Despite being the object of intense study, embryonic development has been difficult to model due to a number of reasons. First, complex tissues can be comprised of many cell types, of which we probably only know a subset.

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

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

This dissertation is an experimental study of laser-generated, atmospheric pressure, transient toroidal helium plasmas.

The sequence-dependence of biomolecular interactions involving nucleic acids and proteins is essential for numerous processes inside the cell. Insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms have been obtained using various biochemical and biophysical methods on two different levels — bulk and sin…

This dissertation revolves around the design and implementation of novel instrumentation and related measurement techniques, at the single molecule level, for use in biophysical research. Chapter 1 presents an introduction to the field of fluorescence-based single molecule measurements. In particular,…

Why do black holes emit thermal radiation? And how does a closed quantum system thermalize?

The genetic information of all living organisms is contained in their DNA. Cells modify the degree of DNA compaction by epigenetics, which largely determines what genes are read out and which genes are transcriptionally silent.

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.

Promotores: H. Schiessel, G.T. Barkema

Early time-resolved experiments by Frauenfelder on the ensemble of the kinetic rebinding of CO to myoglobin molecules resulted in a stretched exponential relaxa-tion due to a very large spread of the reaction rates of individual molecules.

This thesis explores how electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy can be used to investigate key biochemical processes.

Stochastic resetting is simple enough to be approached analytically, yet modifies stochastic processes in a non-trivial way.

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.

The ability to count is a property not often attributed to materials, despite the abundance of memory in materials. Regardless of how a material stores information, it is often difficult to retrieve exactly ‘what’ a material remembers.

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.

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

Promotor: J.M. van Ruitenbeek, Co-Promotor: S.J. van der Molen

Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. T.H. Oosterkamp, N. de Jonge

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

Zaanen

In condensed matter systems electron-electron interactions, negligible in everyday metals, can dramatically alter the electronic behavior of the system. Examples of such altered behavior include high-temperature superconductivity and modulation of the electron density.

Promotor: Prof.dr. D. Bouwmeester, Co-promotor: M.P. van Exter

This thesis presents the results of a study on the interfaces of insulating oxides with and without the insertion of a magnetic layer.

Mission statement

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

This thesis describes how to scale down concepts of macroscopic mechanical metamaterials to the thermal scale using a system of flexibly-linked colloids.

Leiden University research institutes based in Leiden and The Hague.

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

Promotor: T. Schmidt, Co-Promotor: B.E. Snaar-Jagalska

Scattering of light in the presence of nano-structured materials, i.e. with features in the order of the wavelength of the light or smaller, reveals details of how light interacts with matter at the nanoscale.

Spectroscopic studies on fluorescent single molecules in organic condensed matter does not only provide information about the molecule itself, but also its near environment. By suppression of phonon-induced broadening of spectral lines through cooling to low temperatures, small changes in the spectral…

Promotor: Prof.dr. A. Achucarro

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.

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

Promotor: A. Achúcarro, Co-promotor: A. Boyarsky

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

The specialisation teaches you analytical frameworks and skills for managerial decision making. Internships help you decide whether you want to choose a career in industry or Physics research.

Promotor: M. de Jong, Co-Promotor: Samtleben

In human cells, a meter-long DNA is condensed inside a micrometer-sized cell nucleus. Simultaneously, the genetic code must remain accessible for its replication and transcription to functional proteins.

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

This thesis is a collection of experimental attempts to enhance photoluminescence of fluorescent molecules and quantum dots with single gold nanorods (GNRs) and relevant applications.

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

Promotor: M.L. van Hecke

The overarching goal of this thesis is to set the foundations, but also make the first essential steps towards establishing a comprehensive, mesoscopic, hydrodynamic theory of epithelial tissues. The stage is set by an exhaustive study of topological defects in passive p-atic liquid crystals, singularities…

Promotor: Prof.dr. J. Zaanen, A. Parnachev

Promotor: T. H. Oosterkamp

The Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities (KHMW) has elected six professors from Leiden as members.

During my PhD research, I studied the photon statistics of light emitted by a microcavity that contains a single quantum dot (QD) on resonance.