Three physics talents receive Rubicon Grant
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded 20 young, highly promising researchers funding from the Rubicon programme. Three of the researchers are physicists: Dr. Joost de Graaf, Guinevere Mathies and Menno Veldhorst. With Rubicon, NWO gives Dutch scientists who have recently obtained their PhDs the opportunity to gain research experience at leading international institutes in other countries. The size of the Rubicon grant depends on the destination chosen and the duration of the stay. NWO received 102 proposals, twenty of which – ten women and ten men – were awarded funding.
The physicists are going to Germany, the United States and Australia for a period of 24 months. For many scientists experience abroad is an important aspect of their CV. Brief descriptions of the three research projects are given below.
Anisotropic polygonal self-propelled particles: towards application in a Lab-on-a-Chip
Dr. J. (Joost) de Graaf (m) 1985, Utrecht University -> University of Stuttgart, Institute for Computational Physics – Colloid Physics (DE), 24 months
The shape of microscopic (artificial) self-propelled particles governs their movement through a patterned environment. The researchers will study many shapes to realise a design that can navigate its way through the microchannels of a fluid-based chip.
Controlling nuclear spins with microwave pulses
G. (Guinevere) Mathies (f) 1981, Leiden University -> Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, US, 24 months
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is now one of the most important methods for mapping complex molecular structures. However it can be made even better still. Microwave pulses can be used to manipulate the state of unpaired electrons in the vicinity of a molecular structure to be studied. In turn these electrons ensure that the spins of the atomic nuclei in the structure come more into line, which makes it easier for the nuclear magnetic resonance to be observed.
Quantum teleportation on a silicon chip
M. (Menno) Veldhorst (m) 1984, University of Twente-> The University of New South Wales, Sydney (AU), 24 months
An essential step in the construction of a quantum computer is the transfer of quantum information. In this research project an effort will be made to realise this step in silicon using the intriguing process of quantum teleportation.
Further information: website NWO or contact NWO Information and Communication, +31 (70) 344 07 41.