Research Activities at the Faculty
The research at the Faculty of Physics and Geosciences in 2005 is characterized by an extension of national and international collaborations and major investments. In the second round of the federal “Initiative of Excellence” the Physics division together with other partners was invited to submit a full proposal for the Graduate School “BuildMona” and the cluster of Excellence “Felix-Klein-Centre for Mathematical Sciences and their Applications”. Furthermore, a large number of projects has intimate connections with regional and national focal points within the Free State of Saxony. With the appointments of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Haase (Magnetic Resonance of complex quantum solids) and Prof. Dr. Frank Cichos (Molecular Nanophotonics) modern research areas were established and strengthened.
Collaborative Research Programs
Physics of Interfaces
The group coordinates the EC-sponsored project TROCAT (Prof. Dr. J. Kärger), within nine groups from five countries are jointly exploring the interaction between molecular diffusion and conversion in heterogeneous catalysis. The so far attained results of both fundamental and industrial relevance were unconceivable without this strong experimental basis within the Magnetic Resonance Centre of University Leipzig. Theses activities are continued within a Network of Excellence of the 6th frame EC programme INSIDE-PORES. With the special focus on diffusion in zeolites, the group initiated the establishment of an International Research Group (British / French / German), jointly sponsored by EPSRC, CNRS and DPG. The activities of this group will be of particular benefit for the International Research Training Group, dedicated to "Diffusion in Porous Media", which started to operate in summer term 2004 and comprises groups from Physics Institutes and of Chemical Technology of University Leipzig, together with colleagues of the Universities of Amsterdam, Delft and Eindhoven.
Semiconductor Physics
The Semiconductor Physics Group has enjoyed in 2005 scientific success in the fields of ZnO and related compounds and self-assembled nanostructures. The efforts related to nanostructures are supported within the Forschergruppe 522 "Architecture of nano- and micro-dimensional blocks" (based in Leipzig, Spokesman Prof. Dr. M. Grundmann). Physicists, chemists, mineralogists and mathematicians jointly research on three-dimensionally designed nanostructures, such as whiskers / wires, scrolls and spirales. Four projects are at Faculty of Physics and Geoscience, two at Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, one project is at Leibniz-Institute for Surface Modification Leipzig and one at the Max-Planck-Institute for Mathematics in the Natural Science Leipzig. SANDiE Network of Excellence "Self-Assembled semiconductor Nanostructures for new Devices in photonics and Electronics" (Coordinator: Prof. Dr. M. Grundmann)
The SANDiE Network of Excellence is dedicated to the study of self-assembled nanostructures (SAN) and increases dialogue, exchange of expertise and access to infrastructure, thereby integrating European research resources. The network started its activities in July 2004 and will be funded for a period of four years by the European Commission with 9.2 million Euros. SANDiE integrates 31 partners in 14 European nations – among the partners are 17 universities, nine research institutes and five industrial partners. Universität Leipzig coordinates the network.
It is the goal of SANDiE to secure the world-wide leading position in the scientific field of SAN by overcoming fragmentation. Therefore, human resources, facilities, educational activities and exploitation are integrated by the partners.
The scientific research fields of the network cover SAN for long-wavelength laser emission, SAN for inter-sublevel transitions and SAN for single photon communication. Novel structures and materials for SAN are investigated and simulations of SAN growth, physics and devices are performed.
For Universität Leipzig, the Faculty of Physics and Geosciences as well as the Faculty for Chemistry and Mineralogy (Semiconductor Chemistry Group) are participating in SANDiE. The focus of research is the growth of ZnO and Ga(As,N) nanostructures, nano-spintronics in InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots and the fabrication and characterization of GaAs nanorolls.
EU-RTD Project NANODERM (Coordinator: Prof. Dr. T. Butz)
Within a collaboration between institutions at Bordeaux, Lisbon, Kraków, Debrecen, Lund, and Antwerp electron- and ion microscopy is employed to investigate to what extent nanoparticles can penetrate the skin and enter into vital tissue. In addition, the response of living cells in contact with nanoparticles is studied.
International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) and Centre for Theoretical Sciences (NTZ)
The Institute for Theoretical Physics works closely together with the Max-Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences and the Centre for Theoretical Sciences (director: Prof. Dr. W. Janke) as part of the university´s Centre for Advanced Study. In particular scientists of the Institute for Theoretical Physics take an active part in the International Max Planck Research School of the MPI MIS.
