ERC Advanced Grant for ARCNL group leader Wim Ubachs

Wim Ubachs was awarded an ERC Advanced Grant of 2.5 million Euro for his proposal “Physics Beyond the Standard Model from Molecules”.

Ubachs will use his grant to measure very precisely the hydrogen molecule with lasers, as well as to observe these molecules in space with optical and radio telescopes. With this proposal he aims to test modern physical theories and to find possible deviations that will learn us about the existence of extra dimensions, and if natural laws can vary in time or depend on certain conditions (like strong gravity fields). This research will be conducted at the laser labs of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

The Advanced Grants of the European Research Council are designed to allow exceptional established research leaders to pursue ground-breaking, high-risk projects that open new directions in their respective research fields or other domains. Wim Ubachs is employed by the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and works as a group leader at ARCNL.

Read the abstract of the proposal.

Wim Ubachs.
Picture: Ivar Pel