II. Physikalisches Institut BDepartment of Physics

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2nd Institute of Physics B

Welcome to the web page of the 2nd Institute of Physics B at RWTH Aachen University. The institute consists of two scientific groups head by Prof. Dr. Markus Morgenstern (“Electron Systems at the Atomic Scale”), Prof. Dr. Uwe Klemradt (“X-ray scattering and phase transitions”) and Prof. Dr. Markus Ternes (“Structure and dynamics of atomic and molecular model systems”). Moreover, the institute is part of JARA-Fit (Jülich Aachen Research Alliance: Fundamentals of Future Information Technology).

Research
Our research is focused on the investigation of low dimensional electron systems at the atomic scale. The image shows a topological edge state of the weak topological insulator Bi14Rh3I9 (Nat. Phys. 11, 338 (2015).).
Recent Publication
Spin polarized scanning tunneling microscopy revealed that a magnetic vortex core covering about 10.000 Fe atoms is deflected close to single adsorbates and enabled a quantification of the mexican hat type pinning potential (Press release, Nature Communicatios (2020).).
Selected Publication
We have realized a valley flip for confined electrons in graphene quantum dots. It works by shifting the quantum dot a few nm across the superstructure of a graphene/h-BN stack (Nature Nanotechnology (2018).).
Selected Publication
Creation of edge free quantums dots in commensurate graphene on BN exhibiting orbital and valley splittings (Nano Letters 16, 5798 (2016).).
Selected Publication
Pseudomagnetic fields of order 1000T have been produced by lifting graphene intentionally with an STM tip. The fields are probed by pseudospin polarization, i.e. the imbalance of electron density on the two sublattices (Nano Letters (2017).).
Selected Publication
The nodes responsible for the quantum mechanical distinction of different Landau levels have been spotted directly by fixing Landau level wave functions to a potential valley (Physical Review Letters 118, 16803 (2017).).
Selected Publication
Cartography of the Spin-Orbit-Interaction. Spatially resolved imaging of the Rashba parameter by scanning tunneling microscopy (Press release, Nature Physics 12, 920-925 (2016)).
Group Members
Contact details of all members of our institute can be found here.
Instrumentation
Explore our measurement equipment.
Facilities
Learn more about the facilities of the 2nd Institute of Physics.

Contact

II. Physikalisches Institut B, RWTH-Aachen University,
Physikzentrum Seffent-Melaten – Turm 28, 3rd floor
Otto-Blumenthal-Straße 18
52074 Aachen

Institute Director:

Prof. Dr. M. Morgenstern
Office: 28C 304 (3. Etage)
Phone: +49 241 80-27076
Fax: +49 241 80-22306
Mail: mmorgens@physik.rwth-aachen.de

Secretariat:

Beate Nagel
Office: 28 C 301.2
Phone: +49 241 80 27075
Fax: +49 241 80 22306
Mail: nagel@physik.rwth-aachen.de