researchgerman german research 2 / 2011 Magazine of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Cover: TiHo Hannover / Institut für Zoologie

A sense of well-being is expressed 2 /2011 acoustically – this baby orangutan likes being tickled. Even human laughter has a remarkable evolutionary past.

Commentary Christine Windbichler Selectivity and Transparency in Research Funding 2 “Parliament of science”– the online election of the DFG review boards

Life Sciences Elke Zimmermann The Voice of Emotions 4 The evolution of acoustic communication in nonhuman mammals and humans

Erika Kothe Microbes and Minerals 9 Analysing the effects of microorganisms in geological processes

Humanities and Social Sciences Rafed El-Sayed Inside the Shrine of the Lion Goddess 13 Athribis: Archaeologists uncover the secrets of the temple in Ancient Egypt

Portrait Kristine August Passion Late Middle Ages 18 Historian Jörg Peltzer has a European outlook in his research and his academic career

Natural Sciences Ulrich Vogl and Martin Weitz Cooled by Light 19 How laser bombardment lowers the temperature of atomic gases at high pressures

Brigitte Küppers Like Attracts Like 22 Inspiration from nature aids polymer chemists in developing new materials Acoustic Communication: The Voice of Emotions | Research Funding: Selectivity and Transparency | Atomic Gases: Cooled by Light | Lighter Frames: Lithe and Lissom – Engineering Sciences From the Hands of Robots | Athribis: Inside the Shrine of the Lion Goddess | Michael Marré, Daniel Pietzka and A. Erman Tekkaya Lithe and Lissom – From the Hands of Robots 26 Microorganisms: Microbes and Minerals | Self-replicating Molecules: Like Attracts Like Using an innovative production chain to create lightweight frames 2 Commentary german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 3

Christine Windbichler researchers to undertake highly innovative, high-risk projects. But here too, the DFG is selective. Applicants must have a demonstrated track record to succeed. Selectivity and Transparency As science and research funding increase in complex- ity, the DFG is doing its part to increase transparency. The DFG traditionally publishes an annual report, which gives in Research Funding detailed information and statistics on its funding activi- ties and use of funds. Projects that have been approved for funding are included in GEPRIS, the DFG’s project Countdown to the online election of the DFG review boards: The “parliament database, which is available online; this year GEPRIS has of science” lets Germany’s researchers raise their voices on their own behalf – been expanded to include not only project abstracts but for more quality and unconventional thinking in research and research funding. also the results of DFG-funded research. The system will continue to be updated in the future. For the DFG, this increased transparency also in- volves the tried-and-true practice of publishing the names of those members elected to the various de- cision-making bodies by the scientifi c community on s the DFG gears up for its upcoming online elec- DFG review boards that are responsible for ensuring the the DFG’s website as well as in its annual report. The tion of DFG review board members later this overall quality of the DFG’s review process. The review identities of review panel members in coordinated pro- A fall, the DFG has seen itself and its review sys- boards warrant high quality standards and criteria in grammes, who often encounter the applicants on site, tem come under criticism. A small group of critics have the respective fi elds and selection of appropriate and are also known. Although reviewers in the individual

voiced their scepticism over what they feel is the lack of qualifi ed reviewers. Review boards make subject-driven Illustration: HU Berlin grants programme remain anonymous – a practice that transparency in the DFG’s decision-making and funding award recommendations which the DFG Head Offi ce refl ects international standards of peer review – their decisions. Some would like to know the names of those then presents to the Joint Committee (consisting of assessments are shared in their gist with the applicants. seemingly anonymous reviewers who recommend to the scientists and academics in the Senate as well as In such a bottom-up system, what are the chances for And in all cases, both negative and positive, the elected fund or not fund a project; others allege biases against representatives of the federal and state governments unconventional thinkers, for projects outside the main- review board members have the fi nal say on funding certain disciplines. that fi nance the DFG’s funding activities). The names of stream? First off, researchers benefi t from the fact that recommendations. Is there something to this criticism? No, but it does these elected reviewers are published on our website. they can request grants for anything that seems worth In its effort to focus a reviewer’s attention on the qual- bring the focus back to two important principles of the And who gets to vote in these elections? Anyone investigating without being tied to calls for proposals ity of a given project rather than the publication output DFG’s work: selectivity and transparency. who – at the time of the election – has completed a PhD or other guidelines. This science-driven approach is of the applicant, the DFG has reduced the number of The DFG is selective and competition for funding is (or equivalent) and works as a researcher at one of the characteristic of the DFG. And sometimes this entails publications listed in a grant proposal. Reviewers should fi erce. But this selectivity is not based on a hidden agenda DFG member institutions or an institution recognised challenging prevailing doctrines, as the following ex- base their assessments on the proposals and read signifi - or secret criteria. Nor are decisions made by a select few. by the Senate as a voting centre or is registered as an ample demonstrates. cant papers, not rely on bibliometric statistics. DFG funds are predominantly taxpayer’s money meant individual voter. But before votes can be cast, candi- These and many other activities have created a com- to be spent according to scientifi c and academic criteria. dates must be nominated. Here too, the DFG looks for a hen Harald zur Hausen began over 30 years plex structure. Couldn’t this all be a lot simpler? Sure, How is this done? Representatives elected from and by broad base among and beyond its member organisations. ago to research the potential relation be- you could roll dice to decide on proposals. Personally, I the scientifi c community itself play the crucial role. Upon request of the Senate, scientifi c and academic as- W tween viral infections and cancer, his theory would rather rely on elected scientists and scholars to sociations may be granted nomination rights. From a was dismissed off hand by the scientifi c community. Zur make these decisions. ut what is the DFG exactly? The DFG is an associa- large number of suggestions, the Senate compiles the Hausen’s projects were supported by the DFG, among The 2011 review board election will take place from tion under private law: Its member organisations offi cial list of candidates. Scientists and academics with other funders. In 2008 he received the Nobel Prize in 7 November, 2 p.m., until 5 December, 2 p.m. To those B include, among others, higher education institu- a doctorate who are active and independent investiga- Medicine for his discovery of the role of the human pap- eligible to vote: I hope you’ll go online and choose tions, non-university research institutions, academies tors within the German academic research system are illomavirus in cervical cancer. In an interview he noted, wisely. of sciences and humanities, and scientifi c associations; eligible for review board membership. “It’s important to sometimes think outside the box. Don’t in short, the DFG is an association of science for science We trust that the scientifi c community in Germany let yourself be misguided by or get too comfortable with including the humanities. will take advantage of this opportunity to make its voice prevailing dogmas. You must not accept just everything, Like all associations the DFG holds elections: The 95 heard. Detailed election information is available on the not even if it’s considered standard science. But this also member organisations elect the Senate and the Execu- DFG’s website at www.dfg.de/en/rb-election2011. The means that you most likely have to work even harder.” tive Committee. Additionally, the scientifi c community, actual voting period will begin on 7 November 2011 This is also the case for the DFG’s Reinhart Koselleck Prof. Dr. iur. Christine Windbichler, LL.M. again this fall, is called upon to elect the members of and last for four weeks. Programme, whose objective is to enable established is Vice President of the DFG. 4 Life Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 5

