Ferenc Krausz Named Person of the Year by Public Media
Experimental physicist and Nobel Prize winner, Prof. Ferenc Krausz, has been honored as the Person of the Year 2023 by public media. The renowned physicist, who recently shared the 2023 Nobel Prize for Physics with Pierre Agostini and Anne L’Huillier, was the focal point of an in-depth interview on news channel M5.
During the interview, Prof. Krausz delved into his early interest in physics, which he developed during his primary school years. His passion for the subject continued to grow while he was a member of a mathematics club in high school in Székesfehérvár, Hungary. He credited his parents, both manual workers, for their unwavering support throughout his academic journey.
Reflecting on his educational path, Prof. Krausz highlighted the mentorship he received from esteemed professors like Károly Simonyi and György Marx. His research in laser physics, which began at the Vienna University of Technology, culminated in groundbreaking experiments in the early 2000s.
One of the pivotal moments in his career came in 2001 when his team successfully measured an attosecond pulse of light, a significant achievement in laser physics. Subsequently, Prof. Krausz held leadership positions at prestigious institutions such as the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics in Germany and the Department of Experimental Physics at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich.
His exceptional contributions to the field earned him prestigious awards such as the Wittgenstein Prize in 2002 and the Wolf Prize in 2022. Reflecting on his Nobel Prize win, Prof. Krausz described the initial shock followed by a resolute determination to navigate the newfound recognition.
In 2019, he spearheaded the establishment of a Molecular Fingerprint Research Center in Hungary, aiming to revolutionize medical diagnostics with advanced testing methods. Beyond his scientific endeavors, Prof. Krausz and his colleagues have initiated efforts to support victims of the conflict in Ukraine, particularly focusing on providing aid to schools and children impacted by the war.
Prof. Krausz’s unwavering dedication to scientific research, his innovative contributions to laser physics, and his commitment to humanitarian causes make him a deserving recipient of the Person of the Year accolade. His work continues to inspire and pave the way for advancements in the field of physics and beyond.
