Erik Zürcher (1928 – 2008) geldt nog altijd als gezaghebbende bron in het onderzoek naar Chinees boeddhisme. Een nieuwe bundel met zijn publicaties is aanleiding voor een internationaal boeddhisme-congres in Leiden. Prinses Beatrix, die hem goed kende, is aanwezig bij de opening.

This thesis presents the results of a study on the interfaces of insulating oxides with and without the insertion of a magnetic layer.

Atoms and molecules are the basic units of matter. If we keep dividing a bar of gold or a glass of water into smaller parts, at the end we are left with a single gold atom or a water molecule.

This dissertation revolves around the design and implementation of novel instrumentation and related measurement techniques, at the single molecule level, for use in biophysical research. Chapter 1 presents an introduction to the field of fluorescence-based single molecule measurements. In particular,…

Early time-resolved experiments by Frauenfelder on the ensemble of the kinetic rebinding of CO to myoglobin molecules resulted in a stretched exponential relaxa-tion due to a very large spread of the reaction rates of individual molecules.

Promotor: C. W. J. Beenakker, Yu. V. Nazarov, Co-promotor: J. Tworzydlo

This thesis is a collection of experimental attempts to enhance photoluminescence of fluorescent molecules and quantum dots with single gold nanorods (GNRs) and relevant applications.

In this thesis,

In human cells, a meter-long DNA is condensed inside a micrometer-sized cell nucleus. Simultaneously, the genetic code must remain accessible for its replication and transcription to functional proteins.

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are used as a current carrying substrate in investigation of current-induced forces in a low-temperature STM (chapter 2).

This dissertation is an experimental study of laser-generated, atmospheric pressure, transient toroidal helium plasmas.

Promotor: K.E. Schalm, Co-promotor: S.S. Lee

Promotor: A. Achúcarro, Co-promotor: A. Boyarsky

Promotores: J. Zaanen, A. Parnachev

The theoretical explanation of cosmic acceleration is nowadays one of the biggest puzzles in cosmology.

Promotor: T. Schmidt, Co-Promotor: B.E. Snaar-Jagalska

Scattering of light in the presence of nano-structured materials, i.e. with features in the order of the wavelength of the light or smaller, reveals details of how light interacts with matter at the nanoscale.

DNA carries various forms of information. Out of these forms of information the most well-known is classical genetic information.

In this thesis, we study systems of electrons in which strong correlations give rise to emergent exotic physics.

Promotores: Prof.dr. J. Aarts, Prof.dr. J.M. van Ruitenbeek

Ferritin is a spherical metalloprotein, capable of storing and releasing iron in a controllable way. It is composed of a protein shell of about 12 nm and within its cavity, iron is stored in a mineral form.

Promotores: H. Schiessel, G.T. Barkema

Promotor: Prof.dr. E. Eliel, Co-Promotor: M.J.A. de Dood

Mechanical metamaterials are carefully engineered materials whose properties are controlled by their structure, not by their composition, which allows using metamaterials to study and control physical effects in detail⁠.

Single-molecule spectroscopy has become a powerful method for using organic fluorescent molecules in numerous applications.

Promotor: Prof.dr. C.W.J. Beenakker

This thesis describes a study from both a theoreticaL and an experimental point of view.

Promotor: Prof.dr. J.M. van Ruitenbeek, Prof.dr. R.M. Tromp

Promotor: T.H. Oosterkamp

This thesis investigates how cell shape and collective behavior influence the dynamics and structure of biological tissues, which are crucial for understanding processes like embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and metastasis.

Onderwijs over quantum is ontzettend belangrijk. Daarom ontwikkelt Quantum Leiden onderwijs en voorlichting over de quantumtechnologie, op alle niveaus, van middelbare school tot Masters-studie. Zo leiden we de onderzoekers van de toekomst op, en bereiden we de jeugd voor op een quantumtoekomst.

Mechanical forces are known to play an important role in bacterial colonies. In this dissertation, we study the self-organization at various stages of growing bacterial colonies, and focus on the mechanical effects of cell growth.

The human body consists of hundreds, perhaps thousands of different types of cells, each with different morphologies and functions, despite having the same genome.

For many system in statistical physics the microcanonical and canonical ensemble are equivalent in the thermodynamic limit, but not for all.

Promotor: V. Vitelli, Co-promotor: J. Paulose

This thesis is a collection of theoretical works aiming at adjusting quantum algorithms to the hardware of quantum computers.

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) are mechanical waves that travel along the surface of a material and find many applications in modern technologies due to the ease of excitation on piezoelectric substrates via interdigital transducers (IDTs).

Promotor: T. Schmidt

This thesis aims to improve the detection from ultra-weak single emitter by enhancing their emission properties with plasmonic nanostructures. We exploit the wet-chemically synthesized single crystalline gold nanorods (GNRs) as our basic frameworks in the whole studies, simply because of their unique…

Promotores: G.W. Canters, T.J. Aartsma

There are many interpretations of quantum mechanics, and ultimately experiments are needed to verify or falsify these interpretations.

The energy system is at the heart of two of the greatest challenges of the 21st century: decreasing CO2 emissions to meet the ambitions of the Paris agreement while fulfilling the growing energy demand associated with the economic aspirations of a growing world population.

Understanding interactions in quantum many-body systems remains one of the most profound and difficult challenges in condensed matter physics.

This dissertation combines the use of defined microenvironments, high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, and time-resolved analysis, to study intracellular and cellular motility.

n this PhD thesis, the recombination of different atomic lattices in stacked 2D materials such as twisted bilayer graphene is studied. Using the different possibilities of Low-Energy Electron Microscopy (LEEM), the domain forming between the two atomic layers with small differences is studied.

Geometric phases lead to a nontrivial interference result when an electron's different quantum mechanical paths choices encircle a magnetic coil in an Aharonov-Bohm experiment.

Promotor: Prof.dr. M.L. van Heck, Co-Promotor: B.P. Tighe

With the help of quantum mechanics, digital quantum hardware may be able to tackle some of the problems that are too difficult for ordinary computers. But despite these expectations and the ongoing effort of the research community, reliable quantum computers are not yet realized in a lab setting.

Promotor: J. Zaanen

Waar gaan de quantummechanica, de relativiteitstheorie en de zwaartekracht elkaar vinden? Wat is het missende stukje? Of is er een compleet nieuwe theorie die alle vormen van materie elegant beschrijft?