Elke Zimmermann The Voice of Emotions

Research on the role of emotions in acoustic communica- tion and its evolution has been neglected for a long time. Ongoing comparative studies of nonhuman mammals and man are now providing new and surprising insights.

hen we infect others with taunting or schadenfreude, indicate W our laugh, soothe a griz- that the different emotions are con- zling baby with a lullaby or get veyed acoustically in specifi c pro- goose bumps listening to classical sodic cues. Psychoacoustic tests have music, we are barely aware of the shown that humans can recognise complex processes upon which this the corresponding emotion based on behaviour is based. It is not facial the emotion-specifi c acoustic cues. expressions or body language that Interestingly, comparable acoustic is affecting us, but acoustic vibra- cues convey specifi c emotions even tions. They are present in music across different languages and cul- and speech as “emotional prosody” tures. and allow us to communicate not Acoustic universals were also re- only verbally but also emotionally. vealed in cross-cultural studies with Acoustically conveyed emotions, music. When members of a native which require complicated genera- African population (Mafa) listen to tion and processing mechanisms, European music that makes Europe- are of paramount importance and ans either happy, sad or fearful, the essential for communication across Mafas interpret this music similarly all human cultures. to Europeans even though they had The DFG-funded Research Unit not had any previous experience of “Acoustic Communication of Emo- European music. Europeans naïve to tions in Nonhuman Mammals and Mafa music behave similarly when Man” aims to study the role of emo- they listen to Mafa music. tions in the evolution of acoustic Acoustic components, which may communication. Production, per- be associated with strong emotional ception and neuronal processing experiences, can affect sensitive are studied in animal models and people who may react with an ac- humans taking comparable ap- celerated heartbeat and even goose A baby orangutan reared in captivity likes being tickled by her caregiver. proaches, with particular emphasis bumps. Analyses of brain activity on speech and music. using modern imaging methods For example, acoustic analyses have shown that listening to acous- Illustration: TiHo Hannover / Institut für Zoologie Illustration: TiHo of laughter, which expresses joy, tically conveyed emotions activates 6 Life Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 7

a complex network of regions in the In contrast to humans, animals human brain that are linked to au- cannot be questioned about their ditory and emotional processing as feelings when they make or hear well as decision-making processes. vocalisations. This also applies to Intermeshing of these processes and human babies. It is thus necessary their functions has only been par- to evaluate socially relevant situa- tially understood to date. tions indirectly using behavioural measurements that take context and hese examples illustrate that individual personal history into ac- T the ability of humans to com- count. Such a comparative approach municate emotions acoustically is aims to disclose the biological roots extremely complex and has very of emotional behaviour and to re- different facets: we must express veal characteristics that are unique our feelings acoustically, perceiving to humans. not only our own but also those When we are excited or insecure, of others, to interpret them solely we automatically speak faster, in a on the basis of their expression, to more compact manner and with a control them and finally learn to higher pitch. The dynamics in the imitate them consciously – and all acoustic characteristics of voice as a this depending on the social con- function of the level of excitement text and individual experience. have been measured by psycholo- How did humans develop this gists using acoustical methods. In- highly complex ability to express terestingly, some of the acoustic and recognise acoustically con- components in the human voice

