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  • E-mailbodil.holst@uib.no
  • Phone+47 55 58 29 67
  • Visitor Address
    Allegaten 55
    5007 Bergen
    Room 
    291
  • Postal Address
    Postboks 7803
    5020 Bergen

I am an experimental physicist, specialised in surface science with a PhD from Cambridge University, Cavendish Laboratory. My main research interest is the development of new scientific instrumentation and methodologies, using molecular beams.

As a PostDoc at TU-Graz, I coordinated an EU NEST project on the development of a new microscope using neutral helium atoms as an imaging probe. January 2008, we published the first images. This lead to a new EU project here in Bergen 2013-2016. The research is continuing with the ultimate aim of developing a nanoscale neutral helium stereo-microscope. My group has also used molecular beam diffraction to characterize oxide surfaces. In 2015 we discovered one of the largest surface reconstructions ever observed on a bulk substrate on α-quartz(0001). In 2021, we were the first group to measure the temperature dependent bending rigidity of a 2D material. This experiment was done using inelastic helium atom scattering. The work continues in a FRIPRO project 2D Material Properties, financed by the Norwegian Research Council. In 2019, together with collaborators I published a theoretical paper extending binary holography to the near field, and showing how this can be used to do mask-based lithography with 1 nm resolution using metastable helium atoms. 2020 we got funded by FET-OPEN to realize this experimentally. I am the project coordinator.

I have extended my interest in scientific methodology to the field of archaeometry, where I have collaborated with conservators and archaeologists to develop identification methods for ancient plant fibers

Finally, I am applying my knowledge about surfaces at the atomic scale to develop novel smart surfaces and coatings. In 2019, my group published the first ever study of the isophobic properties of graphene. We could demonstrate that fluorinated graphene provides long-lasting ice-inhibition on high humidity.  This work is ongoing in an M-ERA.NET project, which I also coordinate.

 

I am interested in teaching and the development of novel teaching methods. For the last five years, I have been responsible for lecturing the basic physics course in classical mechanics, and I use it as a testing ground for trying out new teaching methods. This led to a recent publication on how students' performance can be improved by including retrieval practice sessions in the lectures. With support from the university we have also investigated how the Covid-19 lock down in 2020 affected students.

For many years, I have been interested in promoting young researchers, phds and postdocs, carrying out workshops on scientific paper writing an publishing at various universities for a total of several hundred students. This led to the publication of the book "Scientific Paper Writing - A Survival Guide", illustrated by Jorge Cham of PhD Comics.

