Surface plasmons (SPs) are surface waves at the interface between a dielectric and a good metal, and are formed by the interaction between light and the free electrons at the metal-dielectric interface. They provide strong field confinement for optical fields, opening new possibilities for enhanced…

This thesis explores how electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy can be used to investigate key biochemical processes.

Molecular materials have been a subject of interest in fundamental research and applications for decades, and have been studied as bulk crystals, (thin) films and as individual molecules, due to the large variety in their properties. This dissertation explores pentacene crystals near the two-dimensional…

The overarching goal of this thesis is to set the foundations, but also make the first essential steps towards establishing a comprehensive, mesoscopic, hydrodynamic theory of epithelial tissues. The stage is set by an exhaustive study of topological defects in passive p-atic liquid crystals, singularities…

Materials with strongly correlated electrons show some of the most mysterious and exotic phases of quantum matter, such as unconventional superconductivity, quantum criticality and strange metal phase.

The ultimate goal of cosmologists is to find a cosmological model able to explain the current observational data.

This thesis presents insights from our study of various correlated electron systems with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). In ordinary metals, electron-electron interactions exist, but get substantially screened due to the sheer number of electrons.

The thesis describes the use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, in continuous wave and pulse modes, to address the interaction of α-Synuclein (αS) with membranes and the aggregation of αS.

Promotor: Prof.dr. M. de Jong

Promotor: J. Aarts

Promotor: M.L. van Hecke

In this thesis, we develop a novel technique called Optical Near-field Electron Microscopy (ONEM), which aims to combine the advantages of both optical and electron microscopy: the high resolution of electron microscopy and the low sample damage of optical microscopy.

Biological cells, the basic building blocks of all life forms, are surrounded by a lipid membrane. More than half of the membrane is occupied by membrane proteins, which can regulate the cell functionality through specific arrangements.

In the first part of this thesis we study the geometry of folding patterns.

What physics controls the properties of quantum matter, such as how electrons flow inside high-temperature superconductors? This question has captivated the physics community and industry for decades, in part due to the great technological potential such materials have, but also because they have resisted…

In condensed matter systems electron-electron interactions, negligible in everyday metals, can dramatically alter the electronic behavior of the system. Examples of such altered behavior include high-temperature superconductivity and modulation of the electron density.

Thermodynamics is one of the founding scientific pillars that has helped us better understand heat engines, biology, ecosystems, and even black holes. While it fundamentally describes large systems by examining the bulk behavior of their constituents, it is anchored in the statistical equivalence of…

De koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen heeft zes Leidse hoogleraren benoemd tot lid.

Promotores: T.H. Oosterkamp, N. de Jonge

This thesis describes how to scale down concepts of macroscopic mechanical metamaterials to the thermal scale using a system of flexibly-linked colloids.

The way organisms develop from the initial single-cellular state to a complex final assembly like the human body, and how the final body is maintained throughout life, is one of the greatest mysteries and it’s understanding one of the biggest scientific challenges.

For each living organism health is ensured by correct functioning of its cells. Cells therefore have elaborate methods for regulation of their proteins.

Promotor: Prof.dr. M.A.G.J. Orrit

From surface science towards industrial practice using high-pressure scanning tunneling microscopy.

Promotor: A. Achúcarro, Co-Promotor: J.W. van Holten

A single self-assembled semiconductor quantum dot in a high-finesse optical microcavity - the subject of this thesis - is an interesting quantum-mechanical system for future quantum applications. For instance, this system allows trapping of an extra electron and thus can serve as a spin quantum memory,…

The mission of our group is understanding how science communication works to improve the interaction between science and society. We believe better science communication can improve our society and engage many different groups with science, also improving science.

Promotor: J.W. van Holten

Synthetic microswimmers take an important place within the interdisciplinary field of active soft matter.

On a structural level, the properties featured by a majority of mechanical metamaterials can be ascribed to the finite number of soft internal degrees-of freedom allowing for low-energy deformations.

Promotor: Prof.dr. D. Bouwmeester, Co-Promotor: M.J.A. de Dood

In this thesis, we extend the concept of null models as canonical ensembles of multi-graphs with given constraints and present new metrics able to characterize real-world layered systems based on their correlation patterns.

Promotor: Prof.dr. T. Schmidt, Co-Promotor: S.J.T. van Noort

A difficulty of studies on chemical kinetics are the reaction time scales and detection of their intermediates.

Electrons in a crystal lattice have properties that may differ from those of a free electron in vacuum.

Promotor: T.J. Aartsma, Co-promotor: R.N. Frese

Promotores: Prof.dr. J. Zaanen, Prof.dr. K.E. Schalm

Promotor: M.A.G.J. Orrit

In this work, we investigate the minute circular dichroism effects of single nanoparticles.To this aim, we apply photothermal imaging with a polarization-modulated heating beam.

Promotor: J.W.M. Frenken Co-Promotores: I.M.N. Groot; L.B.F. Juurlink

Promotor: Prof.dr. J.W.M. Frenken

Mechanical metamaterials are man-made materials which derive their unusual properties from their structure rather than their composition.

It is an established fact that the Standard Model has to be extended to explain the so-called Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) phenomena: dark matter, matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe and neutrino flavour oscillations.

Systems with local constraints is a new finding in recent researches on complex systems. The heterogeneous spatial interactions and the temporal dependencies among those numerous units make it difficult to describe by traditional statistical physics.

De Tatiana Afanassjewa-lezingenreeks is een reeks publiekslezingen op woensdagavonden waarvoor iedereen met natuurkundige belangstelling van harte is uitgenodigd.

This thesis is dedicated to the exploration of the primordial dark ages: unknown physics during the earliest stages of the Universe’s expansion that have not yet been directly probed by observations. Cosmic inflation is a burst of exponential expansion of space after the “Big Bang”.

Quantummechanica voor iedereen

Grenzen van quantum-theorieën verleggen, dat is precies waar de natuurkundigen van de Universiteit Leiden goed in zijn. Leidse onderzoekers starten acht nieuwe quantum-onderzoeksprojecten binnen het consortium Quantum Limits.