veyed emotions during the course correspond to those in the voice of Foto: HMTM Hannover of evolution? Did it evolve in our six other mammalian orders. direct ancestors or does it have a As acoustic measurements on Common language: facial expressions of humans pre-human history? Furthermore, animals’ voices by ethologists have Measurements of brain activity (EEG) give insights into the perception of acoustically conveyed feelings, for example, when listening and apes – tickling voices are similar in play. how can emotions be investigated shown, animal vocalisations in de- to music, language or animal voices. in non-linguistic animals so that we fined situations vary depending on can improve our understanding of the level of arousal. For example, if squirrels and bats as well as primates If the perceived stress level is ex- partners may be alerted acoustically how acoustic communication of a female tree shrew (from the genus such as mouse lemurs, squirrel mon- pressed acoustically, living in com- and specifically by the voice of fa- emotions evolved? Tupaia), unwilling to mate, is being keys, macaques and chimpanzees. munities with long-term social bonds miliar or related individuals and race In his work “The Expression of courted by a mate that is trying to and repeated social interactions will to the rescue. Humans are unique in Emotions in Man and Animals” mate, she gives defensive calls of hylogenetic constraints have favour the evolution of acoustic having the ability to control emo- (1872), the British naturalist Charles which the acoustic features change P probably contributed to acous- communication since individuals in tion and its intensity in voice con- Darwin made the first comparisons in a predictable manner, depending tic universals for communicating these communities may benefit from sciously. between humans and animals. on the distance or behaviour of the dangerous situations among mam- perceiving alarm calls conveying dif- Laughter is an important emo- From the similarities he found, he male. Playback experiments have mals. The basic construction plan ferent types of predators and levels tional display in nonverbal commu- concluded that our emotional be- confirmed that tree shrews can dif- of the peripheral vocal system is of urgency, without seeing them, nication across human cultures. Even haviour is derived from previous ferentiate between different levels similar in all mammalian groups, or from avoiding physical conflicts babies are able to laugh, as are infants phylogenetic stages in the animal of arousal based solely on acoustic including humans. Short-term with conspecifics by recognising dif- born blind and deaf. It is therefore kingdom. Empirical tests of this morphology. This arousal-depend- stress caused by predators or con- ferent levels of threat acoustically. assumed that laughing is an innate phylogenetic continuity hypothesis ent differentiation in voice is also specifics activates the sympathetic In communities in which the mem- human ability to convey specific require comparable definitions and reflected in social calls indicating nervous system in all species and bers learn to recognise social part- feelings. The question arises as to measurements of emotions in hu- disturbances. This ability is not ex- thus influences both breathing and ners from their voice, defensive calls whether great apes are also able to mans and animals. At the same time, clusive to tree shrews; it also applies the associated process of vocalis- may also develop into calls for help. laugh – and if the answer is yes, may

Illustrations: TiHo Hannover / Ross Illustrations: TiHo standardised criteria are needed to to very different species, including ing – with consequences for tempo In the case of macaques and chim- the human voice of laughter be traced describe their acoustic morphology. whales, elephants, pigs, ground and pitch. panzees, visually isolated bonding from phylogenetic precursors? 8 Life Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 9

Erika Kothe Microbes and Minerals Microorganisms have a major impact, even on geological processes. A better understanding may help us to reduce environmental pollution in soils and plants. Illustration: TiHo Hannover / Scheumann Illustration: TiHo icrobes are found everywhere M on Earth. This insight, first formulated by Antonie van Leeu- wenhoek at the end of the 17th century, has led to the widespread assumption that microbial activity on rock is insignificant and can be disregarded. No-one expected to find microorganisms deep in the Earth. When geologists were con- templating the formation of miner- als, weathering or transformation of mineral phases, they didn't con- Mouse lemurs are the smallest primates in the world – and excellent models for studying the evolutionary history of acoustic sider the possible effects of microbes communication. for a long time. It wasn't until the last few years of the 20th century Observation of orangutans, go- topology of this cladogram indicates adaptations from newly evolved hu- that scientists began to understand rillas, bonobos and chimpanzees at that human laughter has a pre- man characteristics, thus providing that microbes have an essential play show that their young offspring human origin and can be derived insights into the role of emotions in and, depending on the particu- like to play and tickle each other, from gradual changes in the acous- acoustic communication and their lar microbial community, varying just like human children. They tic structure of the tickling vocali- evolutionary history. impact on the aqueous and solid sometimes emit staccato vocalisa- sations during hominoid evolution. phases of the Earth. It is thus im- tions during tickling. These play The determined acoustic topology portant and enlightening to study situations can also be simulated accurately reflects the phylogenetic microbial processes more closely experimentally, for example when relationships between humans and and to understand the details. human parents tickle their babies apes, known from phylogenetic Analysing the effects of micro- and human carers tickle hand- trees based on comparative molecu- organisms on minerals is a relatively raised young apes. The behaviour lar genetic analysis. young sub-discipline, which lies at and staccato vocalisations in tick- Human laughter thus has phylo- the interface between geosciences ling situations of human babies and genetic roots reaching back ten to 16 and microbiology. It involves the babies of all four ape species were million years – right back to the last study of microorganisms from all recorded and analysed using com- common ancestor of apes and hu- Prof. Dr. Elke Zimmermann three biological domains of cel- is a behavioural and evolutionary scientist, parable methods of acoustic analy- mans. However, humans are prob- and is spokesperson for DFG Research Unit lular organisms: bacteria, archaea sis. The results were studied with ably the only primate species which 499. She is based at the University of Veteri- and eukaryotes. Algae and fungi, respect to graded similarities in the can convey different social emotions nary Medicine and at the Centre for Systems as representatives of the eukaryo- acoustic characteristics of voice. acoustically and which is able to use Neuroscience in Hannover. Cross-species similarities and group- laughter consciously as a social tool. Contact: Institut für Zoologie, Tierärztliche and species-specific divergencies in The comparative approach of the Hochschule Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Lab culture with pine seedlings and Hannover, Germany

