Steven Hoekstra

I am an experimental physicist specialised in the development and application of precision measurement techniques to explore the limits of particle physics. In my group we perform experiments with small quantum systems (atoms, ions, molecules) and nanoparticles. The main tools we use to study these particles are lasers, and external electric and magnetic fields. The experiments we do are typically in a very well controlled environment, shielded from all unwanted background. By doing this, the subtle effects of quantum physics become visible, and we can use these atoms, ions, molecules and nanoparticles for a range of exciting experiments.

Projects

NL-eEDM

Our research program to measure the electron's electric dipole moment using a cold, slow and intense beam of BaF molecules

Levitated nanospheres

We optically levitate and cool nanospheres, to explore their use as sensitive sensors.

Publications

A supersonic laser ablation beam source with narrow velocity spreads

P. Aggarwal, H. L. Bethlem, A. Boeschoten, A. Borschevsky, K. Esajas, Y. Hao, S. Hoekstra, K. Jungmann, V. R. Marshall, T. B. Meijknecht, M. C. Mooij, R. G. E. Timmermans, A. Touwen, W. Ubachs, L. Willmann, Y. Yin, A. Zapara

Review of Scientific Instruments, 2021, p. 033202

Deceleration and Trapping of SrF Molecules

P. Aggarwal, Y. Yin, K. Esajas, H. L. Bethlem, A. Boeschoten, A. Borschevsky, S. Hoekstra, K. Jungmann, V. R. Marshall, T. B. Meijknecht, M. C. Mooij, R. G. E. Timmermans, A. Touwen, W. Ubachs, L. Willmann

Physical Review Letters, 2021, p. 173201

Systematic study and uncertainty evaluation of P, T-odd molecular enhancement factors in BaF

Pi A B Haase, Diewertje J Doeglas, Alexander Boeschoten, Ephraim Eliav, Miroslav Iliaš, Parul Aggarwal, H L Bethlem, Anastasia Borschevsky, Kevin Esajas, Yongliang Hao, Steven Hoekstra, Virginia R Marshall, Thomas B Meijknecht, Maarten C Mooij, Kees Steinebach, Rob G E Timmermans, Anno P Touwen, Wim Ubachs, Lorenz Willmann, Yanning Yin, (NL-eEDM Collaboration)

The Journal of Chemical Physics, 2021, p. 034309

Mesoscopic interference for metric and curvature & gravitational wave detection

Ryan James Marshman, Anupam Mazumdar, Gavin Morley, Peter F Barker, Steven Hoekstra, Sougato Bose

New Journal of Physics, vol. 22(8), 2020 May 23

Lifetime measurements of the A 2Π1/2 and A 2Π3/2 states in BaF

P Aggarwal, V R Marshall, H L Bethlem, A Boeschoten, A Borschevsky, M Denis, K Esajas, Y Hao, S Hoekstra, K Jungmann, T B Meijknecht, M C Mooij, R G E Timmermans, A Touwen, W Ubachs, S M Vermeulen, L Willmann, Y Yin, A Zapara, NL-eEDM Collaboration

Physical Review A, 2019, p. 052503

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Courses

Electricity and Magnetism

1st year physics, applied physics and astronomy

~240 students

Waves and Optics

2nd year physics, applied physics and astronomy

~190 students

From small to large to life

~25 students, twice a year.

Theses

Media

Our work in the media

Student research projects