Nicholas Matlis

Biography

Nicholas Matlis received his Ph.D. in 2006 from the University of Texas at Austin where he captured the snapshots of elusive plasma waves that drive laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs) for the first time using Frequency Domain Holography. He subsequently spent 8 years at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory where he continued working on the development of novel diagnostics and controls for LPAs, including colliding-pulse injection and demonstration for the first time of LPA staging. In 2015 he joined the Ultrafast Optics and X-rays group in the Center for Free Electron Laser Science at DESY where he was the leader of the experimental team implementing the AXSIS project which aims at pioneering THz-powered electron acceleration to develop a compact attosecond x-ray light source and has led to multiple records in THz generation and electron acceleration. Currently he holds a position as Associate Professor at the Arizona State University in the Biodesign Institute leading a research group focused on high-field THz-driven material dynamics as well as contributing to the NSF-supported CXFEL project to build a compact X-ray free-electron laser.