voice were used to establish a clado- DFG-funded Research Unit enables fungi that is used to study symbiotic Illustration: GRK 1257 / U Jena gram of tickling vocalisations. The to disentangle phylogenetically old www.for499.de relationships. 10 Life Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 11

tes, are mostly found in the upper- struvite, a mineral related to stru- most zone of the ground. The DFG- vite but replacing magnesium ions funded Research Training Group in the crystal lattice by nickel ions. “Alteration and Element Mobility This mineral had previously only at the Microbe-Mineral Interface” been produced synthetically and studies the differing abilities of mi- was unknown in nature. That it croorganisms with the aim of elu- is indeed a biomineral is seen by cidating fundamental biogeological Illustrations: GRK 1257 / U Jena the fact that it did not form in the processes. presence of dead cells: only grow- The work focusses on envi- ing cells were able to induce for- ronmental problems arising from mation of the mineral. Researchers mining activities, particularly those are now trying to identify the genes caused by weathering of pyrite, a responsible for biomineralisation. mineral that is frequently associ- It is quite likely that this ability ated with metallic deposits. It has evolved as a resistance mechanism been known for a long time that because the nickel in this mineral bacteria participate in pyrite oxi- is not biologically available and is dation and the formation of acidic thus no longer hazardous for a liv- mine waters. Thus, the question is: ing cell. Is it possible to influence processes With respect to land utilisation that have a damaging effect on the by humans, this could mean that in landscape and environment, and spite of a high total content of met- once they are understood in detail, als, the land could be used if these perhaps even exploit them for re- metals – as in the original rock – are mediation purposes? The waste rock heaped up during and incinerated, and the resulting present as minerals that cannot be extraction of metal ores is gradually ashes can be disposed of without assimilated by plants nor enter the weathered, thus releasing co-crys- having to excavate the ground with food chain. This generally applies tallised metals, which are particu- its associated long-lasting impact. to all stable minerals and not just larly soluble in the resulting acidic The “playground” for this work to nickel struvite. Streptomycetes waters. To analyse these processes, is located at the former uranium grown on culture media containing a test site was set up that is being mining site near Ronneburg, 50 soil were to form different miner- used to study natural processes, the kilometres from Jena. The research als. But not just streptomyces, other effects of microorganisms and, in team has set up a test field on the bacterial genera were also shown to particular, for controlled experi- remediated Gessen leaching heap be capable of biomineralisation, or ments to test and develop possible to study processes involved in the in other words, able to form min- remediation methods. The projects interplay between water, rock and erals. at the University of Jena combine microbes. There are three topics To study bioconversion, weath- laboratory and field experiments of particular interest: biominer- ering products of the iron-contain- to study the uptake of heavy met- alisation, bioconversion, which ing mineral pyrite are particularly als in plants by inoculating the is the conversion of minerals by suitable. Weathering of pyrite re- ground with suitable bacteria and microbes, and the influence of mi- leases iron, which reacts with oxy- fungi. This has the advantage that croorganisms on the weathering of gen to form iron hydroxides. This the plant material can be harvested minerals. rust causes the red discolouration often seen in bodies of water in ew biominerals have been mining regions. But other hydrox- Left: Focussing on geochemical proper- N identified at the site. For exam- ides, such as those of manganese ties of the ground. Top: Laboratory tests ple, tests on culture media showed or aluminum, are also frequently to study how heavy metals affect the that certain species of streptomyces found in mining waters, including Isolated microorganisms have metabolism of microbes. bacteria were able to form nickel the investigated site in Ronneburg. to be characterised molecularly. Illustration: GRK 1257 / U Jena 12 Life Sciences german research 2 / 2011 Humanities and Social Sciences german research 2 / 2011 13

Rafed El-Sayed Growth under stressful conditions: sun- adhere to the smooth surface. Tests flowers find it difficult to grow on soil with powdered rock indicated that polluted with heavy metals. the organic carbon present in the rock is metabolised to carbon di- Inside the Shrine oxide. These metal hydroxides can also in- Overall, these studies have con- corporate other metals and thus act firmed the broad impact of microbes of the Lion Goddess as a geochemical barrier. However, on minerals with respect to their dissolution of such barriers would formation, conversion and weath- Athribis is the last major unexplored temple complex of Ancient Egypt. A long-term binational inevitably lead to the release of ering. These capabilities are well these heavy metals. beyond those previously ascribed project aims to get closer to uncovering the secrets of this unique limestone temple. to microorganisms. The results can ut do microorganisms also par- be used to predict how plant metal he several-ton casing block lifts, stone block, which is seamed with in Germany and are normally B ticipate in this type of biocon- uptake can be controlled by the T millimetre by millimetre, as two cracks and estimated at nine tons, used by fire service crews on res- version? This was investigated us- soil microbe population of a former Egyptian excavation workers pump is watched with eagle eyes by the cue missions, enable the workers ing elution experiments in which, mining heap. These plant experi- blasts of air alternately into the four supervising archaeologists. to successfully lift the fallen casing for example, the added microbes ments give cause for hope because lifting cushions placed beneath it. The steel-reinforced lifting block into a stable position. With intensified leaching of manganese. a satellite image of the test site in- The awkward teetering of the lime- pads, which were manufactured the aid of the “darfîl”, a specially- Applied to the research site, this dicates that the plants in areas that means that the input from such had been inoculated with bacteria A noteworthy scene: A canopic jar procession in the sanctuary of Ptolemy XII’s temple. biogeochemical barriers formed and fungi show improved growth. in the ground would increase if And a greater harvestable biomass bacteria and fungi that dissolve also means a greater withdrawal of manganese hydroxides find better heavy metals out of the ground – a growing conditions than bacteria promising perspective. that assist in the formation of metal hydroxides. A third research topic looks at the direct influence of microorgan- isms on weathering processes. This has been demonstrated for miner- als such as biotite, but the surface of black shale and graphite can also be attacked by fungi. This was in- vestigated by growing a white rot fungus on a culture medium to- gether with small pieces of rock that allowed the fungal network of filamentous hyphae to grow on the rock fragments. After three Prof. Dr. Erika Kothe months, microscopically small pits is a microbiologist at the Friedrich Schiller could be discerned underneath the University Jena. She is the spokesperson hyphae. Compared to the rest of for Research Training Group 1257 and the rock surface, their depth was co-coordinator of the Graduate School of Excellence for Microbial Communication between a quarter and a third of (JSMC) in Jena. the hypha diameter. Or in other words, the fungus had “dug” into Contact: Institut für Mikrobiologie, Neugasse 25, 07743 Jena, Germany Illustration: Archive Athribis project Illustration:GRK 1257 / U Jena the surface and dissolved the rock, thus gaining an advantage – it can www.gk-alteration.uni-jena.de 14 Humanities and Social Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 15

constructed conveyor comprising remain inside the Athribis temple The archaeological team, which ernorate’s capital, Sûhâg. The ru- other known settlements in the massive wooden planks and con- ruins. They lie scattered and top- has been excavating Athribis since ins of the Ptolemaic-Roman town Achmîm-Panopolis district have creted steel rollers, the workers pled in the chambers and corridors 2003, has already identified and complex, which are now covered been buried beneath modern build- easily transport the stone block to of the once mighty structure, which mapped several of these lime kilns. with wind-blown sand, lie directly ings, rendering them inaccessible its temporary home outside the is now partially filled with rubble. According to the data collected to on the edge of the Libyan Desert’s to researchers. temple ruins. For more compli- Today, an estimated one-third of date, the destruction of Athribis’ high plateau, the limestone forma- cated artefacts, particularly those the original construct remains. Like limestone monuments must have tion of which rises to 264 metres he sacred shrine of the goddess blocks, column drums and capitals Egypt’s other limestone temples, begun during the High Middle Ages above sea level. The inhabitants T Repyt, who was recognised featuring fragile coloured decora- the shrine of Athribis, which was and continued into the early mod- of the town had their tombs cut since the pre-dynastic period but tion, complex lifting mechanisms dedicated to a trio of local deities ern era. Among the witnesses to into the face of the rocky outcrop, never one of the country’s major and transport vehicles must be de- during the 1st century B.C., fell vic- this last phase of Athribis’ history which slopes gradually down to- deities, was originally shielded from signed and constructed on a case- tim to the need for building lime are countless ceramic vessels from wards the town. This largely unex- the outside world by a brick enclo- by-case basis. which had been increasing since the Islamic period, as well as coin cavated necropolis is the source of a sure wall more than ten metres high Late Antiquity. The huge blocks hoards and several ostraca (pottery considerable number of the coffins and five metres thick. Cult activities round 400 stone blocks, most of hewn stone were pounded into sherds) with Arabic inscriptions. By (and the mummy plaques origi- in Egypt’s temples took place in se- A of them featuring coloured re- rubble in situ before being burnt in the time the first European travel- nally attached to them) which are cret. On certain festivals, however, lief images or other three-dimen- nearby lime kilns to produce pow- lers came to the Achmîm-Sûhâg to be found in many of the world’s a festive procession carried the re- sional sculptural elements, still dered lime. region (and sometimes to Athribis museums labelled with “Achmîm”, ligious symbols of the gods out into itself) in the 17th century, the ruins an imprecise description of their the open and paraded them along of the town and its temple were al- origins. a special procession route for be- ready buried under a thick layer of Sections of the ancient living lievers to see. Athribis was home sherds and drifting sand. quarters in the east and south of to one of these procession routes. The lion-headed goddess Repyt. The the town have already fallen vic- Back in the 1990s, ninety metres of sun and “Uraeus” above her head he excavation site lies in Upper tim to modern development and a paved pathway were discovered indicate that the goddess of Athribis is a T Egypt, around 400 kilometres land reclamation, a fact which leading from a quayside outside the solar deity. south of Cairo, on the West bank of prevents the original dimensions town to the temenos’ main gate. the Nile near what is now the gov- of the town from being precisely The remaining 100 metres are still calculated. Covering around 20 awaiting excavation. beginning of the 5th century A.D. hectares, Athribis was one of the The massive enclosure wall, by Christian monks. In the 19th Left: Heavy work – a one-ton building country’s medium-sized towns. which enclosed an area of three and 20th centuries in particular, block is removed with the help of the The Athribis excavation site is also hectares, has now been largely de- considerable sections of the enclo- “darfîl” track. Below: The view from the particularly prized by archaeolo- stroyed, leaving the interior ruins sure wall and domestic buildings, west overlooking the extensive site and gists investigating Graeco-Roman of the temple precinct exposed. as well as later monastic installa- the temple area. Egypt because the remains of the This area was deconsecrated at the tions, were literally hacked down Illustrations: Archive Athribis project 16 Humanities and Social Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 17

