Personal Page

Dominique Vernhet

Dominique Vernhet, Dr. sc. is a Senior Research Scientist (Directrice de recherche) at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and a senior researcher historically affiliated with UPMC (Université Pierre et Marie Curie, now part of Sorbonne Université) in Paris, France. She is a leading experimental physicist working in atomic and molecular physics, laser–matter interaction, cluster physics and materials science using intense laser and ion beams. (w3.insp.upmc.fr)

Academic Position & Affiliations

  • Directrice de recherche at CNRS, affiliated with the Institut des Nanosciences de Paris (INSP), Sorbonne Université/UPMC. (w3.insp.upmc.fr)
  • Leader within the Clusters and Surfaces under Intense Excitation team, focusing on dynamics of ion–surface interactions and atomic processes at surfaces. (w3.insp.upmc.fr)
  • Holds notable service roles including Vice-Dean for Faculty of Science and Engineering at Sorbonne Université, indicating leadership in research governance. (Sorbonne Université)

Her research bridges fundamental atomic collision physics, laser-based techniques and materials characterization, integrating fine-scale experimental methods to probe dynamic processes in matter under extreme excitation. (w3.insp.upmc.fr)

Major Scientific Contributions

Professor Vernhet’s scientific contributions include:

Laser-Matter Interaction & Cluster Physics

  • Studies of how laser pulses interact with atomic clusters, focusing on x-ray emission, energy transfer and highly charged ion production in strong fields — work that informs basic many-body physics and extreme field dynamics. (arXiv)

Ion-Surface Collision Dynamics

  • Research on highly charged ion (HCI) collisions with solids, revealing how electron capture and excitation processes, and multistep interactions influence excited-state populations and surface structure at atomic scales. (w3.insp.upmc.fr)

Nanoparticle Synthesis & Surface Chemistry

  • Collaborative work on modulating surface chemistry of nanoparticles produced by laser ablation in liquids, contributing to understanding of plasmonic properties and particle reactivity (e.g., surface oxidation of gold nanoparticles). (ResearchGate)

Bibliometric Output & Impact

According to citation aggregates (e.g., ResearchGate and scholarly bibliographies):

  • ~153 research works attributed to D. Vernhet across atomic physics, laser–cluster interaction, surface processes and materials science. (ResearchGate)
  • Collectively these works have received ~1,600+ citations, indicating a sustained international research impact. (ResearchGate)

Typical citation platforms like ResearchGate report her research engagement, though Clarivate Web of Science h-index is proprietary; her citation footprint across diverse physics domains suggests a moderate to high h-index typical for senior CNRS researchers active in experimental physical sciences.

Representative & Most-Cited Research

Verified influential publications include:

  • Studies on gold nanoparticles synthesized by laser pulsed ablation in liquids, showing how surface chemistry is modulated by halide conditions, published in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. (ResearchGate)
  • High-resolution x-ray spectroscopy of ion–surface collisions, contributing to understanding of projectile–surface dynamics useful in plasma physics and materials analysis. (ResearchGate)
  • Collisional studies of hollow atoms and excited state populations in ion–solid interactions, laying groundwork for atomic collision models. (w3.insp.upmc.fr)

These representative works span atomic collision physics, laser–matter interaction, nanoscience and spectroscopy.

International Cooperation & Projects

Professor Vernhet has participated in internationally collaborative experimental physics networks:

  • Through the FISIC (Fast Ion – Slow Ion Collisions) collaboration, an international platform involving scientists from France, Germany and Argentina, aimed at exploring fundamental electronic processes in ion collisions under controlled conditions. (w3.insp.upmc.fr)
  • Collaboration with research groups across European laboratories using facilities like GANIL and synchrotrons for advanced laser and ion beam experiments. (w3.insp.upmc.fr)

Books & Scholarly Chapters

While Professor Vernhet’s primary scholarly output is in peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings, she has served as an editor for proceedings (e.g., Journal of Physics: Conference Series related to photonic, electronic, and atomic collisions), reflecting stewardship in disseminating collective work in atomic and laser physics. (cris.fau.de)

Leadership, Mentoring & Service

  • Leadership roles include responsible research positions at INSP and faculty governance, indicating experience in strategic research planning and academic administration. (Sorbonne Université)
  • She also supervises doctoral researchers within the Clusters and Surfaces research group, facilitating international training in experimental physics. (w3.insp.upmc.fr)

Summary

Dominique Vernhet is a senior CNRS research scientist formerly associated with UPMC (Sorbonne Université) whose work has significantly advanced atomic and molecular collision physics, laser-cluster interaction and surface dynamics. She has contributed ~150+ research works with ~1,600+ citations, collaborated extensively in European and international experimental networks (e.g., FISIC), and played roles in research leadership and conference organization. Her scientific legacy lies in deepening understanding of ion–matter interactions and ultrafast laser physics through rigorous experimentation and international cooperation. (ResearchGate)