| Birth Date: | 25 November 1972 |
| Birth Place: | Kösching, Germany |
| Nationality: | German |
| Field: | Physics |
| Alma Mater: | Saarland University Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
| Awards: | Leibniz Prize (2011) |
| Known For: | Grating-based phase-contrast X-ray imaging Dark-field imaging |
Franz Pfeiffer (born 25 November 1972 in Kösching, Germany) is a German physicist known for his contributions to the development of Phase-contrast X-ray imaging and its applications in biomedical research.
Pfeiffer contributed to the extension of known imaging modalities such as Differential interference contrast microscopy and Dark-field microscopy to the X-ray regime. In 2006 he demonstrated the feasibility of phase sensitive X-ray imaging with conventional, polychromatic X-ray sources and a grating interferometer.[1] This enlarged the potential of X-ray phase imaging for clinical use as before the technique was only possible at synchrotron facilities. Pfeiffer further introduced the extraction of a supplementary signal (so-called "dark-field signal") sensitive to porous microstructure of a sample based on X-ray scattering.[2] His research group at the Technical University Munich demonstrated a range of possible applications of the new modalities in medical and material research.
Further Pfeiffer is known for his research in X-ray Ptychography,[3] X-ray tensor tomography,[4] [5] grating-based Neutron interferometric imaging[6] and iterative CT reconstruction algorithms. He is author and co-author of more than 250[7] scientific publications and inventor in several patents.
In 2011 he was awarded the Leibniz Prize for his achievements in X-ray physics.