Unlocking the Secrets of Ultrafast Electron Motion in Liquid Crystals with a Humboldt Fellowship
Simon Vendelbo Bylling Jensen, a postdoctoral researcher in the Theory Department at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD), has been awarded a Humboldt Research Fellowship to investigate the cutting-edge field of attoscience in liquid crystals.
Simon Vendelbo Bylling Jensen, a postdoctoral researcher in the Theory Department at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD), has been awarded a Humboldt Research Fellowship to investigate the cutting-edge field of attoscience in liquid crystals.
Liquid crystals, already pivotal in the display technology industry, exhibit unique structural properties that can be tuned using electric fields and temperature. These materials bridge the gap between liquids and solids, offering a versatile platform for exploring novel ultrafast electric and optical processes. Simon aims to uncover how varying degrees of structural order influence microscopic ultrafast electron behavior, a crucial area of research for the development of next-generation quantum materials, spectroscopies and electronics.
His research plan is to develop a theoretical framework combining several state-of-the-art ab initio simulation codes, novel theoretical models and numerical techniques. By capitalizing on modern high-performance scientific computing architectures, accurate large-scale simulations of physical, chemical, and material science systems are within reach, holding a great potential for explaining experimental results and predicting new avenues of research.
“I am honored to receive this prestigious Fellowship,” says Jensen. “With it, we hope to advance our understanding of electron dynamics in matter, which could revolutionize how we design light-driven quantum technologies. The world leading research environment at the MPSD, and supervision of a distinguished scientist like Professor Rubio, will provide the ideal conditions for me to compartmentalize and unravel complex quantum processes, reach a physical understanding and push the frontier of technological developments.”
Simon joined the MPSD in 2024 shortly after completing his PhD at Aarhus University in Denmark, where he was funded through the Independent Research Fund Denmark. His doctoral thesis focused on the process of high-order harmonic generation; a process critical to generate attosecond pulses of light and study the electron dynamics of matter with unprecedented resolution.
The Humboldt Research Fellowship supports exceptional young scientists planning to conduct long-term research in Germany, allowing them to select their host and research institution for the duration of their stay.
