Leiden Exhibits 1913 Liquid Helium Breakthrough & Quantum Materials
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Leiden University connects its historical physics achievements with current quantum materials research through a new exhibition celebrating its 450th anniversary. The display features photographs from around 1913, documenting Heike Kamerlingh Onnes’s work in liquefying helium, an accomplishment recognized with a Nobel Prize in 1913, alongside present investigations into ‘Van der Waals materials’ and ultrathin molecular layers. Semonti Bhattacharyya and Sense Jan van der Molen use instruments such as low-energy electron microscopes to explore these electronic properties, continuing a tradition of collaborative research that began over a century ago. This legacy is built on a foundation of skilled instrument making, highlighted by the enduring relationship between the Leiden Institute of Physics and the Leiden Instrumentmakers School, established in 1901, where students still learn to design and create specialized research tools. Kamerlingh Onnes’ 1913 Liquid Helium Breakthrough & Early Collaboration Liquefying helium was a pivotal moment in low-temperature physics, opening opportunities to explore matter under previously unattainable conditions and fundamentally changing our understanding of materials.
Physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes first achieved this using a meticulously constructed apparatus and received the Nobel Prize in 1913. A historic photograph accompanying this milestone shows that such results were not solely the product of individual genius, but a “unique collaboration between research staff, instrument makers, physics students…and students from the LiS,” working together within the laboratory.
Like Kamerlingh Onnes, Bhattacharyya and van der Molen train students and collaborate closely with instrument makers, such as Christiaan Pen of the Fine Mechanical Department, maintaining a continuous lineage of expertise. The importance of skilled instrument makers is further underscored by the fact that before 1880, physicists typically built their own equipment, a process Kamerlingh Onnes considered inefficient. After becoming professor in 1882, he proactively recruited technically proficient craftsmen from abroad and initiated a program to train local instrument makers, culminating in the establishment of the Leiden Instrumentmakers School in 1901. This commitment to in-house instrument development continues; physicists “still work closely together with instrument makers to design and perfect their research setup,” crafting customized tools in a workshop to meet the demands of increasingly precise experiments.
Leiden Instrumentmakers School: Tradition of Skilled Craftsmanship The Leiden Institute of Physics maintains a legacy of hands-on instrument creation, extending from the earliest days of experimental physics to advanced quantum materials research. Before 1880, physicists routinely built their own apparatus, a process Heike Kamerlingh Onnes deemed inefficient. Upon becoming professor of Experimental Physics in 1882, he recruited technically skilled craftsmen from abroad and began a program to train local instrument makers, leading to the establishment of the Leiden Instrumentmakers School in 1901. This commitment to in-house instrument design remains central to the institute’s operations. Contemporary LiS students now receive training in modern techniques including metalworking, mechatronics, and 3D printing, alongside specialized glasswork, and can pursue customized programs through ‘LiS voor Werkenden.’ The school’s close relationship with the Leiden Institute of Physics ensures a continuous pipeline of skilled technicians who collaborate directly with researchers, as shown in a 1913 photograph of physicists, students, and instrument makers working side-by-side. The evolution of instrument making is evident when comparing historical metal shapers, used to create flat surfaces, with computer-controlled milling machines capable of nanoscale precision. These modern machines allow instrument makers to work with diverse materials, metals, ceramics, and electronic components, to build highly customized research tools. This dedication to bespoke instrumentation is crucial, as physicists often require setups tailored to extremely specific conditions, such as high vacuum or near-absolute zero temperatures, benefiting from this expertise and enabling research. Superconductivity Research: From 4 Kelvin to Modern Cryogenics The pursuit of superconductivity, a state of zero electrical resistance, has driven innovation in cryogenic engineering for over a century, and Leiden University’s Institute of Physics exemplifies this evolution.
While Heike Kamerlingh Onnes first achieved superconductivity in mercury at 4 Kelvin three years after liquefying helium in 1908, modern research demands more sophisticated cooling systems and materials exploration. This ongoing work echoes the collaborative spirit of Onnes’s early experiments, where physicists, instrument makers, and students worked together. PhD-candidate Amber Mozes exemplifies this practice, weekly refilling a Scanning Tunneling Microscope with liquid nitrogen and liquid helium to investigate the nanoscale properties of superconductors. Maintaining these cryogenic conditions is challenging; Wilfred van der Geest, who manages the cryogenics department, states, “My challenge is to make sure that liquid helium is available to researchers any day, any time. I’m proud to say that I have never had to shut down a research setup.” The transition from manually refilling cryostats in 1944 to the reliable, continuous supply managed by van der Geest highlights the advancements in cryogenic technology. These improvements enable increasingly precise measurements and the exploration of novel superconducting materials. Researchers are now building custom instruments with nanoscale precision, utilizing computer-controlled milling machines and a diverse range of materials, including metals, ceramics, and electronic components, to translate theoretical concepts into tangible tools for research. My challenge is to make sure that liquid helium is available to researchers any day, any time. I’m proud to say that I have never had to shut down a research setup. Optical Physics: Zeeman Effect to Quantum Computing Advances The subtle shift in light’s color under a magnetic field, known as the Zeeman effect, initially confirmed theories about electrons and atomic structure over a century ago and continues to underpin advancements in quantum technology. In 1896, Pieter Zeeman’s discovery, which validated Hendrik Lorentz’s theory, earned the pair the 1902 Nobel Prize in Physics; historical photographs reveal researchers manipulating light beams with lenses and polarizers to observe this phenomenon. This foundational work in optics has evolved dramatically, moving from tabletop experiments to complex setups aimed at harnessing the power of individual photons. Current research at the Leiden Institute of Physics focuses on trapping light emitted by single atoms with astonishing precision, utilizing tiny mirrors and advanced optical systems. This level of control is a crucial step toward realizing an optical quantum computer, a technology with the potential to redefine computational capabilities. The progression from analyzing the Zeeman effect with basic optical components to manipulating single photons highlights a consistent theme: the vital role of bespoke instrumentation. While physicists once routinely built their own measuring devices, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes recognized the need for specialized craftsmanship, establishing the Leiden Instrumentmakers School in 1901. This tradition persists, with instrument makers now employing computer-controlled milling machines capable of producing complex 3D shapes with nanoscale precision, working with materials ranging from metals to ceramics. “Together with researchers from across the Faculty of Science, they turn scientific ideas into instruments that enable research,” demonstrating a collaborative spirit that dates back to the earliest days of low-temperature physics and continues to drive innovation in quantum computing. Just like Kramers, he provides mathematical explanations for observed phenomena in physics. Source: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2026/04/photo-exhibition-leiden-institute-of-physics-then–now Tags: