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			{{Biography page}}

	{{Infobox scientist		{{Infobox scientist
	\| name = Henry C. Kapteyn		\| name = Henry C. Kapteyn

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{{Infobox scientist
| name = Henry C. Kapteyn
| image = Henry C Kapteyn.jpg
| birth_date = 21 January 1963
| birth_place = Chicago suburbs, Illinois, U.S.
| fields = Physics, Ultrafast Lasers, Coherent X-ray Science
| workplaces = Washington State University {{small|(1990–1996)}} [[Organization:University of Michigan|University of Michigan]] {{small|(1996–1999)}} [[Organization:University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado Boulder]] {{small|(1999–present)}} JILA (NIST/University of Colorado)
| alma_mater = [[Organization:Harvey Mudd College|Harvey Mudd College]] (BS, 1982) [[Organization:Princeton University|Princeton University]] (MS, 1984) [[Organization:University of California, Berkeley|University of California, Berkeley]] (PhD, 1989)
| doctoral_advisor =
| known_for = Femtosecond lasers, Tabletop X-ray lasers, High-harmonic generation
| awards = Member, United States National Academy of Sciences Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics (2021) Willis E. Lamb Award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics (2012) Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Science (2010) R. W. Wood Prize (2010) Ahmed Zewail Award in Ultrafast Science and Technology (2009) Adolph Lomb Medal (1993)
}}
'''Henry C. Kapteyn''' (born 21 January 1963 in Oak Lawn, Illinois (VS) is an American physicist and professor at the [[Organization:University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado Boulder]]. He is a Fellow of [[Organization:JILA|JILA]], a joint institute of the University of Colorado and the [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]] (NIST). Kapteyn is known for his work in ultrafast optical science, particularly the development of femtosecond lasers and tabletop coherent X-ray sources.<ref name="jila">{{cite web |url=https://jila.colorado.edu/kmgroup/people/kapteyn |title=Henry C. Kapteyn |website=jila.colorado.edu |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref><ref name="colorado">{{cite web |url=https://www.colorado.edu/physics/henry-kapteyn |title=Henry Kapteyn |website=colorado.edu |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref><ref name="optica_bio">{{cite web |url=https://www.optica.org/history/biographies/bios/henry_c_kapteyn |title=Henry C Kapteyn |website=www.optica.org |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref> His research focuses on ultrafast laser technology, dynamics in molecular and materials systems, and coherent X-ray generation.<ref name="colorado"/> He is the co-founder of KMLabs, a company specializing in ultrafast laser systems.<ref name="kml">{{cite web |url=https://www.kmlabs.com/founders-leadership-team |title=Founders and Leadership Team - KMLabs |website=kmlabs.com |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref><ref name="kmlhome">{{cite web |url=https://www.kmlabs.com |title=Home |website=www.kmlabs.com |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Kapteyn was born in 1963 in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, to parents who were post-World War II immigrants from the Netherlands.<ref name="tfi">{{cite web |url=https://fi.edu/en/awards/laureates/henry-c-kapteyn |title=Henry C. Kapteyn - The Franklin Institute |website=fi.edu |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref>

He earned his Bachelor of Science in physics from [[Organization:Harvey Mudd College|Harvey Mudd College]] in 1982, followed by a Master of Science from [[Organization:Princeton University|Princeton University]] in 1984. He completed his Ph.D. in physics at the [[Organization:University of California, Berkeley|University of California, Berkeley]] in 1989, where he began working with lasers.<ref name="kml"/><ref name="tfi"/>

== Career ==
After his Ph.D., Kapteyn held faculty positions at Washington State University (1990–1996) and the University of Michigan (1996–1999) before joining the University of Colorado Boulder in 1999 as a Professor of Physics and a Fellow of JILA.<ref name="jila"/><ref name="optica_bio"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/henry-kapteyn-cvflsi |title=Henry Kapteyn – NAS - National Academy of Sciences |website=nasonline.org |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref>

In 1994, he co-founded KMLabs with his wife and collaborator, Margaret Murnane.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kmlabs.com/news-and-events/kmlabs-founder-ceo-henry-c-kapteyn-interviewed-cctv |title=KMLabs Founder & CEO Henry C. Kapteyn, Interviewed on CCTV |website=kmlabs.com |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref> The company commercializes ultrafast laser technologies developed in their research and has received investment from Intel Capital.<ref name="kml"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://optics.org/news/6/11/8 |title=Intel backs KMLabs' ultrafast laser development |date=November 4, 2015 |website=optics.org |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref>

Kapteyn has collaborated extensively with Murnane on studies in femtosecond lasers and X-ray generation.<ref name="kml"/>

== Research ==
Kapteyn's research involves developing tabletop-scale laser technology for coherent X-rays, ultrafast dynamics in molecular and materials systems, and high-harmonic generation.<ref name="colorado"/><ref name="research">{{cite web |url=https://research.com/u/henry-c-kapteyn |title=Henry C. Kapteyn: Physics H-index & Awards - Academic Profile |website=research.com |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref> Contributions include techniques for generating coherent X-rays using femtosecond lasers, enabling studies at short length and time scales.<ref name="kml"/>

== Awards ==
Kapteyn is a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the [[Organization:American Physical Society|American Physical Society]], [[Organization:Optica (society)|Optica]], and American Association for the Advancement of Science.<ref name="kml"/><ref name="optica_bio"/>

* Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics (2021, shared with Margaret Murnane)<ref name="tfi"/>
* Willis E. Lamb Award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics (2012)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lambaward.com/winners/2012 |title=The 2012 Willis E. Lamb Award - Henry C. Kapteyn |website=www.lambaward.com |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref>
* Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Science (2010)<ref>{{cite web |last=Talbott |first=Clint |date=February 12, 2010 |title=Ultra-fast laser research wins top prize |url=https://www.colorado.edu/asmagazine-archive/node/404 |website=www.colorado.edu |access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref><ref name="optica_bio"/>
* R. W. Wood Prize (2010)<ref name="optica_bio"/>
* Ahmed Zewail Award in Ultrafast Science and Technology (2009)<ref name="optica_bio"/>
* Adolph Lomb Medal (1993)<ref name="kml"/><ref name="optica_bio"/>

== Publications ==
* {{cite journal |doi=10.1126/science.280.5368.1412 |title=Phase-matched generation of coherent soft X-rays |journal=Science |volume=280 |issue=5368 |pages=1412–1415 |year=1998 |last1=Rundquist |first1=A. |last2=Durfee |first2=C. G. |last3=Chang |first3=Z. |last4=Herne |first4=C. |last5=Backus |first5=S. |last6=Murnane |first6=M. M. |last7=Kapteyn |first7=H. C.|arxiv=2403.19636 }}
* {{cite journal |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.79.2967 |title=Generation of Coherent Soft X Rays at 2.7 nm Using High Harmonics |journal=Physical Review Letters |volume=79 |issue=16 |pages=2967 |year=1997 |last1=Chang |first1=Z. |last2=Rundquist |first2=A. |last3=Wang |first3=H. |last4=Murnane |first4=M. M. |last5=Kapteyn |first5=H. C.}}
* {{cite journal |doi=10.1063/1.1148795 |title=High power ultrafast lasers |journal=Review of Scientific Instruments |volume=69 |issue=3 |pages=1207–1223 |year=1998 |last1=Backus |first1=S. |last2=Durfee |first2=C. G. |last3=Murnane |first3=M. M. |last4=Kapteyn |first4=H. C.|hdl=2027.42/70759 |hdl-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |doi=10.1038/35018029 |title=Shaped-pulse optimization of coherent emission of high-harmonic soft X-rays |journal=Nature |volume=406 |issue=6792 |pages=164–166 |year=2000 |last1=Bartels |first1=R. A. |last2=Backus |first2=S. |last3=Zeek |first3=E. |last4=Misoguti |first4=L. |last5=Vdovin |first5=G. |last6=Christov |first6=I. P. |last7=Murnane |first7=M. M. |last8=Kapteyn |first8=H. C.|arxiv=2404.01324 }}
* {{cite journal |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.1251 |title=High-Harmonic Generation of Attosecond Pulses in the “Single-Cycle” Regime |journal=Physical Review Letters |volume=78 |issue=7 |pages=1251 |year=1997 |last1=Christov |first1=I. P. |last2=Murnane |first2=M. M. |last3=Kapteyn |first3=H. C.}}
* {{cite journal |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.3883 |title=Short-Pulse Laser Damage in Transparent Materials as a Function of Pulse Duration |journal=Physical Review Letters |volume=82 |issue=19 |pages=3883 |year=1999 |last1=Tien |first1=A.-C. |last2=Backus |first2=S. |last3=Kapteyn |first3=H. |last4=Murnane |first4=M. |last5=Mourou |first5=G.}}
* {{cite journal |doi=10.1038/nphoton.2010.256 |title=The attosecond nonlinear optics of bright coherent X-ray generation |journal=Nature Photonics |volume=4 |issue=12 |pages=822–832 |year=2010 |last1=Popmintchev |first1=T. |last2=Chen |first2=M.-C. |last3=Arpin |first3=P. |last4=Murnane |first4=M. M. |last5=Kapteyn |first5=H. C.}}
* {{cite journal |doi=10.1364/ol.18.000977 |title=Generation of 11-fs pulses from a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser |journal=Optics Letters |volume=18 |issue=12 |pages=977–979 |year=1993 |last1=Asaki |first1=M. T. |last2=Huang |first2=C.-P. |last3=Garvey |first3=D. |last4=Zhou |first4=J. |last5=Kapteyn |first5=H. C. |last6=Murnane |first6=M. M.}}
* {{cite journal |doi=10.1038/nmat2568 |title=Quasi-ballistic thermal transport from nanoscale interfaces observed using ultrafast coherent soft X-ray beams |journal=Nature Materials |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=26–30 |year=2010 |last1=Siemens |first1=M. E. |last2=Li |first2=Q. |last3=Yang |first3=R. |last4=Nelson |first4=K. A. |last5=Anderson |first5=E. H. |last6=Murnane |first6=M. M. |last7=Kapteyn |first7=H. C.}}
* {{cite journal |doi=10.1126/science.251.4993.531 |title=Ultrafast X-ray Pulses from Laser-Produced Plasmas |journal=Science |volume=251 |issue=4993 |pages=531–536 |year=1991 |last1=Murnane |first1=M. M. |last2=Kapteyn |first2=H. C. |last3=Rosen |first3=M. D. |last4=Falcone |first4=R. W.}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:American physicists]]
[[Category:Quantum information scientists]]

{{Sourceattribution|Henry Kapteyn}}

Biography:Henry Kapteyn - Revision history

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