News
News from our physics research and the academic life at the department of physics
TRR227 Project Leaders Prof. Dr. Tobias Kampfrath and Dr. Tom Seifert contribute to the "2023 Terahertz Science and Technology Roadmap"
Physicists from Freie Universität Berlin have published two guiding articles in a roadmap publication in the "Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics" summarizing the expertise of leading international terahertz photonics researchers.
Aug 30, 2023
A "TÜV" for quantum computers - The team of Prof. Jens Eisert contributes to the development of quality tests for quantum computers
"Nature Communications" study published: An international research team around professor Jens Eisert has discovered how to test the quality of quantum computers. The scientific "Computer TÜV" uses methods from physics, computer science and mathematics.
Aug 24, 2023
New Physics Education Research Group: Group Kubsch started work
We welcome a new physics education research group at the Department of Physics: Junior Professor Dr. Marcus Kubsch brings innovative approaches to both research and teacher education at Freie Universität Berlin.
Jul 24, 2023
Joint appointment with the Max Born Institute: Dr. Sangeeta Sharma is the new professor for "Theoretical Solid State Physics"
Freie Universität Berlin has appointed Dr. Sangeeta Sharma as professor in the field of "Theoretical Solid State Physics" on June 26, 2023, in a joint appointment with the Max Born Institute.
Jul 21, 2023
Two New Junior Research Groups in Theoretical Physics: Dr. Alexander Jahn and Dr. Maxim Breitkreiz
We welcome two junior research groups at the Department of Physics: The research group "Quantum Information and Holographic Dualities" of Dr. Alexander Jahn is funded by the Einstein Foundation within the Einstein Research Unit "Perspectives of a Quantum Digital Transformation". The research group "Microscopic and Nanoscopic Physics of Topological Metals" of Dr. Maxim Breitkreiz is funded by the Emmy Noether Program.
Jul 18, 2023
New research group: "Macromolecular Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy" of Prof. Dr. Benesh Joseph
We welcome Professor Dr. Benesh Joseph at our department, who followed the call for a W2 tenure track professorship "Experimental Molecular Biophysics" at the Freie Universität Berlin. Prof. Joseph's research group investigates functional mechanisms in macromolecular protein complexes by means of ESR spectroscopy.
Jul 13, 2023
The research team of Prof. Dr. Holger Dau explains in "Nature" the formation of oxygen (O2) on earth
40 kilograms of spinach, 3 million laser flashes, and 600,000 simulated atoms were needed to identify a key element of photosynthetic oxygen evolution in collaboration with a research team from the Italian university of L'Aquila. A research team led by Freie Universität Berlin physicist Prof. Dr. Holger Dau and L'Aquila University physicist Prof. Dr. Leonardo Guidoni has been able to experimentally and computationally trace the movement of electrons and atoms in photosynthetic oxygen formation. The study , which has just appeared in the prestigious journal Nature, provides insights into the biological process that has likely been unchanged on Earth for the past three billion years. The findings are of high relevance since they may be significant for the production of green hydrogen or other renewable fuels.
May 11, 2023
Girls in Physics
Around 100 girls from grades 5 to 9 from different schools in Berlin experienced an inspiring Girls' Day physics program at the Freie Universität Berlin. For the so-called Girls' Future Day on April 27, 2023, various departments at Freie Universität Berlin offered 30 events for schoolgirls, 11 of which were in the department of physics.
May 03, 2023
Quantum Effects Detected in Hydrogen and Noble Gas Collisions
A Freie Universität Berlin research team headed by quantum physicist Professor Christiane Koch has demonstrated how hydrogen molecules behave when they collide with noble gas atoms such as helium or neon. In an article published in the journal Science, the researchers describe how they used simulations to draw connections between data from experiments and theoretical models of quantum physics. The study includes theoretical calculations as well as data collected in experiments with atoms and molecules conducted at TU Dortmund University and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. The team was able to show that collisions change the way the molecules vibrate and rotate under the laws of quantum mechanics. Research in the field of quantum mechanics continues to gain importance in today’s world. Findings such as these can be applied in the development of mobile phones, televisions, satellites, and in medical diagnostic technology.
Apr 13, 2023
Quantum Physicist Jens Eisert Receives European Research Council Grant
Theoretical physics professor at Freie Universität Berlin receives ERC Advanced Grant for his work on quantum computers Physicist Professor Jens Eisert from Freie Universität Berlin’s Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems has once again received a grant from the European Research Council (ERC). The ERC Advanced Grant will provide more than 1.8 million euros worth of funding for his research project “DebuQC,” which will run for the next five years. This is the third ERC grant that Professor Eisert has been awarded. The professor for theoretical quantum physics and his team are looking to answer some of the most pressing research questions surrounding quantum technology, as well as to explore the limits of this promising technology. ERC Advanced Grants provide support for well-established, prominent researchers who are looking to explore new fields of study.
Mar 30, 2023
Superconducting diode effect with a single magnetic atom
Superconducting diodes are regarded as promising future electronic devices. In a joint work, the groups of Katharina Franke and Felix von Oppen were able to realize a remarkably simple model system in which they could observe and explain the superconducting diode effect. The work was published in Nature .
Mar 15, 2023
Sustainability at the Department of Physics at Freie Universität Berlin
The Department of Physics adopted its sustainability agenda on February 1, 2023. The agenda was developed in a participatory process by the Sustainability Working Group. The document proposes a number of measures ranging from the design of new interdisciplinary courses dealing with sustainability issues to the calculation of the department's carbon footprint and the reduction of official air travel.
Feb 20, 2023
New Scientific Finding: Light Can Be Used to Control Molecular Handedness
Research group of Prof. Dr. Christiane Koch took part in a new study on chiral molecules recently published in "Science Advances"
Dec 12, 2022
New research group: "Ultrafast Dynamics in Nanomaterials" of Prof. Dr. Hélène Seiler
Warm welcome to Dr. Hélène Seiler who has accepted a W1-W2 tenure track position at the Freie Universität Berlin. The new research group will focus on the development and use of ultrafast methods to characterize nanomaterials of relevance for devices such as solar cells, LEDs and lasers.
Nov 08, 2022
Experimental Physicist Robert Bittl Receives ERC Synergy Grant
European Research Council grants international research team almost nine million euro.
Oct 25, 2022
A step towards the Quantum Internet: Building networks from quantum-memory satellites
Quantum physicists from an inter-institutional project around Prof. Jens Eisert (Freie Universität Berlin) were able to show that information transfer could indeed take place over intercontinental distances with the help of quantum memory satellites and with a quantum repeater strategy. The results of the work were published in "Nature: Communication Physics." The members of the Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems who have contributed to the work are Julius Wallnöfer, Frederik Hahn, Fabian Wiesner, Nathan Walk and Jens Eisert.
Aug 31, 2022
Long Night of Sciences 2022
The joy of reunion and new insights into physics On July 2, 2022, the Department of Physics opened its doors to the public and all those interested in physics. For the "Long Night of the Sciences" 2022 physicists offered an exciting program to more than one thousand guests.
Jul 08, 2022
Athletic performance and team spirit at the Campus Run and Summer Party
True to the motto "Mens sana in corpore sano", physicists showed at the Campus Run 2022 that they excel not only academically but in athletics, too. With 23 runners, the "PhysRunners" team was the second largest at the university.
Jun 24, 2022
Nano Science in Dahlem: SupraFAB research building opened
A new research building SupraFAB, "Supramolecular Functional Architectures at Biological Interfaces", was ceremonially opened on the Dahlem campus of Freie Universität Berlin on May 30, 2022. Several physics research groups (Reich, Franke, Bolotin, Heberle and Kozuch) will move into the new sustainable building at Altensteinstraße 23a in the coming months.
Jun 07, 2022
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Simonsohn deceased
The Department of Physics at Freie Universität Berlin mourns the passing of Professor Dr. Gerhard Simonsohn, who died on May 29, 2022, at the age of 97.
May 30, 2022
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