NWO invests in Virgo detector and equipment for nano research

Gravity waves
Advanced Virgo - Probing the dynamics of space-time of Prof.dr. Jo van den Brand is a high-tech project that hopes to be able to detect gravity waves (ripples in space-time that were predicted by Albert Einstein) using laser interferometry. The French-Italian-Dutch collaboration will use these observations to investigate the fundamental character of gravity, to determine cosmological parameters and also to search for signals from the Big Bang. Jo van den Brand: "The NWO Investment Subsidy Large grant will enable scientists to make a significant contribution to Advanced Virgo: from optical sensors with unequalled resolution to high-tech vibration isolation systems at the femtometre scale."
Further information about this research please contact Vanessa Mexner +31 (0) 20 592 50 75 (Communication Department) or Prof.dr. Jo van den Brand (Nikhef project leader gravity waves).

Nano-pen and 3D microscope
Bert Koopmans will build a device with which atoms can be applied layer by layer. For example, using a nano-pen he can 'write' three-dimensional nanostructures on a specimen. Then in the same device that specimen can be manipulated and characterised at the nanoscale. Being able to do all of this in the same device will be a unique facility in the world. Usually this happens in different pieces of equipment with the risk of the preparation becoming contaminated upon transfer. Paul Koenraad will develop the microscope to determine the chemical structure of a sample, down to the atomic level. With the technique used, atom probe tomography (APT), the identity of specific atoms is determined by using electric fields to detach these from the lattice and draw them to a detector. The mass and therefore the identity of the atom is determined on the basis of the time of flight. Using this approach a 3D-reconstruction of the material is created.
Koopmans and Koenraad are both members of the nanotechnology cluster in the Department of Applied Physics at Eindhoven University of Technology. The new equipment offers the researchers the possibility of combining an electron beam and an ion beam for both fabrication and analysis.

NWO Investment subsidy large
With the NWO Investment Subsidy Large programme, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is investing 15.5 million euros in large equipment, data collections and software. NWO uses this programme to fund large scientific projects in which scientists from throughout the Netherlands collaborate, often with international partners as well. NWO received 28 proposals for the programme NWO Investment Subsidy Large. These were assessed by an advisory committee made up of scientists from different disciplines. Seven projects were awarded funding this year.