Vidi grants are awarded to outstanding researchers with several years of postdoctoral research success under their belts. Recipients are amongst the best 10-20 percent in their field. With the grant, they can pursue their work for another five years. Two KAVLI scientists each received a Vidi grant:

Experimental cosmology with superconducting nanocircuits

Dr. Akira Endo of the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, part of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, is using the radiation-sensitivity of superconductors to unravel the secrets of the cosmos. For example, a nanostructured superconducting chip in a telescope can reveal where and how far away the galaxies at the edge of the universe are. 

Read more  

Listening to quantum sounds

In quantum mechanics, objects move in counterintuitive ways: “quantum footballs” can tunnel through walls, for instance, whereas a “classic” football always bounces back. Strange quantum motion also applies to things like a violin string: even if you hold it with your finger to stop it from shaking, a quantum violin string will still move. In his Vidi project, Dr. Gary Steele of the Kavli Institute of Nanosciene will listen to the quantum sounds of carbon nanostrings and nanodrums to try to understand quantum motion and to explore its potential applications. 

Read more