Eight Vidi grants in NWO division Physical Sciences

Vidi is aimed at excellent researchers who have gained several years of research experience after obtaining their PhDs. The scientists belong to the best ten to twenty percent in their discipline. A Vidi grant funds their research for a period of five years. Vidi is part of the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme, which consists of the Veni, Vidi and Vici grants.

Vidi grants in NWO division Physical Sciences:

Gravity as a hologram
Dr. A. (Alejandra) Castro, UvA - Instituut voor Theoretische Fysica
Physics Black holes give rise to a radical possibility: our universe is like a hologram. The goal of the project is to explore the repercussions of holography. The basic question to answer is: how does geometry emerge from a quantum theory?

Can contaminants keep a fusion plasma under control?
Dr.ir. I.G.J. (Ivo) Classen, DIFFER – Fusion physics
The success of fusion reactors largely depends on getting an instability that can cause sudden heat losses under control. Contaminants in the plasma are known to influence this instability. This research will use both a fusion reactor and a plasma wall simulator to explain the effects of contaminants and to find methods to avoid instability.

Listening to quantum sound
Dr. G.A. (Gary) Steele, TUD - Quantum Nanoscience
In quantum mechanics, objects move in counterintuitive ways: quantum footballs can 'tunnel' through walls while classical footballs always bounce back. Here, new experiments will listen to the quantum sounds of carbon nanostrings and nanodrums, exploring quantum motion and its applications.

Looking at a quantum-bridge
Dr. E. (Ewold) Verhagen, AMOLF - Center for Nanophotonics
Even 'large' objects - consisting of many atoms - exhibit minute fluctuations imposed by quantum mechanics. Using laser light, the researchers will determine the position of a small vibrating bridge on a chip with extreme accuracy and speed. In that way, they aim to resolve the bridge's quantum motion and even influence it.

Shedding light on dark matter
Dr. C. (Christoph) Weniger, UvA - Physics
The Universe is dominated by dark matter, a puzzling substance that is not made of anything we know. I will use telescopes and particle colliders to search for telltale signs of dark matter and figure out what it is.

Spiral-shaped electrons become superconducting
Dr. J. (Jasper) van Wezel, UvA - Instituut voor Theoretical Physics
The electrons in some metals can cooperate with each other enough to jointly assume the shape of a corkscrew. The electrons then look like left- or right-rotating spirals. This research will examine which role such spiral-shaped electrons play in the formation of superconductors: metals which, if you cool them down, can conduct electricity without any resistance.

Nano gold illuminates individual enzymes in a living cell
Dr. P. (Peter) Zijlstra, TU/e - Molecular Biosensors
Enzymes regulate biochemical processes in a cell. The researchers will use a small gold nanoparticle to study the biochemical activity of a single enzyme.

How do cells decode noisy signals without errors? 
Dr. J.S. (Jeroen) van Zon, AMOLF - Systems Biophysics
In the embryo every cells needs to choose the correct cell fate based on molecular signals that often exhibit random variability. The researchers will use novel microscopy techniques and information theory to understand how such 'noisy' signals are still able to drive extremely reliable cell fate choices.

Physics Vidi grants Technology Foundation STW:

Spontaneous formation of complex batteries
Dr M. (Mark) Huijben, University of Twente – Inorganic Materials Science
Batteries currently play an important role in the storage of energy but they do not satisfy our wishes yet. The researchers will improve internal connections by using complex three-dimensional structures. These spontaneously form themselves from the individual components by means of self-organisation.

Efficient organic solar cells
Dr L. J. A. (Jan Anton) Koster, University of Groningen – Photophysics and Optoelectronics
Organic solar cells are a highly promising new type of solar cell. However their efficiency needs to be improved before they can be used commercially. The researchers will therefore investigate how the leakage of charges in such solar cells can be suppressed.

Reducing friction caused by turbulence
Dr C. (Chao) Sun, University of Twente – Applied Physics
Multiphase flows with particles or bubbles are an everyday phenomenon, especially in industrial applications. These systems suffer large losses due to the friction caused by turbulence. The aim of this project is to understand the physical mechanism of reducing friction with bubbles, droplets and particles, which will provide opportunities to improve the current industrial processes.

More information
All Vidi grants in alphabetic order
About the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme