Sebastian Eckert entwickelt am Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin Instrumentierung für Weichröntgen-Absorptionsspektroskopie und Resonante Ineastische Röntgenstreuung an flüssigen Proben an Synchrotron Strahlungsquellen und Freie Elektronen Lasern. In seiner Doktorarbeit untersuchte er die Dynamik von Protonen in Flüssigkeiten mit ebendiesen Spektroskopie-Methoden. In diesem Zusammenhang führte das erste  Stickstoff K-Kanten RIXS Experiment mit femtosekunden Zeitauflösung am FEL LCLS durch und entwickelte die Experimente EDAX und AXSYS-NEXAFS am Synchrotron BESSY II, die RIXS und zeitaufgelöste Röntgenabsorptionsmessungen an Flüssigkeitsstrahlen ermöglichen. In den Folgejahren trug er zur Entwicklung eines laborbasierten HHG femtosekunden Röntgenabsorptionsexperiments für flüssige und gasförmige Probenumgebungen bei. Zurück am HZB, fokussiert er sich auf den Betrieb und die Entwicklung des AXSYS-NEXAFS Instruments und hochaufgelöste RIXS Projekte an den Experimenten METRIXS bei BESSY II, VERITAS bei MAX IV und HRIXS bei European X-FEL.

Veröffentlichungen

2025


  • Schlappa, J.; Ghiringhelli, G.; Van Kuiken, B.E.; Teichmann, M.; Miedema, P.S.; Delitz, J.T.; Gerasimova, N.; Molodtsov, S.; Adriano, L.; Baranasic, B.; Broers, C.; Carley, R.; Gessler, P.; Ghodrati, N.; Hickin, D.; Hoang, L.P.; Izquierdo, M.; Mercadier, L.; Mercurio, G.; Parchenko, S.; Stupar, M.; Yin, Z.; Martinelli, L.; Merzoni, G.; Peng, Y.Y.; Reuss, T.; Sreekantan, S.; Lalithambika, N.; Techert, S.; Laarmann, T.; Huotari, S.; Schroeter, C.; Langer, B.; Giessel, T.; Buchheim, J.; Gwalt, G.; Sokolov, A.; Siewert, F.; Buechner, R.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Eckert, S.; Liu, C.-Y.; Sohrt, C.; Weniger, C.; Pietzsch, A.; Neppl, S.; Senf, F.; Scherz, A.; Föhlisch, A.: The Heisenberg-RIXS instrument at the European XFEL. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation 32 (2025), p. 29–45

2024


  • Ignatova, N.; Kimberg, V.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Pietzsch, A.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Kennedy, B.; Dantz, M.; Schmitt, T.; Odelius, M.; Föhlisch, A.; Vaz Da Cruz, V.: Ballistic and delayed photodissociation channels in the ˜B 21A1 state of water studied with resonant inelastic x-ray scattering. Physical Review A 110 (2024), p. 033119/1-9

  • Mascarenhas, E.J.; Fondell, M.; Büchner, R.; Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Föhlisch, A.: The Role of the Lowest Excited Triplet State in Defining the Rate of Photoaquation of Hexacyanometalates. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 15 (2024), p. 241-247

  • Savchenko, V.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Föhlisch, A.: Electronic structure, bonding and stability of fumarate, maleate, and succinate dianions from X-ray spectroscopy. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 26 (2024), p. 2304-2311

  • Wallick, R.F.; Chakrabati, S.; Burke, J.H.; Gnewkow, R.; Byeong Chae, Ju; Rossi, T.C.; Mantouvalou, I.; Kanngiesser, B.; Fondell, M.; Eckert, S.; Dykstra, C.; Smith, L.E.; Vura-Weis, J.; Mirica, L.; Van der Veen, R.: Excited-State Identification of a Nickel-Bipyridine Photocatalyst by Time-Resolved X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 15 (2024), p. 4976–4982

2022


  • Eckert, S.; Mascarenhas, E.J.; Mitzner, R.; Jay, R.M.; Pietzsch, A.; Fondell, M.; da Cruz, V.V.; Föhlisch, A.: From the Free Ligand to the Transition Metal Complex: FeEDTA- Formation Seen at Ligand K-Edges. Inorganic Chemistry 61 (2022), p. 10321-10328