Academic article
  • Show author(s) (2023). Sub-resolution contrast in neutral helium microscopy through facet scattering for quantitative imaging of nanoscale topographies on macroscopic surfaces. Nature Communications.
  • Show author(s) (2023). Realistic mask generation for matter-wave lithography via machine learning. Machine Learning: Science and Technology.
  • Show author(s) (2023). Phonon-Mediated Quasiparticle Lifetime Renormalizations in Few-Layer Hexagonal Boron Nitride. Nano Letters. 7539-7545.
  • Show author(s) (2023). Observation of the boson peak in a two-dimensional material. Nature Physics. 1910-1915.
  • Show author(s) (2023). Nanodiamond-treated flax: improving properties of natural fibers. Cellulose. 685-701.
  • Show author(s) (2023). Monolithic atom interferometry. Physical Review A (PRA).
  • Show author(s) (2023). Fluorescence intensity and fluorescence lifetime measurements of various carbon dots as a function of pH. Scientific Reports.
  • Show author(s) (2023). <sup>3</sup>He spin-echo scattering indicates hindered diffusion of isolated water molecules on graphene-covered Ir(111). Frontiers in Chemistry.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Variation of bending rigidity with material density: bilayer silica with nanoscale holes. Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP. 17941-17945.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Ultrasmooth graphene-coated metal thin films on sapphire grown by thermal laser epitaxy. Thin Solid Films.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Problem solving in basic physics: Effective self-explanations based on four elements with support from retrieval practice. Physical Review Physics Education Research.
  • Show author(s) (2022). Polycrystalline diamond coating on orthopedic implants: Realization and role of surface topology and chemistry in adsorption of proteins and cell proliferation. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 44933-44946.
  • Show author(s) (2022). An atom passing through a hole in a dielectric membrane: Impact of dispersion forces on mask-based matter-wave lithography. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics.
  • Show author(s) (2021). True-to-size surface mapping with neutral helium atoms. Physical Review A (PRA).
  • Show author(s) (2021). The Covid-19 shutdown: when studying turns digital, students want more structure. Physics Education.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Temperature-Dependent Bending Rigidity of AB-Stacked Bilayer Graphene. Physical Review Letters.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Solid State Conversion: Microstructuring of Crystalline Al2O3 (Sapphire) by Annealing of Patterned Aluminium Films. Key Engineering Materials. 29-34.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Low-energy electron ionization mass spectrometer for efficient detection of low mass species. Review of Scientific Instruments.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Large area microwave plasma CVD of diamond using composite right/left-handed materials. Diamond and related materials.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Integrating effective learning strategies in basic physics lectures: A thematic analysis. Physical Review Physics Education Research.
  • Show author(s) (2021). Graphene and graphene oxide on Ir(111) are transparent to wetting but not to icing. Carbon. 396-403.
  • Show author(s) (2020). Retrieval practice of a hierarchical principle structure in university introductory physics: Making stronger students. Physical Review Physics Education Research. 5 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2020). Label-free impedance flow cytometry for nanotoxicity screening. Scientific Reports.
  • Show author(s) (2020). Is Cross‐Section Shape a Distinct Feature in Plant Fibre Identification? Archaeometry. 216-226.
  • Show author(s) (2020). First experimental evidence of hop fibres in historical textiles . Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. 7 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2020). 9-Acridinemethanamine and Acridine-9-Carboxaldehyde as Potential Fluorescence Lifetime pH Indicators. Journal of Fluorescence. 901-906.
  • Show author(s) (2019). The use of surfactant-filled mesoporous silica as an immobilising medium for a fluorescence lifetime pH indicator, providing long-term calibration stability. RSC Advances. 37241-37244.
  • Show author(s) (2019). Nanometer-Resolution Mask Lithography with Matter Waves: Near-Field Binary Holography. Physical Review Applied. 11 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2019). A broad-range fluorescence lifetime pH sensing material based on a single organic fluorophore. Journal of Fluorescence. 1125-1131.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Work Function-Driven Hot Electron Extraction in a Bimetallic Plasmonic MIM Device. ACS Photonics. 1202-1207.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Velocity distributions in microskimmer supersonic expansion helium beams: High precision measurements and modeling. Review of Scientific Instruments. 1-6.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Pillars or Pancakes? Self-Cleaning Surfaces without Coating. Nano Letters.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Is It Hop? Identifying Hop Fibres in a European Historical Context. Archaeometry.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Fluorinated graphene provides long lasting ice inhibition in high humidity. Carbon. 451-456.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Fast resolution change in neutral helium atom microscopy. Review of Scientific Instruments. 053702-1-053702-4.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Exploring proximity effects and large depth of field in helium ion beam lithography: large-area dense patterns and tilted surface exposure. Nanotechnology. 275301-275306.
  • Show author(s) (2018). Centre line intensity of a supersonic helium beam. Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (PRA).
  • Show author(s) (2018). Center-line intensity of a supersonic helium beam. Physical Review A (PRA).
  • Show author(s) (2018). Bending rigidity of 2D silica. Physical Review Letters. 1-6.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Zero-order filter for diffractive focusing of de Broglie matter waves. Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (PRA).
  • Show author(s) (2017). Pressure-Driven Gas Flow through Nano-Channels at High Knudsen Number. Journal of Nano Research. 116-127.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Optimal design of grid-based binary holograms for matter-wave lithography. Physical Review Applied. 14 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Neutral-helium-atom diffraction from a micron-scale periodic structure: Photonic-crystal-membrane characterization. Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (PRA). 7 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Light absorption and scattering of 40-170 nm gold nanoparticles on glass substrates. Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B:Nanotechnology and Microelectronics.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Identifying plant fibre textiles from Norwegian Merovingian Period and Viking Age graves: The Late Iron Age Collection of the University Museum of Bergen. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 281-285.