Cooperations of the Physics-Institutes
The most important extra-universitary research partners at Leipzig are (cooperating Institutes in parentheses):
- Institut für Oberflächenmodifizierung Leipzig (Institute for Experimental Physics I and II),
- Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik in den Naturwissenschaften Leipzig (Institute for Theoretical Physics, Institute for Experimental Physics II),
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kognitions- und Neurowissenschaften (Institutes for Experimental Physics I and II)
In addition, there are numerous national and international collaborations which cannot be listet here in full.
Cooperations of the Institute for Meteorology
- Institut für Troposphärenforschung Leipzig
- DLR Oberpfaffenhofen
- Deutscher Wetterdienst
- Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre Kühlungsborn
- Institut für Energetik und Umwelt gGmbH
- Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam
Cooperations of the Institute for Geography
- Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Leipzig
- Helmholtz - Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) Leipzig-Halle
- Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest (Hungary)
- Kommission für Landeskunde of the Saxon Academy of Sciences, Leipzig
- Institutions of urban and regional planning
Theoretical Physics
Research in the Institutes
Institute for Theoretical Physics (Director: Prof. Dr. G. Rudolph)
Quantum Field Theory and Gravitation (Speaker: Prof. Dr. G. Rudolph)
We study relativistic quantum field theories and gravity with special focus on the mathematical structure of gauge theories and gravity (stratified structure of the classical configuration space, nonperturbative quantization methods, general covariant quantum field theories, non commutative geometry) and perturbative methods (general gauge theories, ground state energies, Casimir effect).
Theory of Elementary Particles (Speaker: Prof. Dr. K. Sibold)
In the realm of elementary particle theory quantum field theoretic methods are being applied mainly to renormalization theory, to supersymmetric theories, to quantum chromodynamics, and to lattice gauge theory. Close to experimental work at particle accelerators is the theoretical investigation of structure functions of hadrons and the development of programs to simulate hadronic scattering processes.
Theory of Condensed Matter (Speaker: Prof. Dr. U. Behn)
Research in condensed matter theory is performed in three subgroups. Stochasticity and structure formation are investigated in noise induced phenomena in non equilibrium systems. Nonlinear dynamics and statistical physics are applied to study Th1-Th2 regulation and idiotypic networks of the immune system. Unconventional magnetic properties of transition metal oxedes due to strong electron correlations are studied. In April 2005 Prof. Klaus Kroy joined our group working on nonequilibrium dynamics of various soft matter systems. The problems range from spontaneously developing desert sand dunes , gels of adhesive colloids and proteins, viscoelastic mechanics of the dytosceleton to the behaviour of single DNA molecules under strong external fields.
Statistical Physics (Speaker: Prof. Dr. M. Salmhofer)
Main research areas are the construction of interacting models of quantum field theory and quantum statistical mechanics using renormalization group methods and the theory of correlated fermion systems in the context of high-temperature superconductivity.
Molecular Dynamics/Computer Simulations (Speaker: PD Dr. H.L. Vörtler)
Structural data, thermodynamic quantities, the phase behaviour and transport coefficients of many particle systems and their dependence upon intercrystalline and intracrystalline interactions and upon the structure of the molecules and surfaces are investigated. Methods of statistical physics, of molecular simulations and of percolation theory are employed.
The theory is extended to inhomogeneous and non-equilibrium systems including mixtures and nonlinear effects. The mutual coupling of different molecular phenomena, such as adsorption, wetting, mobility, chemical reactions, self diffusion and transport diffusion will be taken into account.
Institute of Experimental Physics I
The Institute's work revolves around research into "soft condensed matter". It covers a wide range of very different materials such as lipid membranes, liquid crystals, artificial polymers and biological macromolecules. Their physical characteristics are studied as individual molecules, together with other molecules of the same kind, and as host/guest systems.
Work on the Physics of Anisotropic Fluids deals with the structure and dynamics of supramolecular arrangements like those formed by liquid crystals and low-molecular and polymer compounds. These systems possess a high degree of co-operation, which is reflected in the formation of macromolecular superstructures.
Interface Physics investigates the interaction of molecules with the surfaces of solids, especially the inner surface of microporous solids (particularly zeolites). This work is of immediate practical significance in numerous technical processes such as low-energy and environmentally sustainable substance separation and refinement, the development of functional materials, and prospecting for mineral deposits.
