35th IFF Spring School
Physics meets Biology
23.3.-2.4. 2004

 

Solid State Research in Jülich

The Department of Solid State Research (IFF) was founded in 1969. The theoretical and experimental working groups are concerned with the investigation of condensed matter from three aspects, namely: the development and improvement of preparative, experimental and theoretical methods; research into general physical phenomena and mechanisms; as well as the elucidation and use of new material properties. Important subjects of investigation are metallic magnetic film systems, semiconductor structures, and soft matter such as polymers and membranes. IFF, together with the ISG Department, is currently concerned with the foundation of the Centre for Nanoelectronics and Information Technology (CNI), in which new electronic materials, processes and devices for inorganic and organic nanoelectronics and information technology are to be developed in a supraregional research network.

In addition to small and medium-sized experimental equipment at the IFF institutes, large instruments such as a compact cyclotron, a tandetron ion accelerator, electron microscopes and ion implantation facilities are available, plus large infrastructure equipment, namely the FRJ-2 research reactor (as a neutron source) and supercomputers. As a complement to Jülich research opportunities, instruments are also operated and used at external national and international neutron and synchrotron radiation sources. This together with the close vicinity to other institutes provides IFF staff and visiting scientists from all over the world with comprehensive opportunities for work and scientific cooperations.

The annual spring school is an important event for presenting state-of-the-art research in the field of condensed matter physics and for familiarizing young scientists with selected areas of research. The widespread acceptance of these schools is expressed by the large number of participants and the great interest in the summer school manuscripts. Many of the 200 participants take part again in following years. Some of them join the IFF to prepare their diploma dissertations or PhD theses or to work here as visiting scientists.