معرفی
Alexander Brinkman is a Professor of Quantum Transport in Matter at the University of Twente, where he has served since February 2011. He is affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Technology and leads the Interfaces and Correlated Electron Systems research group (TNW-NEM-ICE) within the Nano Electronic Materials department. His research focuses on fundamental investigations of quantum phenomena in novel materials.
Brinkman obtained his PhD from the University of Twente in 2003, following an MSc from the same institution and an Erasmus exchange at the University of Bergen, Norway. His academic career progressed from Postdoc (2003) to Assistant Professor (2003-2011), and finally to Professor (2011-present).
Professor Brinkman's research centers on quantum transport phenomena in novel materials systems. His group specializes in using nanotechnology to create thin layers of materials with atomic control, then fabricating these into functional circuits, transistors, and superconducting circuits that can be measured at ultra-low temperatures. This work requires expertise in materials synthesis, nanostructure fabrication, and quantum measurement techniques. A key focus has been on topological materials, which challenge traditional classifications of electrical properties in solids. His research explores how materials that are naturally insulating can acquire unique conductive properties when viewed through the quantum mechanical lens.
Brinkman and his team are engaged in the global race to discover and create exotic quasi-particles such as Majorana fermions and magnetic monopoles. While these particles don't exist in nature, they can potentially be artificially fabricated through strategic combinations of materials. Though his research is curiosity-driven, Brinkman recognizes its potential to form the basis for new types of electronics that address current limitations in energy consumption and heat generation in conventional chips.
- VICI laureate (Dutch Science Foundation NWO, 2017)
- ERC Consolidator grant (2013)
- Member of 'De Jonge Akademie' of the Royal Dutch Academy of Science (2011)
- Best lecturer of the University of Twente award (2010)
- VIDI laureate (Dutch Science Foundation NWO, 2008)
- VENI laureate (Dutch Science Foundation NWO, 2004)
Professor Brinkman actively mentors students in his research group, primarily teaching physics students quantum mechanics and materials science courses. He integrates examples from his own research into his teaching, allowing students to engage with cutting-edge science through bachelor's and master's projects. He views education as critically important, noting that even if research doesn't yield practical applications, the training of technical personnel provides significant societal value. His group has received substantial research funding through prestigious grants including VENI, VIDI, ERC Consolidator, and VICI awards.
Brinkman's research group operates within the MESA+ Institute at the University of Twente, utilizing specialized equipment for creating and measuring quantum materials at ultra-low temperatures. His team's unique strength lies in the full pipeline from materials synthesis to device fabrication and quantum measurement, allowing them to explore frontier phenomena in topological materials and superconductivity.
