15 December 2020

Kirstine Meyers Memorial Grant for Astrid T. Rømer

Grant:

Astrid T. Rømer from the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen has received the Kirstine Meyers Memorial Grant from the society for the dissemination of Natural Science. This young, promising researcher is receiving this honorary grant for her outstanding research that brings exciting new contributions in their respective fields. This years’ award is part of the national celebrations of the 200th anniversary of H.C. Ørsted’s discovery of electromagnetism and is supported by the Carlsberg Bequest.

Astrid T. Røver

Kirstine Meyers Memorial Grant recipient: Astrid T. Rømer

Astrid T. Rømers research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind superconductivity. With her work, she contributes to finding ways to construct new superconducting materials that could one day be much more widely used than is possible today. “In a superconducting state, you have no electronic resistance, which makes it possible to transfer electrons through the material without any energy cost,” she explains. “This makes it a potentially strong tool in constructing technical devises and finding smart ways to transfer available energy such as wind and sun.“ However, current superconducting material has its limitations: it generally only works at very low temperature or under very large pressure. Scientists are therefore very keen to find ways to construct superconducting materials that function at higher or even room temperature.

Astrid T. Rømer is building on the theoretical foundations for this quest by exploring when and how materials become superconducting - a process that is not yet fully understood. What is particularly puzzling is the fact that electrons that would normally repel each other, appear to pair up when they become superconducting. “My research is about finding out what it is that can make them bind together,” Astrid Rømer says. She does this by exploring the mechanisms that are at play inside superconducting materials, for example the vibrations of magnetic structures inside a material. In her work, she connects theoretical and experimental research and closely collaborates with neutron scattering experimentalists at the Niels Bohr Institute and beyond. Additionally, she finds it very important to focus on the educational aspect of physics and involves herself with outreach and education activities.

In relation to receiving the Kirstine Meyers Memorial Grant, Astrid T. Rømer will be giving a lecture on her research in the spring of 2021. More information on this event and the grant can be found on the website of the society for the dissemination of Natural Science.

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