Apl. Prof. Dr. Benno Willke

Education

2009    Habilitation (Leibniz Universität Hannover)
1992    PhD (Universität Hannover)
1989   Diplom (Universität Hannover )

Scientific Activities

since 1998      
Senior Scientist (Leibniz Universität Hannover)

• Coordination and Commissioning of the Gravitational Wave Detector GEO600
• Subsystem Lead GEO600 and Advanced LIGO Laser System
  
• Head of Laser group at Albert Einstein Institute
  
• Lectures in Laser-Interferometry, Laser-Stabilization and Experimental Physics
  

1997–1998 
Feodor-Lynen-Fellow (Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung), Stanford University (USA)

• Integration of the pre-modecleaner into the LIGO Lasersystem
• cavity-ring-down spectroscopy, dynamic response of Fabry-Perot Cavities, laser amplification at the quantum limit

1993–1997 
Junior Scientist (Leibniz Universität Hannover)

• Design of the Gravitational Wave Detector GEO600
• Design and Commissioning of laser laboratories 

Committees

since 1997     Council Member der LIGO Science Collaboration
since 2000     GEO Executive Committee
2005-2011     EGO Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee
2005–2008     LIGO Program Advisory Committee

Awards

2023    Berthold Leibinger Innovation Prize
2017    Bruno Rossi Prize of the American Astronomical Society (shared with LIGO Scientific Collaboration)
2017    Group Achievement Award of the Royal Astronomical Society (shared with the LIGO team)
2017    Princess of Asturias Award (shared with LIGO Scientific Collaboration)     
2016    Gruber Prize (shared with LIGO Scientific Collaboration)  
2016    Special Breakthrough Prize (shared with LIGO Scientific Collaboration)