Introduction
The "Institut für Festkörperforschung" (IFF) is devoted to condensed matter research. Topics range from the physics and chemistry of liquids, via membranes, clusters, surfaces and thin films to homogeneous and inhomogeneous bulk solids. The IFF has a department structure consisting of 9 institutes and service groups. Its wide spectrum of experimental facilities and individual expertise enables the IFF to successfully tackle complex problems in close collaboration between preparative, experimental and theoretical groups. Specialized laboratories and facilities exist for preparation of polymers, colloids and ceramics or the growth of thin films and bulk single crystals. Besides standard methods for characterization, highly sophisticated techniques are available and constantly further developed such as ultra high resolution electron microscopy, neutron- and synchrotron x-ray scattering, and femtosecond laser spectroscopy. Characteristic for an institute of the HGF (Hermann von Helmholtz Association of National Research Centers) is the fact that the IFF builds, operates and makes available to external users the neutron scattering instruments at the research reactor FRJ-2. Last but not least, the IFF has a long tradition in teaching and training of young researchers, not only through the approximately 25 IFF scientists teaching at universities, but in particular through the Spring Schools of the IFF and the annual Neutron Laboratory Course.
This annual report is intended to inform the international scientific community, including our scientific advisory board, about the scientific activities at the IFF during the past year. We have attempted to present a typical cross section through the research done at IFF, including scientific highlights as well as results of long term developments, for example the construction of new large-scale instruments. The scientific activities of the IFF have lead this year to 349 publications,of which 267 articles were published in refereed journals, and a total of 340 external talks of which 230 were invited. I hope you will enjoy learning about our activities.
As in previous years before, IFF researchers have received or accepted offers for faculty positions at universities and research institutes:In the spring of 2001, Prof. Dr. W. Eberhardt has accepted an offer for a faculty position at the Technical University of Berlin and as scientific director of the BESSY GmbH. Prof. Dr. S. Blügel has received an offer for a C4-professorship at the Universität Kaiserslautern. Dr. D. E. Bürgler was offered a faculty position for experimental physics at the Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg.We are proud of the scientific recognition of the IFF, which is reflected in these offers. On the other hand, we are of course sorry that these excellent scientist have left - or might leave - the IFF. In particular, with Prof. Dr. W. Eberhardt having taken up his new job in Berlin, we are again in the position that we are looking for new directors for two of our nine institutes. The institutes "Theory I" and "Electronic Properties" are currently lead by Dr. A. Liebsch and by Prof. Th. Brückel, respectively, as acting directors.
After his important role in the organization of the "Jahr der Physik" in 2000, Prof. Dr. H. Müller-Krumbhaar has become even more active in German and European science organization this year. In April 2001, he has become Editor-in-Chief of the Journal "Europhysics Letters". Furthermore, he has been elected into the board of directors of the "Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft" at the end of the year.
Prof. Dr. D. Richter has become scientific director of the European Spallation Source (ESS); he is also chairman of the scientific advisory committee (SAC) of the ESS. This demonstrates the strong commitment of the IFF to building a world-class neutron facility in Europe, of course preferentially in Jülich.
With the entry of the "Forschungszentrum Jülich" into the "Hermann von Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren", we have entered a new era of funding of the large research centers in Germany. Clearly, as happens in all large-scale reorganizations, this opens new possibilities but also implies new dangers. There is a lot of work ahead before we will see clearly how the new funding structures will affect our way of doing research. The IFF has always thrived on the freedom of research, the stimulating environment within the IFF – with its combination of basic and applied, experimental and theoretical, solid state and soft matter research -, and the interdisciplinary environment of the "Forschungszentrum Jülich". These strengths also put us in a very good starting position for the future.
Gerhard Gompper
IFF Managing Director 2002