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	{{Infobox scientist		{{Infobox scientist
	\| name = Margaret Murnane		\| name = Margaret Murnane

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{{Short description|Irish physicist and pioneer of ultrafast x-ray science}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Margaret Murnane
| image = Margaret_Murnane_2016.jpg
| caption = Margaret Murnane
| birth_name = Margaret Mary Murnane
| birth_date = 23 January 1959
| birth_place = County Limerick, Ireland
| fields = Physics; atomic, molecular, and optical physics; laser science; ultrafast x-ray science
| work_institutions = University of Colorado Boulder; University of Michigan; Washington State University; University of California, Berkeley
| alma_mater = University College Cork; University of California, Berkeley
| known_for = Ultrafast x-ray science; high-harmonic generation; tabletop coherent x-ray sources; nanometer-scale imaging
| spouse = [[Biography:Henry Kapteyn|Henry Kapteyn]]
| awards = MacArthur Fellowship (2000); Frederic Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize; Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics; R. W. Wood Prize
}}

'''Margaret Mary Murnane''' (born 23 January 1959) is an Irish physicist known for work in ultrafast laser science, high-harmonic generation, and coherent x-ray sources. She is a Distinguished Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and a fellow of JILA, where her research connects laser physics, atomic and molecular physics, nanoscience, and materials imaging.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Margaret Murnane |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Murnane |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Murnane, Margaret |url=https://history.aip.org/phn/11607013.html |publisher=American Institute of Physics |access-date=2026-05-23}}</ref>

Murnane's work helped establish tabletop ultrafast x-ray science: the use of compact laser-driven sources to generate coherent extreme-ultraviolet and soft x-ray light. These sources allow researchers to observe fast electronic, magnetic, chemical, and structural dynamics in matter.

== Quantum and optical physics ==
High-harmonic generation is a strongly quantum process in which intense laser fields drive electrons away from atoms or solids and then back again, producing bursts of high-frequency light. Murnane and collaborators developed experimental methods that made this process useful as a coherent laboratory-scale x-ray source.

In the Quantum Collection, Murnane is especially connected with:
* [[Physics:Quantum optics]]
* [[Physics:Quantum dynamics]]
* [[Physics:Quantum matter]]
* [[Physics:Quantum spectroscopy]]

== Ultrafast x-ray science ==
Murnane's research group uses femtosecond and attosecond light pulses to study how electrons, spins, and lattice motion evolve in materials. This work links quantum dynamics with practical imaging and spectroscopy tools. It is important for observing processes that are too fast for ordinary optical or x-ray instruments.

She has also worked closely with [[Biography:Henry Kapteyn|Henry Kapteyn]] on laser-driven coherent x-ray generation and founded KMLabs with him to commercialize ultrafast laser technology.

== Recognition ==
Murnane received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2000. Her later honors include major awards from optics and physics organizations for contributions to ultrafast optical science, coherent x-ray generation, and imaging.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Margaret Murnane, Ph.D. |url=https://www.simonsfoundation.org/people/margaret-murnane/ |publisher=Simons Foundation |access-date=2026-05-23}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Biography:Henry Kapteyn]]
* [[Physics:Quantum optics]]
* [[Physics:Quantum dynamics]]
* [[Physics:Quantum spectroscopy]]

== References ==
{{reflist|3}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.colorado.edu/physics/margaret-murnane University of Colorado Boulder profile]
* [https://jila.colorado.edu/kmgroup/ Kapteyn-Murnane group]
* [https://history.aip.org/phn/11607013.html American Institute of Physics profile]

{{Author|Harold Foppele}}

{{Sourceattribution|Biography:Margaret Murnane|1}}

Biography:Margaret Murnane - Revision history

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