A multi-coloured capital fragment rests during that short time, were sub- on a specially constructed turntable. This sequently published. facilitates changes of direction during Regrettably, this hasty excava- transportation. tion resulted in the irrevocable destruction of the majority of the archaeological context. There was 1802, took no notice of the site, also no documentation made of the the expedition to Egypt and Nubia archaeological finds and discover- sponsored by the Prussian King, ies, information which would have Friedrich Wilhelm IV, and headed been invaluable in reconstructing by the linguist and Egyptologist C. the temple area’s functions during Richard Lepsius, visited the Athri- Late Antiquity. bis ruins in 1845. As, at the time of Luckily, Petrie left large areas of Lepsius’ visit, the temple and ruins the temple ruins undisturbed and, of the town were already mostly even after the excavation cam- covered with rubble and sand, his paigns carried out by the Supreme notes illustrate just a few wind-ex- Council of Antiquities from 1983 to posed inscriptions and the façade of 1996, which aimed to re-excavate the rock-cut temple at the centre of the temple Petrie had reburied, the necropolis. large sections of the temple ruins remain untouched. One factor in ctual archaeological excava- the premature end of the Egyp- A tion began in 1906, when the tian venture were the problems founder of Egyptian archaeology, involved in removing the stone W. M. Flinders Petrie, partially ex- blocks. These weigh up to 30 tons by fertiliser-hungry farmers, known While the Napoleonic Expedi- cavated the main temple of Athribis each and rest atop the heaps of rub- Antiquities (Yahya El-Masry). The and Repyt form the most significant as Sabbâkhîn, and carried to their tion, which documented the ar- during a six-week campaign com- ble filling the temple ruins. new project, initially funded by the cohesive text corpus originating fields. There is, however, still more chaeological remains of the ancient missioned by the “British School of In 2002, on the initiative of the Fritz Thyssen Foundation in 2003 from the region of Achmîm-Pano- remaining of the monastery in Egyptians and the peculiarities of Archaeology in Egypt”. A prelimi- author of this article, a cooperation and 2004 and then adopted into the polis, an area in which the Ancient Athribis, the origins of which date their contemporaries in minute nary plan of the temple, as well as agreement was signed between the DFG’s funding programme when it Egyptian cults persisted until the back to the first half of the 4th cen- detail during the first undertak- descriptions of the part of the wall University of Cologne (Christian relocated to Tübingen in 2005, aims 5th century A.D. tury, than there is of most compa- ing of its kind between 1799 and relief and inscriptions excavated Leitz) and the Supreme Council of primarily at the archaeological and rable sites. philological exploration of one of The monastery complex is the last unexcavated temple com- probably the large convent which plexes of Graeco-Roman Egypt. formed part of the local monas- The long-term project goals tic federation from the end of the include the reconstruction of the 4th century. Under the direction history of ancient Athribis and its of Abbot Shenute, this federation cults, and the publication of the hi- was expanded to become the most eroglyphic inscriptions. The 1500- significant institution of its type plus inscriptions surviving in the Dr. Rafed El-Sayed during the period from 385 to 465 temple built during the reign of is the excavation director and overall coordi- A.D. The Athribis excavation site Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos (80 – 58 nator of the Athribis project at IANES – the therefore, not only holds particular and 55 – 51 B.C.) to the deities Min Department for Egyptology at the Eberhard- importance for the archaeology and Karl University of Tübingen. history of the final phase of pagan Contact: IANES – Egyptology Department, Universität Tübingen, Schloss Hohentübin- Egypt but also has strong signifi- Illustrations and Graphic: Archive Athribis project Inside the Temple of Ptolemy XII: The gen, 72070 Tübingen, Germany cance for early Christianity in Up- inscriptions on this exterior wall list the per Egypt. names of the goddess Repyt. www.athribis.uni-tuebingen.de 18 Portrait german research 2 / 2011 Natural Sciences german research 2 / 2011 19

