Born on May 8, 1961 in Landshut. Study of physics and philosophy in Munich and Freiburg, doctorate (1990), German Habilitation in physics Freiburg Univ. (1995), Director and Scientific Member at the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (since 1999), Honorary Professor for Theoretical Quantum Dynamics at the Technical Univ. Dresden (since 2000).

Research:
I am interested in the dynamics of finite systems. This includes a finite number of particles/degrees of freedom or system with a well defined geometric boundary.
We aim at uncovering and understanding generic effects and mechanisms in the extreme regimes of ultracold or ultrafast dynamics.Most explicitly studied systems originate in the field of Atomic-Molecular and Optical Physics.

Topics include:
Non-adiabatic electron dynamics triggered by ultrashort laser pulses
Non-linear photon induced electron phenomena from high frequency pulses
Absorption and dissemination of light by atomic and molecular clusters
Ultralong Range Molecules (Trilobites)
Ultracold plasmas
Continnuum chemistry in the ultracold
(Rydberg exciton dynamics)
Threshold fragmenation of few-body systems
Doubly excited states of atoms

Non-mainstream interests include the role and character of time for mankind (and science) and the effect of sports on elderly and very ill people.