Hans Riesen

Emeritus Professor Hans Riesen holds the position of Professor in Physical Chemistry/Chemical Physics (Laser Spectroscopy) at UNSW Canberra, University of New South Wales. He obtained his lic.-phil.-nat. degree in 1983 and Dr. phil. nat. in 1987 from the University of Berne, Switzerland, having studied at both ETH Zurich and the University of Berne. His doctoral thesis focused on the optical spectroscopy of exchange coupled binuclear chromium(III) complexes. Between 1987 and 1998, he was employed at the Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, advancing through roles including Post-doctoral Fellow, Research Fellow, ARC Research Fellow, and ARC Fellow under the supervision of Professor Elmars Krausz. In 1998, he joined UNSW Canberra as a Lecturer and progressed to full Professor. Additionally, he served as Associate Dean (Research) from May 2012 to May 2020.

Professor Riesen's research spans over 42 years and centers on laser spectroscopy techniques such as spectral hole-burning applied to transition metal ion doped insulators and wide band gap semiconductors. His work explores light-induced changes in solid-state materials with applications in ultra-high density optical data storage, optical signal processing, and the generation of slow and fast light through transient hole-burning. Notably, his team discovered a novel X-ray storage technology for personal and clinical dosimetry as well as medical imaging, leading to the establishment of a UNSW spin-off company, Dosimetry & Imaging Pty Ltd, which is commercializing this innovation. Related materials are being developed in a joint venture with ANU, UniSA, and a Melbourne-based company for high-density optical data storage. He has authored more than 140 journal articles, three book chapters—including "Optical Storage Phosphors and Materials for Ionizing Radiation" (2012) and "Laser Spectroscopy" (1999)—and holds several international patents in the USA, Europe, and Australia. Key publications include "Efficient X-ray Generation of Sm²⁺ in Nanocrystalline BaFCl/Sm³⁺: a Photoluminescent X-ray Storage Phosphor" (Inorganic Chemistry, 2007) and "On the origins of the green luminescence in the “zero-dimensional perovskite” Cs₄PbBr₆: conclusive results from cathodoluminescence imaging" (Nanoscale, 2019). His contributions have been supported by multiple Australian Research Council grants and fellowships, including the ARC Fellowship from 1993 to 1998.

Professional Email: h.riesen@adfa.edu.au