a light pulse hits a molecule in the blood

Ultrafast metrology for shaping the future of healthcare

Prof. Ferenc Krausz (MPQ, LMU)

Data-driven Optimization of Laserplasma Physics & Interaction

Dr. Andreas Döpp (LMU)

Photo of an optical setup in the laboratory

Dynamic Spectroscopies

Prof. Jürgen Hauer (TUM)

Graphic showing how a laser passes through a blood cell

Broadband infrared diagnostics

Dr. Mihaela Žigman (LMU)

Graphic showing how a broadband mid-infrared femtosecond enhancement cavity is used for field-resolved spectroscopy of gases.

Field-resolved spectroscopy and cavity enhancement

Dr. Ioachim Pupeza (LMU)

Picture of the ATLAS Ti:Sapphire amplifier crystal

Generation of ultra-high intensity laser pulses, laser-based particle acceleration

Prof. Stefan Karsch (LMU)

Laser-driven ion acceleration

Prof. Jörg Schreiber (LMU)

graphic of a human head and lasers

Medical Physics

Prof. Katia Parodi (LMU)

Precision metrology for fundamental research

Prof. Thomas Udem (MPQ)

Ultrafast quantum physics and nanophotonics

Ultrafast quantum physics and nanophotonics

Prof. Peter Hommelhoff (LMU)