Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Alexander Horn

Alexander Horn has always been fascinated by Laser Technology. As a physicist, he wonders why things in nature happen the way they do. And that is precisely the focus of his research: what happens, for example, when laser radiation heats matter, causing it to vapourise and an ablation crater to form?

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Faculty of Engineering Sciences / Laser Institute, Mittweida University of Applied Sciences

Chair in Physics/Laser Microtechnologies

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Alexander Horn

Fakultät Ingenieurwissenschaften

+49 3727 581069

horn4@hs-mittweida.de

42-102

Visitor address

Schillerstr. 10

09648 Mittweida

42-102

Postal address

Mittweida University

Fakultät Ingenieurwissenschaften

Technikumplatz 17

09648 Mittweida

Teaching and Research

Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor’s)

Engineering Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics

Physical Engineering / Laser Technology (Bachelor’s)

Physics (Mechanics, Fluid Flow/Waves, Electrodynamics/Thermodynamics, Structure of Matter)

Physical Engineering / Laser Technology (Master’s)

Physics of Laser-Matter Interaction
Statistical Physics
Micro- and Nanotechnology
Modelling / Simulation
Optics / Electrodynamics

Foundation courses

Physics

Key research areas

Ultrashort-pulse laser measurement techniques, in particular optical pump-and-probe techniques
Process diagnostics and modelling of ultrafast laser-induced processes
Laser-induced selective processes for organic electronics and the life sciences
Non-linear and coherent processes in laser micro- and nano-machining

More information here: Horn Research Group

Career

since January 2022

Director of the Laser Institute at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences (LHM)

since November 2013

Professor of Physics and Laser Microtechnology at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, Chair of the LHM

since 2012

Venia legendi from Leibniz University Hannover in the field of ‘Ultrashort-pulse laser measurement technology’

2011–2013

Group Leader of the “Photovoltaics” group at the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH)

2010–2011

Project coordinator for a GAU Cluster of Excellence initiative in Göttingen, working under Prof. Alec Wodtke at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry

2008–2010

Visiting Professor at the Institute of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Kassel

2003–2009

Habilitation in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University,

Qualification: Privat-Dozent, venia legendi at RWTH Aachen University in the field of ultra-short-pulse laser measurement technology,

Supervisors: Prof. Reinhart Poprawe M.A., Prof. Friedrich Dausinger (IFSW Stuttgart, University of Stuttgart), Prof. Martin Richardson (CREOL, Orlando, USA)

2000–2003

PhD at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen

Degree: Doctor of Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.), Supervisor: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. R. Poprawe M.A.

1991–1998

Degree in Physics

Qualification: Diploma in Physics, University of Siegen

1989–1990

Upper school at the Ludwigshafen Technical College for Science and Technology.

Qualification: University of Applied Sciences Entrance Qualification

1986–1989

Apprenticeship at BASF in Ludwigshafen, Rhineland.
Qualification: Chemical Laboratory Technician

11 September 2003

PhD

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Reinhart Poprawe M.A., Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Manfred Hugenschmidt, Department of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University

1991–1998

Degree course

Physics, Master’s degree, University of Siegen

1986–1989

Training

Chemical laboratory assistant, BASF Ludwigshafen

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Projects and Publications

Selektiver und schädigungsarmer Laserabtrag von Schichtsystemen auf optischen Bauelementen

Term: 2025/12/01 – 2028/05/31
Financed by: BMWE über Projektträger DLR
Funding code: 01|F24626N
Project managers: Alexander Horn

Kontrolle der opto-magnetischen Eigenschaften von Legierungen durch Laser- und Ionenbestrahlung - COLASION

Term: 2025/08/01 – 2028/07/31
Financed by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding code: 554722570 / HO 3318/27-1
Project managers: Alexander Horn

Untersuchung von laserinduzierten Plasmen

Term: 2024/06/01 – 2027/05/31
Financed by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding code: 5238140788 / HO 3318/16-1
Project managers: Alexander Horn

Oberflächenmodifikation von Silizium auf der Nanometerskala

Term: 2022/09/01 – 2025/08/31
Financed by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Funding code: 505225793 / HO 3318/24-1
Project managers: Alexander Horn

Photonische Prozesse zum schnellen, präzisen und flexiblen Heizen von Halbleiterbauele- menten, Teilprojekt: Ultraschnelle in situ-Analyse von Annealing-Prozessen mittels Pump-Probe Messtechnik

Term: 2022/06/01 – 2024/12/31
Financed by: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
Funding code: 03EE1125B
Project managers: Alexander Horn

M. Olbrich, T. Pflug, A. Engel, A. Fabián Lasagni, A. Horn

Advanced evaluation of single-shot ultrafast imaging interferometry for increased resolution

Appeared in: Measurement Science and Technology 37 (2026), P. 195202

DOI: 10.1088/1361-6501/ae6679

T. Pflug, P. Cejpek, M. Olbrich, C. Wüstefeld, M. Ernstberger, M. Motylenko, D. Rafaja, A. Horn

Transient ablation topography of a thin chromium film after ultrashort pulsed laser irradiation in the spallation and phase explosion regime

Appeared in: Optics & Laser Technology 172 (2024), P. 110540

DOI: 10.1016/j.optlastec.2023.110540

T. Pflug, M. Olbrich, H. Loheit, A. Horn

Ultrafast spallation dynamics of a thin gold film characterized by imaging pump-probe interferometry

Appeared in: Applied Physics A 130 (2024), P. 632

DOI: 10.1007/s00339-024-07797-w

P. Lickschat, A. Engel, D. Metzner, A. Horn, S. Weißmantel

Experimental study on the ablation of stainless steel using multiple ultra-short laser pulses with tunable time delays

Appeared in: Applied Physics A 129 (2023), P. 674

DOI: 10.1007/s00339-023-06949-8

T. Pflug, J. Pablo‐Navarro, M. Anwar, M. Olbrich, C. Magén, M. Ibarra, K. Potzger, J. Faßbender, J. Lindner, A. Horn, R. Bali

Laser‐Induced Positional and Chemical Lattice Reordering Generating Ferromagnetism

Appeared in: Advanced Functional Materials, 2023

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202311951

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Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Alexander Horn

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