  • Eckert, S.; Winghart, M.-O.; Kleine, C.; Banerjee, A.; Ekimova, M.; Ludwig, J.; Harich, J.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Pines, E.; Huse, N.; Wernet, P.; Odelius, M.; Nibbering, E.T. J.: Electronic Structure Changes of an Aromatic Amine Photoacid along the Förster Cycle. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 61 (2022), p. e202200709/1-7

  • Eckert, S.; Winghart, M.-O.; Kleine, C.; Banerjee, A.; Ekimova, M.; Ludwig, J.; Harich, J.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Pines, E.; Huse, N.; Wernet, P.; Odelius, M.; Nibbering, E.T.J.: Änderungen der elektronischen Struktur einer Amino-Photosäure entlang des Förster Zyklus. Angewandte Chemie 134 (2022), p. e202200709/1-8

  • Mascarenhas, E.J.; Fondell, M.; Büchner, R.; Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Föhlisch, A.: Photo-induced ligand substitution of Cr(CO)6 in 1-pentanol probed by time resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 24 (2022), p. 17979–17985

  • Ochmann, M.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Eckert, S.; Huse, N.; Föhlisch, A.: R-Group stabilization in methylated formamides observed by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. Chemical Communications 58 (2022), p. 8834–8837

  • Pietzsch, A.; Niskanen, J.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Büchner, R.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Jay, R.M.; Lu, X.; McNally, D.; Schmitt, T.; Föhlisch, A.: Cuts through the manifold of molecular H2O potential energy surfaces in liquid water at ambient conditions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America : PNAS 119 (2022), p. e2118101119/1-6

  • Vaz Da Cruz, V.; Büchner, R.; Fondell, M.; Pietzsch, A.; Eckert, S.; Föhlisch, A.: Targeting Individual Tautomers in Equilibrium by Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 13 (2022), p. 2459-2466

  • Vaz da Cruz, V.; Mascarenhas, E.J.; Buechner, R.; Jay, R.M.; Fondell, M.; Eckert, S.; Föhlisch, A.: Metal-water covalency in the photo-aquated ferrocyanide complex as seen by multi-edge picosecond X-ray absorption. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 24 (2022), p. 27819-27826

2021


  • Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Ochmann, M.; Von Ahnen, I.; Föhlisch, A.; Huse, N.: Breaking the Symmetry of Pyrimidine: Solvent Effects and Core-Excited State Dynamics. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 12 (2021), p. 8637–8643

  • Jay, R.M.; Eckert, S.; Van Kuiken, B.E.; Ochmann, M.; Hantschmann, M.; Cordones, A.A.; Cho, H.; Hong, K.; Ma, R.; Lee, J.H.; Dakovski, G.L.; Turner, J.J.; Minitti, M.P.; Quevedo, W.; Pietzsch, A.; Beye, M.; Kim, T.K.; Schoenlein, R.W.; Wernet, P.; Föhlisch, A.; Huse, N.: Following Metal-to-Ligand Charge-Transfer Dynamics with Ligand and Spin Specificity Using Femtosecond Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering at the Nitrogen K-Edge. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 12 (2021), p. 6676–6683

  • Kleine, C.; Ekimova, M.; Winghart, M.O.; Eckert, S.; Reichel, O.; Löchel, H.; Probst, J.; Braig, C.; Seifert, C.; Erko, A.; Sokolov, A.; Vrakking, M.J.J.; Nibbering, E.T.J.; Rouzée, A.: Highly efficient soft x-ray spectrometer for transient absorption spectroscopy with broadband table-top high harmonic sources. Structural Dynamics 8 (2021), p. 034302/1-6

  • Vaz da Cruz, V.; Eckert, S.; Foehlisch, A.: TD-DFT simulations of K-edge resonant inelastic X-ray scattering within the restricted subspace approximation. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 23 (2021), p. 1835-1848

2020


  • Eckert, S.; Winghart, M.-O.; Kleine, C.; Banerjee, A.; Ekimova, M.; Ludwig, J.; Harich, J.; Mitzner, R.; Aminov, D.; Pines, D.; Pines, E.; Huse, N.; Odelius, M.; Nibbering, E. T. J.: Deciphering Photoacidity by Following Electronic Charge Distribution Changes along the Photoacid Förster Cycle with Time-Resolved Nitrogen K-Edge X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy. In: The 22nd International Conference on Ultrafast Phenomena 2020 : 16–19 November 2020, Washington, D.C., United StatesWashington, D.C.: OSA, 2020 OSA Conference Proceedings. - ISBN 978-1-943580-83-5, p. Tu2A.6/1-3

  • Jay, R.M.; Eckert, S.; Mitzner, R.; Fondell, M.; Föhlisch, A.: Quantitative evaluation of transient valence orbital occupations in a 3d transition metal complex as seen from the metal and ligand perspective. Chemical Physics Letters 754 (2020), p. 137681/1-5

  • Jay, R.M.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Föhlisch, A.: Probing Solute-Solvent Interactions of Transition Metal Complexes Using L-Edge Absorption Spectroscopy. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 124 (2020), p. 5636-5645

2019


  • Eckert, S.; Norell, J.; Raphael, J.; Mattis, F.; Mitzner, R.; Michael, O.; Alexander, F.: T1 Population as the Driver of Excited-State Proton-Transfer in 2-Thiopyridone. Chemistry - A European Journal 25 (2019), p. 1733-1739

  • Eckert, Sebastian Oliver: Accessing Active Sites of Molecular Proton Dynamics. , Potsdam, Universität Potsdam, Diss., 2019
    https://www.gbv.de/dms/tib-ub-hannover/1662748493.pdf
    https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/42587

  • Jay, R.M.; Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Foehlisch, A.: Kovalenzgetriebene Erhaltung lokaler Ladungsdichten in einem durch Metall-Ligand-Ladungstransfer angeregten Eisenphotosensibilisator. Angewandte Chemie 131 (2019), p. 10853 –10857

  • Jay, R.M.; Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Foehlisch, A.: Cover: Kovalenzgetriebene Erhaltung lokaler Ladungsdichten in einem durch Metall-Ligand-Ladungstransfer angeregten Eisenphotosensibilisator. Angewandte Chemie 131 (2019)

  • Jay, R.M.; Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Föhlisch, A.: Covalency-Driven Preservation of Local Charge Densities in a Metal-to-Ligand Charge-Transfer Excited Iron Photosensitizer. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 58 (2019), p. 10742-10746

  • Niskanen, J.; Fondell, M.; Sahle, C.; Eckert, S.; Jay, R.; Gilmore, K.; Pietzsch, A.; Dantz, M.; Lu, X.; McNally, D.; Schmitt, T.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Kimberg, V.; Gel’mukhanov, F.; Föhlisch, A.: Compatibility of quantitative X-ray spectroscopy with continuous distribution models of water at ambient conditions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America : PNAS 116 (2019), p. 4058-4063

  • Niskanen, J.; Fondell, M.; Sahle, C.J.; Eckert, S.; Jay, R.; Gilmore, K.; Pietzsch, A.; Dantz, M.; Lu, X.; McNally, D.E.; Schmitt, T.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Kimberg, V.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Foehlisch, A.: Reply: Why X-ray spectral features are compatible to continuous distribution models in ambient water. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America : PNAS 116 (2019), p. 17159

  • Norell, J.; Eckert, S.; Van Kuiken, B. E.; Foehlisch, A.; Odelius, M.: Ab initio simulations of complementary K-edges and solvatization effects for detection of proton transfer in aqueous 2-thiopyridone. The Journal of Chemical Physics 151 (2019), p. 114117/1-12

  • Vaz da Cruz, V.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Eckert, S.; Iannuzzi, M.; Ertan, E.; Pietzsch, A.; Couto, R.C.; Niskanen, J.; Fondell, M.; Dantz, M.; Schmitt, T.; Lu, X.; McNally, D.; Jay, R.M.; Kimberg, V.; Foehlisch, A.; Odelius, M.: Probing hydrogen bond strength in liquid water by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. Nature Communications 10 (2019), p. 1013/1-9

  • Vaz da Cruz, V.; Ignatova, N.; Couto, R.C.; Fedotov, D.A.; Rehn, D.R.; Savchenko, V.; Norman, P.; Agren, H.; Polyutov, S.; Niskanen, J.; Eckert, S.; Jay, R.M.; Fondell, M.; Schmitt, T.; Pietzsch, A.; Foehlisch, A.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Odelius, M.; Kimberg, V.: Nuclear dynamics in resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and X-ray absorption of methanol. The Journal of Chemical Physics 150 (2019), p. 234301/1-20