Kristine August Ulrich Vogl and Martin Weitz Passion Late Middle Ages Between Cambridge and Heidelberg: Historian Jörg Peltzer has a European outlook – both in his research into princely elites and in his academic career

e join Jörg Peltzer in the studying in Angers under the ERAS- his time in England. “It’s important W Quellenraum [Primary MUS programme. What began as a that everyone in the group gets along. Sources Room] of Heidelberg Uni- brief sojourn abroad would, in Pelt- Then everything else will fall into versity’s History Department: “This is zer’s case, turn into eight years. He place.” During his last year abroad, the heart of the library. Working with went on to pursue a Master’s Degree therefore, he met with his group contemporary sources is both the sub- in Birmingham and a DPhil in Oxford, regularly – almost every two weeks. stance and the attraction of historical and studied primary sources in Paris Clear perceptions and pragmatic research.” Peltzer, 36, is a historian and London. Finally, he was offered decisions permeate Peltzer’s CV and

at Heidelberg University’s Institute of his first job in Cambridge. The inter- his daily work. In hindsight, however, / U Bonn Illustration: Weitz the History of Franconia and the Pa- national nature of his career quickly some of them were coincidence. In- latinate (FPI) whose current research explains why Peltzer publishes a great deed, Peltzer had almost studied busi- topic is “European Princely Elites of deal in foreign languages. In 2009/10, ness administration. At the last mo- the Late Middle Ages, A Comparison”. ment, however, he decided to pursue Arriving in the department’s old au- his deeper passion. “I can always do ditorium, one thing quickly becomes economics later.” After completing his clear: delving into primary sources Master’s Degree, Peltzer stayed in Eng- for research and teaching purposes is land – and with the Late Middle Ages, Cooled by Light Peltzer’s passion. Peltzer considers his his first love. As history is his passion, student field trips another of his job’s Peltzer almost never has time to read Using laser bombardment, physicists are developing a powerful method for lowering the high points, describing them verba- for pleasure. Two walls in his office are tim as “sunny days”. “Direct interac- lined by bookshelves, and the confer- temperature of atomic gases at very high pressures. For materials research, this opens new tion is very important in teaching. It’s ence table is covered: His most recent possibilities – and, in the long term, may even lead to the development of new freezers.

a tremendous motivator.” Illustration: August reading material comes from England, Peltzer’s research group is par- where colleagues would hand him ticularly interested in the “formation the Emmy Noether Programme took texts, telling him to “take them and or decades, physicists have been pour. Sodium atoms have two par- the atoms should emit light at the and visualisation of rank and order” him back to the UK for a further year. do something with them”. It is pre- F fascinated by the idea of cool- ticularly strong optical transitions, more energetic of the two D lines, in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Gaining an external perspective cisely this trust that the historian has ing materials with light. But light the so-called sodium D lines, which the D2 line. The result: the emit- team is performing an interdiscipli- and comparing different countries learned to appreciate about the colle- cooling would appear to contradict are also responsible for the yellow ted photons take with them ad- nary investigation into how electoral have influenced more than Peltzer’s gial working atmosphere in England. our everyday experience. Because colour of modern street lighting. ditional energy that originated in princes communicated and demon- research. Although he doesn’t con- Although Peltzer still “had plenty to normally, when material is illumi- Pringsheim suggested irradiating the atomic movement. Thus, more strated their ranks. Two sub-projects, sider England to be the researcher’s do” there, he returned to Germany in nated with light, a large portion of sodium vapour with light that is energy can escape from the sodium for example, are investigating how paradise, his university experiences the autumn. For all his international- the energy contained in the optical tuned to the lower energetic of the vapour than was supplied by the building massive fortresses liter- have had a profound effect on his at- ity, his life now centres on Heidelberg. radiation is converted to thermal two transitions – the D1 line. irradiating light field. This simply ally reinforced a prince’s status. The titude, and have particularly shaped The researcher – who is funded by an energy. This leads to heating, famil- Normally, atomic gases illumi- means that the gas is cooled. project combines historical and archi- his views on managerial tasks. “A ERC Starting Grant – and father of iar from summertime sunbathing nate energy-neutral at the incident During Pringsheim's time, it tectural perspectives, as well as taking group leader’s job is to ensure that three small children emphasises: “It as well as laser welding. wavelength. If, however, energy was not yet possible to realise light into consideration issues pertaining everyone knows where he or she was time. If I go abroad again, I’m tak- Thus, the thought experiment from the thermal movement of the cooling of materials. With the dis- to judicial, art and political history. stands. This is the basis for open, rel- ing my family with me.” posed by German physicist Peter gas were to be converted to exci- covery of the laser several decades Peltzer researches, lives and thinks evant and cooperative communica- Pringsheim in 1929 for light cool- tation energy, which Pringsheim later – a very spectrally pure and Kristine August internationally. Having grown up close tion.” Peltzer learned to appreciate is a trainee in the DFG’s Press and Public ing was somewhat unusual. His imagined to be possible due to powerful light source – the idea of to France, he decided to spend a year this type of communication during Relations Department. initial idea was to use sodium va- the collisions between the atoms, optical cooling entered the realm 20 Natural Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 21

