Excellent research
Adlershof is profiting from the university’s excellence status
It is now official: Research at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) also enjoys the reputation of being excellent – also for nanooptics, a highly complex field of physics where top researchers find great promise for the future and pave the way for visionary technologies like quantum computers.
The terrain explored by Professor Oliver Benson and his team starts where classical optics ends. The researchers want to understand what happens on the atomic and molecular levels when particles emit light. Benson heads the so called nanooptics division at the Humboldt Centre for Modern Optics (HZMO), a joint initiative of Humboldt-Universität and its nonuniversity partners that combines and unites activities in the field of modern optics at the Adlershof location.
“We are researching into the unique properties of light in order to understand the fundamental processes in physical, chemical and biological systems. New applications can therefore be developed in the field of optical technologies,” he explained. His research extends, for instance, to the interaction of light and material on the nanometre scale in complex systems under normal conditions, e.g. at room temperature.
In this manner, the researchers move ever closer towards future applications. Besides faster and tap proof data processing with quantum bits, other possibilities include quantum computers and secure encryption techniques. “Yet also new techniques for microscopy and sensor system applications are conceivable,” explained Benson. To this end, his team is cooperating with Adlershof companies like PicoQuant and PlasmaChem.
How Benson appreciates the opportunities that are actively used on the campus for joint initiatives is clear. Spoilt for choice between the Max Born Institute, Helmholtz-Zentrum and Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, he did not have to look long for highly promising partners for “modern optics”. The quantum physicist puts it in a nutshell: “We’re able to share large scale equipment like BESSY or clean room laboratories far beyond the possibilities provided at Humboldt-Universität. This very often leads
to new ideas for projects.” he explained.
Its push towards cooperation beyond the Adlershof borders ultimately brought Humboldt-Universität (HU) its excellence status. Benson is convinced: “It goes without saying that renowned international research institutes would preferably network with a university of excellence.” Yet HU also remains attractive for its own next generation who can be retained better with additional funds from the Excellence Initiative purse, e.g. in the form of bridge financing until new projects are initiated. “This reduces the risk that excellent graduates immediately move away after their studies,” explained the physicist. “In this respect, the excellence status also has an indirect impact on many levels,” he continued. In other words, he does not share the frequent critical opinion that the funds are better spent on specific projects. Benson is firmly convinced: Adlershof and its researchers are profiting hugely and in a great many ways from the excellence status. You could almost say: What was obvious anyway, is now becoming visible.
By Chris Löwer for Adlershof Special