Christian Bahr

Dr. Christian Bahr is a Researcher and Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Göttingen, Germany, where he has led the 'Structure Formation in Soft Matter' research group since September 2004. His work focuses on the physics of liquid crystals, particularly smectic phases, and their behavior at interfaces. The group investigates phenomena such as focal conic domains, surface structures, and the dynamics of soft matter systems.

Dr. Bahr completed his chemistry studies at the Technical University of Berlin from 1978 to 1984, earning his Diplom in 1984. He then worked as a scientific staff member at TU Berlin from 1984 to 1988, completed his doctorate in 1988, and served as a scientific assistant from 1989 to 1995. He received his habilitation in Physical Chemistry in 1992 and was a Heisenberg Fellow and Privatdozent at the University of Marburg from 1996 to 2000. Prior to joining the Max Planck Institute, he worked as a software developer in Berlin from 2001 to 2004.

Dr. Bahr's research spans multiple areas of soft matter physics with a focus on liquid crystals. His group investigates the structure and dynamics of smectic films, particularly focal conic domains that form under antagonistic boundary conditions. They study how substrate patterning affects domain formation, the influence of anchoring strength on domain size, and the effects of phase sequence on domain morphology. The group also explores liquid crystal interfaces, microfluidics of nematic systems, and smectic membranes in aqueous environments.

Dr. Bahr's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the intersection of liquid crystal physics and microfluidics. His work explores topological defects in nematic systems, self-propelling liquid crystal droplets, and the manipulation of disclination lines. There's a clear progression from fundamental studies of smectic film structures to applications in active matter and photonic devices. His research increasingly incorporates computational methods to model director field structures and explores how liquid crystal systems can be used for cargo transportation and optical applications.

Dr. Bahr has received several prestigious awards throughout his career:

• 1993 Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz-Preis, awarded by the Federal Minister for Education and Science
• 1990 Glenn Brown Award, awarded by the International Liquid Crystal Society
• 1989 Schering-Preis, awarded by the Society of Friends of the Technical University of Berlin

Dr. Bahr has supervised numerous PhD students whose dissertations reflect the breadth of his research interests. His students have investigated topics ranging from liquid crystals in aqueous micellar solutions to surface ordering at liquid crystal interfaces, structure formation in smectic films, and nematic liquid crystals in microfluidic environments. His research has been supported by the Max Planck Society and likely other German research funding agencies. His collaborative work with researchers across Europe and beyond demonstrates strong international connections in the field of soft matter physics.

Dr. Bahr leads the 'Structure Formation in Soft Matter' research group within the Department of Dynamics of Complex Fluids at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization. His team employs various experimental techniques including atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study surface structures of liquid crystal films, optical microscopy to observe domain formation, and specialized setups for investigating liquid crystal interfaces and microfluidic systems. The group collaborates extensively with other researchers both within the Max Planck Institute and internationally, as evidenced by the diverse author lists on their publications.