The research cluster Energy, Materials and Systems (EMS) is
part of the Faculty of Science and Technology (TNW). The
research of EMS is application oriented and greatly benefits from
its internationally recognized expertise and unique infrastructure
on applied superconductivity and cryogenics.
EMS investigates the application of superconductivity in the
power grid (e.g. superconducting rotor in offshore wind turbines),
as well as in other innovative technologies such as the separation
of waste streams. Furthermore, cryogenic technologies are
investigated in a wide variety of applications, in particular in
medical and space-ralated technologies.
The EMS team led by prof. Marcel ter Brake has an excellent
track record in international pioneering projects on sustainable
energy (such as ITER on nuclear fusion), but also in non-energy
related, but very challenging, projects at CERN and ESA.
Because of the multi-disciplinary character of the EMS research,
students from Applied Physics as well as Advanced Technology
have their assignments in EMS, as also do master students of
Sustainable Energy Technology.
We perform research on optical coatings and
materials for extreme ultraviolet (XUV) light with a wavelength of few nm to
few 10’s of nm. Natural materials have high absorption and small refractive
index in this wavelength range. Therefore reflective optical elements need a
multilayer coating which reflects XUV light based on interference, while
transmissive optical elements have to be freestanding membranes of only ~10 nm
thickness.
When you choose to perform a BSc or MSc
assignment in our group, you will learn how to use state-of-the art thin film
coating and analysis equipment to push the limits of interface engineering at
atomic length scales. In our group we both do applied projects and more
theoretical research. There is big chance that you get involved with contacts
of our industrial partners Carl Zeiss SMT, ASML and Malvern Panalytical.