  • Show author(s) (2017). Flexible thin metal crystals as focusing mirrors for neutral atomic beams. Physical review B (PRB).
  • Show author(s) (2017). Atom sieve for nanometer resolution neutral helium microscopy. Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B:Nanotechnology and Microelectronics.
  • Show author(s) (2017). A theoretical investigation of the optical properties of metal nanoparticles in water for photo thermal conversion enhancement. Energy Conversion and Management. 536-542.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Theoretical model of the helium pinhole microscope. Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (PRA). 1-11.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Temperature induced color change in gold nanoparticle arrays: Investigating the annealing effect on the localized surface plasmon resonance. Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B:Nanotechnology and Microelectronics.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Atomic resolution imaging of beryl: an investigation of the nano-channel occupation. Journal of Microscopy. 245-250.
  • Show author(s) (2016). Apparatus for measuring pressure-driven transport through channels at high Knudsen numbers. Review of Scientific Instruments.
  • Show author(s) (2016). A modified time-of-flight method for precise determination of high speed ratios in molecular beams. Review of Scientific Instruments. 7 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2015). Underwater Superoleophobic Sapphire (0001) Surfaces. Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 15333-15338.
  • Show author(s) (2015). Focusing of a neutral helium beam with a photon-sieve structure. Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (PRA).
  • Show author(s) (2015). A giant reconstruction of α-quartz (0001) interpreted as three domains of nano dauphine twins. Scientific Reports. 1-8.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Two dimensional imaging of the virtual source of a supersonic beam: helium at 125 K. Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 4-12.
  • Show author(s) (2014). Flax look-alikes: Pitfalls of ancient plant fibre identification. Archaeometry. 951-960.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Viking and early middle ages Northern Scandinavian textiles proven to be made with hemp. Scientific Reports.
  • Show author(s) (2013). The Beynon Gabor zone plate: a new tool for de Broglie matter waves and hard X-rays? An off axis and focus intensity investigation. Optics Express. 28483-28495.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Optimization of an electron beam lithography instrument for fast, large area writing at 10 kV acceleration voltage. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Nanostructuring of free-standing, dielectric membranes using electron-beam lithography. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B. 5 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Measuring the localized surface plasmon resonance effect on large arrays (5 mm × 5 mm) of gold and aluminum nanoparticles on borosilicate glass substrates, fabricated by electron beam lithography. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Lab-on-a-chip device for fabrication of therapeutic microbubbles on demand. Biomedizinische Technik. 2 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Finite-size limitations on quality factor of guided resonance modes in 2D photonic crystals. Optics Express. 23640-23654.
  • Show author(s) (2013). Determining the fibrillar orientation of bast fibres with polarized light microscopy: the modified Herzog test (red plate test) explained. Journal of Microscopy. 159-168.
  • Show author(s) (2013). A free jet (supersonic), molecular beam source with automatized, 50 nm precision nozzle-skimmer positioning. Review of Scientific Instruments. 10 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2012). Nettle as a distinct Bronze Age textile plant. Scientific Reports. 4 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2012). Focusing of a neutral Helium beam below one micron. New Journal of Physics. 12 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2012). Brightness and virtual source size of a supersonic deuterium beam. Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (PRA). 043804-1-043804-10.
  • Show author(s) (2011). Particle-wave discrimination in Poisson spot experiments. New Journal of Physics. 13 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2010). Free-standing silicon-nitride zoneplates for neutral-helium microscopy. Microelectronic Engineering. 1011-1014.
  • Show author(s) (2010). An ellipsoidal mirror for focussing of atoms and molecules. New Journal of Physics.
  • Show author(s) (2010). A procedure for identifying textile bast fibres using microscopy: Flax, nettle/ramie, hemp and jute. Ultramicroscopy. 1192-1197.
  • Show author(s) (2009). Poisson's spot with molecules. Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (PRA).
  • Show author(s) (2009). Field ionization of helium in a supersonic beam: Kinetic energy of neutral atoms and probability of their field ionization. Ultramicroscopy. 413-417.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Vibrational excitations of glass observed using helium atom scattering. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Surface dynamics measurements of silica glass. Physical Review B. Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. 9 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Surface Dynamics Measurements of Silica Glass. Physical Review B. Condensed Matter and Materials Physics.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Surface Debye temperature of alpha-quartz (0001). Surface Science. 1080-1083.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Neutral Atom and Molecule Focusing Using a Fresnel Zone Plate. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B. 2374-2379.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Low-energy surface phonons on alpha-quartz (0001). Physical Review B. Condensed Matter and Materials Physics.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Imaging with neutral atoms - a new matter-wave microscope. Journal of Microscopy. 1-5.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Field ionization of free helium atoms: Correlation between the energy of ionized atoms and probability of their field ionization. Applied Surface Science. 4365-4369.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Comparison of a new neuromuscular transmission monitor compressomyograph with mechanomyograph. British Journal of Anaesthesia. 344-350.
  • Show author(s) (2008). Anomalous phonon behavior: Blueshift of the surface boson peak in silica glass with increasing temperature. Physical Review Letters. 4 pages.
  • Show author(s) (2008). An Optical Profilometer for Characterizing Complex Surfaces under High Vacuum Conditions. Precision engineering. 182-185.
  • Show author(s) (2007). The structure of the alpha-quartz (0001) surface investigated using helium atom scattering and atomic force microscopy. Surface Science. 4407-4411.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Observation of the boson peak at the surface of vitreous silica. Physical Review Letters.
  • Show author(s) (2007). Direct Images of the Virtual Source in a Supersonic Expansion. Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 12620-12628.

