The interaction of light with matter covers a large number of physical phenomena that we literally see in our everyday life. Early scientists mostly focused on investigations of electromagnetic radiation in the visible range and at low intensities, where material polarization responds linearly to incident electromagnetic fields. Utilizing the compute clusters at PC2, this project aims at simulating and interpreting the strong-field dynamics of real molecules and larger systems in a rigorous real-space real-time approach including non-linear strong-field effects such as photoionization and high-order harmonic generation of systems ranging from small (chiral) molecules over nano-systems to the condensed phase.

Over the past decades, large-scale computer simulations have grown to become one of the most powerful approaches to study the interior of Earth-like planets. Geodynamical models are used to investigate the evolution and distribution of the temperature inside the planet that ultimately affects its structure and the way the planet cools over time. Combined with data obtained from planetary missions and laboratory experiments, these models help us to improve our understanding of the history and current state of planets in our Solar System and beyond. These models can teach us about the formation and evolution of planetary environments

Every year we, as the Formula Student Team of RWTH Aachen University, develop a completely new electric race car and revise a previous car to be able to drive autonomously. For our Aerodynamics team, the electric vehicle is the main focus. We try to find the best geometries for our car within the regulatory constraints and while keeping performance compromises with other design areas in mind.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are very successfully employed as novel transport vehicles for mRNA vaccines. A major gap in our understanding and thus obstacle for future developments of nanoparticle-mRNA drugs, however, is the lack of a molecular picture and molecular insight into LNPs. In this project we aim to provide unique insight at the atomistic scale into the structure and mechanisms of these carriers.