Workshop "Optimisation in stochastic nano-systems" at the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg Delmenhorst

From 10 to 13 October, 45 international experts in nano-physics want to exchange the latest research results at the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg Delmenhorst. At the invitation of Prof Dr Andreas Engel from the Institute of Physics at the University of Oldenburg, the scientists will discuss current issues relating to energy conversions on the nanoscale at a workshop. The researchers from Europe, the USA, Japan and South Korea will be looking at the operation and optimisation of tiny motors, pumps and cooling devices, among other things.

"Today's large energy converters, such as power stations or cars, have been perfected over a long period of time. However, their miniaturisation poses completely new challenges, as nano-systems have to hold their own in a highly fluctuating world. For example, a nano-motor doesn't just turn in one direction, but changes it constantly," explains Prof Dr Andreas Engel, initiator of the workshop.

Some pointers for optimising technical nano-systems can be found in the analysis of biological motors in cells. They work in the same tiny dimensions: a nanometre is one billionth of a metre, which is about the size of a single molecule. The meeting at the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg Delmenhorst also serves to network international activities in this field of research, which only emerged around 15 years ago.