More information in national current research information system (CRIStin)

Selected Recent Publications

S. D. Eder, S. K. Hellner, S. Forti, J. M. Nordbotten, J. R. Manson, C. Coletti, and B. Holst, Temperature-Dependent Bending Rigidity of AB-Stacked Bilayer Graphene. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2021, 127 266102

Holst, B. et al. Material properties particularly suited to be measured with helium scattering: selected examples from 2D materials, van der Waals heterostructures, glassy materials, catalytic substrates, topological insulators and superconducting radio frequency materials. Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics 2021: 23, 7653-7672 

Gjerde, Vegard; Holst, Bodil; Kolstø, Stein Dankert. Retrieval Practice of a Hierachical Principle Structure in University Introductory Physics: Making Stronger Students. Physical Review Physics Education Research 2020; 16, 013103

Nesse, Torstein; Simonsen, Ingve; Holst, Bodil. Nanometer-Resolution Mask Lithography with Matter Waves: Near-Field Binary Holography. Physical Review Applied 2019; 11, 024009 (editors' suggestion) https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.11.024009

Büchner, Christin; Eder, Sabrina Daniela; Nesse, Torstein; Kuhness, David; Schlexer, Philomena; Pacchioni, Gianfranco; Manson, Joseph R.; Heyde, Markus; Holst, Bodil; Bending rigidity of 2D silica Physical Review Letters 2018; 120, 1-6

Akhtar, Naureen; Anemone, Gloria; Farias, Daniel; Holst, Bodil. Fluorinated graphene provides long lasting ice inhibition in high humidity. Carbon 2018;141. s451-456 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2018.09.008

Akhtar, Naureen; Thomas, Peter James; Svardal, Benny; Almenningen, Stian; De Jong, Edwin; Magnussen, Stian; Onck, Patrick R; Fernø, Martin; Holst, Bodil. Pillars or Pancakes? Self-Cleaning Surfaces without Coating. Nano letters 2018; 141, 7509-7514 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b02982

Eder, Sabrina Daniela; Flatabø, Ranveig; Ravn, Anders K; Samelin, Bjørn; Greve, Martin Møller; Reisinger, Thomas; Holst, Bodil. Fast resolution change in neutral helium atom microscopy. Review of Scientific Instruments 2018; 89, 053702 (editors' pick) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5029385

Valluvar Oli, Arivazhagan; Schmitz, F.D.; Vullum, Per Erik; Van Helvoort, Antonius; Holst, Bodil. Atomic resolution imaging of beryl: an investigation of the nano-channel occupation. Journal of Microscopy 2017 ; 265, 245-250 https://doi.org/10.1111/jmi.12493

Lukešová, Hana; Salvador Palau, Adria; Holst, Bodil. Identifying plant fibre textiles from Norwegian Merovingian Period and Viking Age graves: The Late Iron Age Collection of the University Museum of Bergen. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 2017; 13, 281-285 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.03.051 - Highlighted in Nature Materials: https://www.nature.com/articles/nmat4950

Books:

Scientific Paper Writing: A Survival Guide, Illustrated by Jorge Cham (Phd Comics):  https://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Paper-Writing-Survival-Guide-ebook/dp/B019ZI93XM

Surface Science Techniques, Springer Series in Surface Sciences, G. Bracco, B. Holst ed. https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783642342424

 

 

Ongoing, externally funded projects:

 

2D Material Properties - NFR FRIPRO

Nanoscale mask-based lithography with metastable helium atoms (www.nanolace.eu) - FET-Open sponsored Project

Prevention of Erosion on Off-Shore Wind Turbine Blades - Equinor sponsored project (Akademiavtalen)

ISOS: Multifunctional icephobic, robust, lightweight and transparent coatings for windows and lenses - M-ERA.NET sponsored Project

PAFYS: Princippbaseret aktiv undervisning for sterkere fysikk- og ingeniørstudenter - DIKU sponsored project

 

2019 Appointed Chair of the Kavli Prize Committee in Nanoscience for 2019 - 2024.
2018 Elected to the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences
2015 Elected to the Royal Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters
2007 Trond Mohn Research Foundation Recruitment Grant
2000 Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship
1999 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Research Fellowship

Research groups