2018


  • Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Ertan, E.; Ignatova, N.; Polyutov, S.; Cuoto, R.; Fondell, M.; Dantz, M.; Kennedy, B.; Schmitt, T.; Pietzsch, A.; Odelius, M.; Föhlisch, A.: One-dimensional cuts through multidimensional potential-energy surfaces by tunable x rays. Physical Review A 97 (2018), p. 053410/1-7

  • Ertan, E.; Savchenko, V.; Ignatova, N.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Couto, R.C.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Dantz, Ma.; Kennedy, B.; Schmitt, T.; Pietzsch, A.; Föhlisch, A.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Odelius, M.; Kimberg, V.: Ultrafast dissociation features in RIXS spectra of the water molecule. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 20 (2018), p. 14384-14397

  • Jay, R.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Miedema, P.; Norell, J.; Pietzsch, A.; Quevedo, W.; Niskanen, J.; Kunnus, K.; Föhlisch, A.: The nature of frontier orbitals under systematic ligand exchange in (pseudo-)octahedral Fe(II) complexes. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 20 (2018), p. 27745-27751

  • Jay, R.; Norell, J.; Eckert, S.; Hantschmann, M.; Beye, M.; Kennedy, B.; Quevedo, W.; Schlotter, W.; Dakovski, G.; Minitti, M.; Hoffmann, M.; Mitra, A.; Moeller, S.; Nordlund, D.; Zhang, W.; Liang, H.; Kunnus, K.; Kubicek, K.; Techert, S.; Lundberg, M.; Wernet, P.; Gaffney, K.; Odelius, M.; Föhlisch, A.: Disentangling Transient Charge Density and Metal-Ligand Covalency in Photoexcited Ferricyanide with Femtosecond Resonant Inelastic Soft X-ray Scattering. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 9 (2018), p. 3538-3543

  • Norell, J.; Jay, R.; Hantschmann, M.; Eckert, S.; Guo, M.; Gaffney, K.; Wernet, P.; Lundberg, M.; Föhlisch, A.; Odelius, M.: Fingerprints of electronic, spin and structural dynamics from resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering in transient photo-chemical species. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 20 (2018), p. 7243-7253

2017


  • Couto, R.C.; Cruz, V.V.; Ertan, E.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Dantz, M.; Kennedy, B.; Schmitt, T.; Pietzsch, A.; Guimaraes, F.F.; Agren, H.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Odelius, M.; Kimberg, V.; Föhlisch, A.: Selective gating to vibrational modes through resonant X-ray scattering. Nature Communications 8 (2017), p. 14165/1-7

  • Eckert, S.; Niskannen, J.; Jay, R.M.; Miedema, P.S.; Fondell, M.; Kennedy, B.; Quevedo, W.; Iannuzzi, M.; Föhlisch, A.: Valence Orbitals and Local Bond Dynamics Around N Atoms of Histidine Under X-ray Irradiation. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 19 (2017), p. 32091 - 32098

  • Eckert, S.; Norell, J.; Miedema, P.S.; Beye, M.; Fondell, M.; Quevedo, W.; Kennedy, B.; Hantschmann, M.; Pietzsch, A.; Van Kuiken, B.E.; Ross, M.; Minitti, M.P.; Moeller, S.P.; Schlotter, W.F.; Khalil, M.; Odelius, M.; Foehlisch, A.: Untersuchung unabhängiger N-H-und N-C-Bindungsverformungen auf ultrakurzen Zeitskalen mit resonanter inelastischer Röntgenstreuung. Angewandte Chemie 129 (2017), p. 6184-6188

  • Eckert, S.; Norell, J.; Miedema, P.S.; Beye, M.; Fondell, M.; Quevedo, W.; Kennedy, B.; Hantschmann, M.; Pietzsch, A.; Van Kuiken, B.E.; Ross, M.; Minitti, M.P.; Moeller, S.P.; Schlotter, W.F.; Khalil, M.; Odelius, M.; Foehlisch, A.: Ultrafast Independent N-H and N-C Bond Deformation Investigated with Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Scattering. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 56 (2017), p. 6088-6092

