In this thesis, I studied the origin and evolution of the non-thermal radiation in merging galaxy clusters.

In this thesis, I study the formation of large-scale structure and the physics of particle acceleration at large scales (~Mpc).

This thesis revolves around the electronic spectroscopy of molecules in the laboratory and the search for the carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs).

The focus of the dissertation

Promotor: Prof.dr. M. de Jong

The theoretical explanation of cosmic acceleration is nowadays one of the biggest puzzles in cosmology.

This thesis focuses on the X-ray spectral analysis of merging galaxy clusters and the plasma code development for future high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy observations.

Hot astrophysical plasma is ubiquitous in the Universe, from comets in our Solar system to the largest scale structures -- the cosmic web filaments. These hot plasmas, with the temperature of a few millions of degrees, are often observed in the X-ray wavelength range.

Promotor: Prof.dr. M. Franx, Co-Promotor: Rychard Bouwens

Promotor: J.S. Kaastra Co-promotor: E. Constantini

In this thesis, we present new laboratory data of interstellar dust analogues.

Promotores: Prof.dr. M. Franx, Prof.dr. P.G. van Dokkum (Yale University)

Of all the mass in our Universe, 80% is thought to consist of a hypothetical and invisible substance called dark matter (DM).

Promotor: Prof.dr. K.H. Kuijken, Co-Promotor: H.Hoekstra

Promotor: Prof.dr. H.L.V. Linnartz

This thesis examines silicon pore optics (SPO), a technology that exploits silicon wafers from the semiconductor industry to create extremely high quality X-ray optics, by studying its manufacturing process, applications, and prospects.

I have studied the hot, diffuse gas around and between galaxies. Specifically, I have used the EAGLE numerical simulations of galaxy formation to predict the properties of this gas, and I have used those properties to predict specific observables: soft X-ray absorption and emission lines.

This thesis is dedicated to the exploration of the primordial dark ages: unknown physics during the earliest stages of the Universe’s expansion that have not yet been directly probed by observations. Cosmic inflation is a burst of exponential expansion of space after the “Big Bang”.

Promotor: J.W.M. Frenken Co-Promotor: R. Felici

Promotor: Prof.dr. M. Ubbink

Promotor: K. Kuijken, Co-Promotor: H. Hoekstra

Promotie

Promotie

Promotie

The formation and evolution of galaxies is fundamentally driven by the formation of new stars out of cold gas.

Lezing

Promotie

It has now been well established that shocks and turbulent motions in the intra-cluster medium (ICM) generated through cluster mergers can produce large-scale synchrotron emission.

Promotor: K.J. Batenburg

Tomography is a powerful technique to non-destructively determine the interior structure of an object.Usually, a series of projection images (e.g.\ X-ray images) is acquired from a range of different positions.

One of the key quests in astronomy is to study the growth and evolution of galaxies across cosmic time. Radio observations provide a powerful means of studying the formation of stars and subsequent buildup of distant galaxies, in a way that is unbiased by the presence of dust.

This thesis consists of three chapters. Each chapter is on a different subject. However, all three chapters address issues that arise in counting arithmetically interesting objects.

Promotor: Prof. dr. A.G.G.M. Tielens

Promotie

At the largest scales, two ingredients dictate the distribution of matter in the Universe. The first is dark matter, acting as an invisible scaffolding held together by gravitational forces.

Promotor: A. Achúcarro, Co-Promotor: J.W. van Holten

Promotie

Promotie

Lezing

Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) is an ubiquitous part of oil refining that ensures that fuels are cleaned of impurities and environment release of pollutants such as SOx and NOx gasses are minimized.

Cathodic corrosion is a relatively unknown phenomenon that can severely etch metallic electrodes at cathodic (negative) potentials.

Promotor: R. Tijdeman, Co-promotor: H.J.J. te Riele

Promotores: S.F. Portegies Zwart, E. M. Rossi

Promotor: K.J. Batenburg, Co-promotor: A.W. van der Vaart, B. de Smit

Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen, Leids Instituut voor Chemisch Onderzoek (LIC)

Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen, Leids Instituut voor Chemisch Onderzoek (LIC)

The Standard Model (SM) of particle physics fails to explain several observed phenomena and is incomplete. In order to resolve this problem, one may extend the SM by adding new particles.

Promotor: Prof.dr. H. J. A. Röttgering, Co-Promotor: M. Haverkorn

Sterrewacht Leiden is het sterrenkundig instituut van de Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen van de Universiteit Leiden.