DNA carries various forms of information. Out of these forms of information the most well-known is classical genetic information.

In this thesis, we study systems of electrons in which strong correlations give rise to emergent exotic physics.

Promotores: Prof.dr. J. Aarts, Prof.dr. J.M. van Ruitenbeek

Ferritin is a spherical metalloprotein, capable of storing and releasing iron in a controllable way. It is composed of a protein shell of about 12 nm and within its cavity, iron is stored in a mineral form.

Promotores: H. Schiessel, G.T. Barkema

Promotor: Prof.dr. E. Eliel, Co-Promotor: M.J.A. de Dood

Mechanical metamaterials are carefully engineered materials whose properties are controlled by their structure, not by their composition, which allows using metamaterials to study and control physical effects in detail⁠.

Single-molecule spectroscopy has become a powerful method for using organic fluorescent molecules in numerous applications.

Promotor: Prof.dr. C.W.J. Beenakker

This thesis describes a study from both a theoreticaL and an experimental point of view.

Promotor: Prof.dr. J.M. van Ruitenbeek, Prof.dr. R.M. Tromp

Promotor: T.H. Oosterkamp

This thesis investigates how cell shape and collective behavior influence the dynamics and structure of biological tissues, which are crucial for understanding processes like embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and metastasis.

Onderwijs over quantum is ontzettend belangrijk. Daarom ontwikkelt Quantum Leiden onderwijs en voorlichting over de quantumtechnologie, op alle niveaus, van middelbare school tot Masters-studie. Zo leiden we de onderzoekers van de toekomst op, en bereiden we de jeugd voor op een quantumtoekomst.

Mechanical forces are known to play an important role in bacterial colonies. In this dissertation, we study the self-organization at various stages of growing bacterial colonies, and focus on the mechanical effects of cell growth.

The human body consists of hundreds, perhaps thousands of different types of cells, each with different morphologies and functions, despite having the same genome.

For many system in statistical physics the microcanonical and canonical ensemble are equivalent in the thermodynamic limit, but not for all.

Promotor: V. Vitelli, Co-promotor: J. Paulose

This thesis is a collection of theoretical works aiming at adjusting quantum algorithms to the hardware of quantum computers.

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) are mechanical waves that travel along the surface of a material and find many applications in modern technologies due to the ease of excitation on piezoelectric substrates via interdigital transducers (IDTs).

Promotor: T. Schmidt

This thesis aims to improve the detection from ultra-weak single emitter by enhancing their emission properties with plasmonic nanostructures. We exploit the wet-chemically synthesized single crystalline gold nanorods (GNRs) as our basic frameworks in the whole studies, simply because of their unique…

Promotores: G.W. Canters, T.J. Aartsma

There are many interpretations of quantum mechanics, and ultimately experiments are needed to verify or falsify these interpretations.

The energy system is at the heart of two of the greatest challenges of the 21st century: decreasing CO2 emissions to meet the ambitions of the Paris agreement while fulfilling the growing energy demand associated with the economic aspirations of a growing world population.

Understanding interactions in quantum many-body systems remains one of the most profound and difficult challenges in condensed matter physics.

This dissertation combines the use of defined microenvironments, high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, and time-resolved analysis, to study intracellular and cellular motility.

n this PhD thesis, the recombination of different atomic lattices in stacked 2D materials such as twisted bilayer graphene is studied. Using the different possibilities of Low-Energy Electron Microscopy (LEEM), the domain forming between the two atomic layers with small differences is studied.

Geometric phases lead to a nontrivial interference result when an electron's different quantum mechanical paths choices encircle a magnetic coil in an Aharonov-Bohm experiment.

Promotor: Prof.dr. M.L. van Heck, Co-Promotor: B.P. Tighe

With the help of quantum mechanics, digital quantum hardware may be able to tackle some of the problems that are too difficult for ordinary computers. But despite these expectations and the ongoing effort of the research community, reliable quantum computers are not yet realized in a lab setting.

Promotor: J. Zaanen

Waar gaan de quantummechanica, de relativiteitstheorie en de zwaartekracht elkaar vinden? Wat is het missende stukje? Of is er een compleet nieuwe theorie die alle vormen van materie elegant beschrijft?

Promotor: Prof.dr. M.L. van Hecke, Co-Promotor: V. Vitelli

The key characteristic of active matter is the motion of an emergent collection (such as a flock of birds), which is driven by the consumption of energy by its active components (i.e. individual birds).

Promotor: T. H. Oosterkamp

Promotor: Prof.dr. M.L. van Hecke

Promotor: Prof.dr. D. Bouwmeester

This thesis is devoted to an in-depth examination of the various effects of disorder in the cuprate high-temperature superconductors.

Promotor: Prof.dr. C.W.J. Beenakker

Promotor: J.W.M. Frenken

In this thesis, we show how MRFM can usefully contribute to the field of condensed-matter.

In this thesis, we describe the latest advances in SQUID-detected Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy (MRFM).

The Standard Model (SM) of particle physics fails to explain several observed phenomena and is incomplete. In order to resolve this problem, one may extend the SM by adding new particles.

The lipid membrane is a basic structural component of all living cells. Embedded in this nanometer-thin barrier, membrane proteins shape the membrane and at the same time respond to the shape of the membrane.

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

Promotor: J. Zaanen, Co-Promotor: V. Juricic

In this thesis unconventional tools based on fluidic interfaces were developed to study the surface and interfacial chemistry of graphene, to characterize the intrinsic properties of graphene, to disentangle the effects of substrate and of the environmental factors, and to improve handling protocols…

This PhD-thesis presents a study on micron-sized particles, so-called colloids. By controlling the chemical and physical properties of these particles, such as the interparticle interaction and the particles’ shape, colloids can act as building blocks that self-assembly into larger structures.

Promotor: Prof.dr. T. Schmidt