Project Partners

Using droplet-based microfluidics we investigate the dynamics of micro- and nanostructures in two-phase fluids, from the organisation of amphiphilic molecules at interfaces to droplet stability, motion and actuation in microchannels. [more]

How does nature create complex morphologies and patterns out of simple building blocks? Structure formation in soft condensed matter on the micro- and nanoscale is controlled by intermolecular forces. On these lengths scales, interfaces may dominate the overall behavior. The research group studies instabilities of complex liquids in various geometries and applies novel experimental techniques to understand the dynamics of biological systems such as vesicles and cells at or near interfaces. [more]

Main research interests: wetting in stochasitc geometries, influence of substrate elasticity on wetting of regular and stochastic surface structures, morphological instabilites of liquid interface in regular wetting geometries, general considerations of droplet stability on chemically heterogeneous and/or topographic surfaces including line tension and electrostatic fields, adhesion of phospholipid vesicles to structured substrates, fluidic design issues of micromachined electrospray sources. [more]

On a liquid water micro-jet in vacuum the chemistry of aqueous solutions is studied by photoelectron spectroscopy with soft x-ray synchrotron radiation from BESSY. In cooperation with several theoretical and experimental groups, current studies include surface activity and alignment of molecular anions, electronic levels of solvated individual ions of transition metals, and of DNA in liquid water solution. [more]

This group aims to understand the solidification of complex fluids including soils and colloids. How do they freeze, or dry? How do they crack, change, order, or fail? Much of the work is inspired by simple geophysical patterns, such as mud cracks. We seek to understand how such patterns form, and what they imply about their host environment. [more]

Does a system of swimmers have to consist of living biological entities to move around and form swarms? Recent research in active particles and emulsions shows this is not the case. We aim to study hydrodynamics between droplets as well as collective interactions in a model system comprised of active liquid crystal droplets. [more]

Today we can manipulate matter down to the atomic scale and this ability allows us to control and explore the rich and still vastly unknown features of systems away from equilibrium. In this group we employ computer simulations to understand the behavior of complex liquids and nonequilibrium systems. Our main goal is to identify the driving mechanisms of matter organization. [more]

Granular media like sand, sugar or snow can exhibit physical properties similar to those of ordinary solids, liquids and sometimes even glasses. However, due to their dissipative interactions and their geometrical constraints a new type of statistical mechanics is needed to describe them. [more]

We are currently working on three topics: Discrete microfluidics Wet granular media and muliphase flow in porous media Wetting of viscoelastic and topographically structured surfaces [more]

We aim towards a fundamental understanding of the structure and dynamics of complex networks in physics and biology as well as engineered and social networks. We focus on computation in and control of networked systems, particularly neural circuits and power grids; moreover, the inference of network structures as well as their optimal design constitute basic research questions. We often develop mathematical tools required for understanding these highly complex systems. The Network Dynamics team works on foundations and applications in the areas of computational neuroscience, computer science, statistical physics of disordered systems, artificial neural networks and robotics, and, more recently, gene evolution and power grids and, most recently, complex human interaction networks. [more]