In his book “What is Life?”, Schrödinger raised the question of how cellular processes can be understood through their basic physics and chemistry. Commencing with Watson and Crick, science has gained tremendous insight into the molecular basis of biological cells. Over 25,000 genes encode the information of human life, and their subsequent transcription and translation add to the complexity of molecular interactions resulting in an insurmountable combinatorial number of relations. By identifying cellular subunits acting as independent functional modules this complexity becomes tractable and the fundamental physical principles of these modules can be studied. A prototypical example for such a module is the intracellular scaffold known as the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is the key structural element in cellular organization and is an indicator of pathological changes in cell function. It is a compound of highly dynamic polymers and active nano-elements inside biological cells that mechanically and chemically senses a cell’s environment. The cytoskeleton generates cellular motion and forces sufficiently strong to push rigid AFM cantilevers out of the way. This active, soft condensed matter, with structures on nanometer and micron scales representative of individual proteins and cells, calls forth new biological and polymer physics. My research group’s specific goals center on unraveling this new physics of the cytoskeleton. One of the most appealing aspects of such interdisciplinary research is that it simultaneously provides fundamental advances in science as well as novel applications in medical fields such as oncology, neurology, and regenerative medicine. Furthermore, the insight into this active biological matter will cross-fertilize with nano-sciences by providing the blue prints for the assembly of nano-constituents into complex molecular machines.
Institute of Experimental Physics II
The Institute's underlying work comprises basic research into solid-state physics, with close links to materials research, chemical physics, biophysics and the geosciences being pursued.
Semiconductor Physics mainly deals with the optical characteristics of semiconductors (e.g. GaAs and ZnO), and chiefly studies micro- and nanostructured systems and individual atomic layers. Practical developments are carried out in the area of optoelectronics and mobile communication.
The high-energy ion nanoprobe LIPSION provides excellent conditions in Germany for research into materials and life sciences (ion beam analysis and modification).
The electronic properties of quantum-solids in which the electrons exhibit strong correlations with each other or with the lattice are particularly rich and will be of special importance in future functional materials. In addition, such solids are challenging for experiment, as well as theory, as the twenty-year history of high-temperature superconductivity shows: we still do not understand the electronic structure of these systems. One particular aspect of strongly correlated electronic materials is their tendency towards nano-scale electronic phase separation. Even in perfect lattices, electronic nano-structures can form. The investigation of such materials requires the use of methods that can give detailed information. Here, magnetic resonance (on nuclei and electrons) is of particular interest as they not only have atomic scale resolution, but also yield bulk information in contrast to surface techniques. As one might expect, the material properties can be quite different from the bulk near the surface.
The Department of Superconductivity and Magnetisms is engaged in the study of basic properties of various magnetic, carbon-based and superconducting materials. At present, the research activities focuse on: (1) The investigation of the magnetic and transport properties of graphite and other carbon-based structures like polyimides, (2) the study of spin-dependent transport phenomena in magnetic oxides like Fe3O4, (3) transport properties and ac response of superconducting micro and nanostructures of different geometries.
Didactics of Physics (Speaker: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Oehme)
This department focuses on aspects of teaching traditional and modern topics of physics at schools. Empirical testing is carried out, while forms of learning in physics classes, open and interdisciplinary teaching, and ways of using modern media are all studied.
Institute of Meteorology (Director: Prof. Dr. Christoph Jacobi)
General Meteorology (Speaker: Prof. Dr. Gerd Tetzlaff)
Research includes the description of precipitation using mesoscale prediction models, the analysis of extreme rain and precipitation events, variability of precipitation in connection with climatic change and investigations of the consequences of extreme weather conditions. Near surface observations, radar and satellite data are used to validate meteorological models.
Theoretical Meteorology (Speaker: Prof. Dr. Werner Metz)
The research is focussed on the natural atmospheric variability with time scales from weeks to dekades, in particular on the forcing and propagation of large-scale flow systems in the atmosphere and on the role of atmospheric interaction processes. Mechanistic models and observational data are both used to investigate the importance of such phenomena for the General Atmospheric Circulation.
Hochatmosphäre (Speaker: Prof. Dr. Christoph Jacobi)
Research includes numerical simulation of the middle atmosphere from the Stratosphere to the thermosphere using different circulation models of the atmosphere. Work includes the construction of reference atmospheres, analysis of trends and the influence of solar variability on the upper atmosphere. To this end, own ground-based measurements of upper atmosphere parameters as well as global satellite data are used.
Acoustics of the atmosphere (Speaker: Jun. Prof. Astrid Ziemann)
Focal point of research is modelling and observation of sound propagation parameters as well as the assessment of sound immissions in consideration of the atmosphere’s structure Various systems for monitoring of meteorological and sound field data using conventional and new remote sensing techniques (acoustic tomography) are developed or applied in line with third-part funded projects.
Institute of Geophysics and Geology (Head: Prof. Dr. Werner Ehrmann)
Work concentrates on the physics of the Earth, engineering and environmental geophysics, theoretical geophysics and the geology of the Cenozoic Period. Close co-operation takes place with the Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, the Potsdam Geo-Research Centre, the Freiberg Mining Academy, the Saxonian Department of Geology, the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.
Geophysics (Speaker: Prof. Dr. Michael Korn)
Physics of the Solid Earth emphasises global geophysical fields, the structure and processes of the lithosphere and volcanology. Areas studied include unconsolidated rock, cavities and geological barriers. Techniques used are electromagnetic methods (e.g. geoelectric tomography), georadiometry, and numerical modelling. Another focus is measuring the physical properties of rock samples in order to link physical and petrophysical parameters. Engineering and Environmental Geophysics explores the upper Earth's crust by seismics, georadar, geomagnetics, gravimetry. Our focus is on contaminated sites, landfills, groundwater, river dikes, and disused mines along with their effects on the urban environment. Theoretical Geophysics explores the deep structure of the Earth as well as seismic and volcanic sources. Seismic wave propagation in complex structures is investigated theoretically and numerically. A local seismic network monitors the tectonically active areas in Saxony. The Geophysical Observatory Collm conducts long term measurements of seismic, magnetic and gravity fields. It is part of the German Regional Seismic Network, and provides unique opportunities for teaching and research in all subdisciplines of geosciences and related fields.
Geology (Speaker: Prof. Dr. Werner Ehrmann)
Geology centres on the Earth's recent history (Cenozoic). Fundamental questions of the geology and palaeontology of the Tertiary and Quaternary periods are studied, with special emphasis on the reconstruction of the palaeoclimate. We investigate terrestrial, limnic and marine archives in the surrounding of Leipzig and in other key regions (Antarctica, Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, South Atlantic) by geochemical, sedimentological and micropalaeontological methods. Practical research is performed in environmental geology and hydrogeology in particular in SE Germany. Research in palaeontology concentrates on the evolution of biota during Cenozoic times and the palaeobiogeography of Europe and the North Atlantic region. The Geological/ Palaeontological Collection forms an important basis for teaching and research, as well as for PR work.
Institute of Geography (Head: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Wießner)
Work concentrates on spatial structures and processes in mankind’s habitat. Methods from the social, economical and natural sciences are used to explore, evaluate and forecast the spatial changes caused by natural processes and human activity.
Human Geography, Regional Geography and Regional Planning (Speaker: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Wießner)
Human Geography chiefly deals with questions of Urban Geography, Social Geography, and Economic Geography. The main interest is the impact of social, economic and technological change on urban and regional structures. Key topics are analysing processes of transformation and restructuring in towns, cities and regions in Eastern Germany and East Central Europe. Research topics refer to housing studies, transport and mobility, retail trade, economic development and questions of sustainable urban and regional development. In consideration of cultural geographies the questions of cultural landscape studies and symbolic geographies are in the focus of research. Regional Planning mainly focuses aspects of regional development and planning in Central Germany.
Physical Geography und Geoecology (Speaker: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Heinrich)
Physical Geography and Geoecology addresses problems of landscape dynamic and development (genesis) in different kinds of landscapes. Questions deal with soil development and the substance migration of pollutants in hydrological catchment areas, protection areas and agricultural land, considering the ecological, economical and social conditions. Another field of work is urban ecology. Referring to sustainable development of landscapes and landscape planning, concepts for the analysis, the evaluation and the management of landscapes are developed.
Geoinformatics und Remote Sensing (Speaker: Prof. Dr. Werner Kirstein)
Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics deal with innovative computer-based methods of geographical research. Geographical climate studies of the relations between solar activity and main climatic elements by analysis based on GIS (geographic information systems) and trend analysis on regional climatic change are an concrete field of research. Topics of global and regional problems of the climate change are continued with the goal of a factual discussion in science and public.
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