Profil

Biological materials as well as many modern materials derive their unique features from a high degree of complexity. Complexity in structure is reflected in complex dynamics, and dynamics is essential for function, in particular for living systems. This collaborative research project aims at a quantitative understanding of macromolecular structure, kinetics and dynamics in systems ranging from synthetic complex fluids, reconstituted biomolecular model systems, to living cells. Because objects of nanometer size need to be resolved and followed in their motions, break-through experimental capabilities need to be developed to reach these goals.

A concerted research program on photonic imaging, ranging from x-ray, EUV, UV, to visible and infrared light is proposed for microscopy and spectroscopy. Key challenges include the development of x-ray optics for imaging, the development of fluorescence microscopy breaking the conventional diffraction limit, the mathematical optimization of optical data processing methods and object reconstruction, and the development of laser-based methods to measure forces and stresses. Scientific questions that will be addressed include: What are the mechanisms of bubble dynamics in aqueous solution far from equilibrium? What are the ultra-fast dynamics of photo-induced phase transitions in soft matter? What are the dynamics of and in multicomponent biological membranes? How do amyloid proteins aggregate? How does stress develop in the cell cytoskeleton and in the extracellular matrix? How do such stresses contribute to tissue dynamics? Is it possible to derive the structure and dynamics of a single supramolecular complexe, and single molecule from single pulse exposures of the free electron x-ray laser?