  • Fondell, M.; Eckert, S.; Jay, R.; Weniger, C.; Quevedo, W.; Niskanen, J.; Kennedy, B.; Sorgenfrei, F.; Schick, D.; Giangrisostomi, E.; Ovsyannikov, R.; Adamczyk, K.; Huse, N.; Wernet, P.; Mitzner, R.; Föhlisch, A.: Time-resolved soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy in transmission mode on liquids at MHz repetition rates. Structural Dynamics 4 (2017), p. 054902/1-11

  • Vaz da Cruz, V.; Ertan, E.; Couto, R.C.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Dantz, M.; Kennedy, B.; Schmitt, T.; Pietzsch, A.; Guimaraes, F.F.; Agren, H.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Odelius, M.; Föhlisch, A.; Kimberg, V.: A study of the water molecule using frequency control over nuclear dynamics in resonant X-ray scattering. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 19 (2017), p. 19573-19589

2016


  • Eckert, S.; Miedema, P.S.; Quevedo, W.; O'Cinneide, B.; Fondell, M.; Beye, M.; Pietzsch, A.; Ross, M.; Khalil, M.; Föhlisch, A.: Molecular structures and protonation state of 2-Mercaptopyridine in aqueous solution. Chemical Physics Letters 647 (2016), p. 103-106

  • Schick, D.; Eckert, S.; Pontius, N.; Mitzner, R.; Föhlisch, A.; Holldack, K.; Sorgenfrei, F.: Versatile soft X-ray-optical cross-correlator for ultrafast applications. Structural Dynamics 3 (2016), p. 054304/1-8

2015


  • Eckert, S.; Beye, M.; Pietzsch, A.; Quevedo, W.; Hantschmann, M.; Ochmann, M.; Ross, M.; Minitti, M. P.; Turner, J. J.; Moeller, S. P.; Schlotter, W. F.; Dakovski, G. L.; Khalil, M.; Huse, N.; Föhlisch, A.: Principles of femtosecond X-ray/optical cross-correlation with X-ray induced transient optical reflectivity in solids. Applied Physics Letters 106 (2015), p. 061104/1-4

  • Sellberg, J.; McQueen, T.; Laksmono, H.; Schreck, S.; Beye, M.; DePonte, D.; Kennedy, B.; Nordlund, D.; Sierra, R.; Schlesinger, D.; Tokushima, T.; Zhovtobriukh, I.; Eckert, S.; Segtnan, V.; Ogasawara, H.; Kubicek, K.; Techert, S.; Bergmann, U.; Dakovski, G.; Schlotter, W.; Harada, Y.; Bogan, M.; Wernet, P.; Föhlisch, A.; Pettersson, L.; Nilsson, A.: X-ray emission spectroscopy of bulk liquid water in “no-man’s land”. The Journal of Chemical Physics 142 (2015), p. 044505/1-9

2014


  • Schreck, S.; Beye, M.; Sellberg, J.A.; McQueen, T.; Laksmono, H.; Kennedy, B.; Eckert, S.; Schlesinger, D.; Nordlund, D.; Ogasawara, H.; Sierra, R.G.; Segtnan, V.H.; Kubicek, K.; Schlotter, W.F.; Dakovski, G.L.; Moeller, S.P.; Bergmann, U.; Techert, S.; Pettersson, L.G.M.; Wernet, P.; Bogan, M.J.; Harada, Y.; Nilsson, A.; Föhlisch, A.: Reabsorption of Soft X-Ray Emission at High X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Fluences. Physical Review Letters 113 (2014), p. 153002/1-6

2012


  • Kunnus, K.; Rajkovic, I.; Schreck, S.; Quevedo, W.; Eckert, S.; Beye, M.; Suljoti, E.; Weniger, C.; Kalus, C.; Grübel, S.; Scholz, M.; Nordlund, D.; Zhang, W.; Hartsock, R.W.; Gaffney, K.J.; Schlotter, W.F.; Turner, J.J.; Kennedy, B.; Hennies, F.; Techert, S.; Wernet, P.; Föhlisch, A.: A setup for resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering on liquids at free electron laser light sources. Review of Scientific Instruments 83 (2012), p. 123109/1-8