parameters used in the Doppler state. The rubidium-argon pair ten- lead to a temperature change of the The new cooling method could cooling experiments. As with the sions a spring, as it were, when the cell window, albeit a considerably help create new material states. cooling of solids, this method in- atoms collide. smaller one. In the experiment, the With faster cooling, gases remain volves the cooling of macroscopic Following the collision, the elec- infrared camera was used to detect gaseous at temperatures at which materials. tron orbits in the atom normalise. cooling of the cell window near they would normally be liquid or In concrete terms, a mixture To remain in the high orbit, the the cooling laser beam (adjacent even solid. Similar effects occur of rubidium gas and a high con- electron needs a bit of energy. This figure), allowing for a very direct, with water, which can be low- centration of argon is used. Rubid- is drawn from the kinetic energy of qualitative verification of the colli- ered to – 42 degrees Celsius with- ium is an alkali metal and is, thus, sion-induced laser cooling. out freezing. If cooling occurs very chemically similar to the sodium quickly, even lower temperatures discussed in Pringsheim's work. ater, the temperature change in are possible. “Supercooled” liquids The addition of the noble gas leads L the gas itself was experimen- and gases exhibit very interesting to considerable broadening of the tally examined. The cooling also properties. The experiments could spectral lines of the rubidium atom: changes the density of the gas. be advanced further if gases that are at gas pressures of 200 bar, pressure Density changes in gases are also gaseous at room temperature, e.g., broadening of the spectral lines of responsible for phenomena such as many molecular gases, could suc- the optically active rubidium atom the Fata Morgana or the “mirage cessfully be cooled using the colli- is on the order of the thermal en- effect” (reflections above heated sion-induced laser cooling method. Illustration: Weitz / U Bonn Illustration: Weitz

ergy of the gas. Thus, the energy / U Bonn Illustration: Weitz road surfaces). In the experiment, This would allow one to forego the exchange between the light field the temperature profile produced initial heating required for vapour- during excitation of the rubidium by the first cooling laser beam was ising the rubidium atoms. The laser The experimental setup for laser cooling (with infrared camera). atom and kinetic energy transferred the atom which, as a result, slows scanned with a second test laser cooling method could be technically during collisions between rubidium down. Both the rubidium and the beam. In doing so, a temperature interesting for the development of of the experimentally possible. may be considered its highpoint in atoms and argon becomes efficient. argon atoms are slowed; the tem- change of 66 degrees Celsius could innovative mini-refrigerators or The greatest influence on further 1995 with Bose-Einstein conden- The use of a nobel gas – alkali atom perature of the gas drops. After a be measured in the centre of the even contribute to the cooling of research in this area was the sug- sation. To date, six Nobel prizes mixture for impact-induced laser few nanoseconds, the excited state cooling laser beam and the funda- infrared detectors or astronomical gestion of “Doppler cooling” of have been awarded in this area of cooling was proposed in 1978 by of the rubidium atom decays to mental effectiveness of the process cameras. diluted atomic gases, a procedure research. physicists Paul Berman and Stig the ground state. The atom is then verified. suggested in 1975 by Theodor Stenholm. Using gases at standard available for further cycles of the The cooling efficiency, i.e., the Hänsch and Arthur Schawlow and n the mid 1990s, solid materials, pressure, it was, however, never laser cooling process. In order to ratio of incident light power to shortly thereafter experimentally I i.e., solids, were cooled by means possible to observe any cooling. verify cooling, a high rubidium cooling power, is approximately realised by Russian and American of light using another approach: so- For laser cooling of the high- density is necessary. At room tem- four percent, which is a factor of researchers. called anti-Stokes cooling. With this pressure ensemble, we use a laser perature, rubidium is a soft metal; more than 10,000 above the cool- With gases, the temperature is a method, material is cooled if the light with wavelength of 815 na- a sufficiently high rubidium vapour ing efficiency of the experiments measure of the average speed of the energy of the photons emitted by nometres in our experiments in pressure is formed at temperatures for Doppler cooling of diluted atoms. In other words: the hotter the solid is, on average, higher than Bonn. This wavelength is several of 350 degrees Celsius. It is the high gases. With an incident light power a gas, the faster the atoms move. that of the incident photons. For nanometres longer than the D lines rubidium vapour pressure that al- of three watts, this corresponds to With Doppler cooling, atoms that the laser cooling of solids, atoms of of the rubidium atom (which lie at lows the gas to be cooled with the a cooling power of approximately are irradiated with a laser beam are rare earth metals with suitable op- 780 and 795 nanometres). Thus, laser. 100 milliwatts. The degree of the Dr. Ulrich Vogl researches at the National Institute of Stand- pushed into resonance by means tical transitions must be introduced the energy of the incident photons The cooling achieved by laser reduction in temperature achieved ards and Technology in Gaithersburg/USA of the Doppler effect and braked into very pure glasses. The lowest is not actually sufficient for exciting radiation could be experimentally in the non-insulated gas sample is after having earned his doctorate in Bonn.

by light pressure. Using several temperatures achieved thus far are rubidium atoms. But this changes observed for the first time using an determined in these fundamental Prof. Dr. Martin Weitz light beams, it was possible to cool – 130 degrees Celsius. if a rubidium atom collides with an infrared camera. For this purpose, experiments by the thermal con- researches and instructs at the University of very diluted atom clouds to tem- In our work, we are examining argon atom. The rubidium atom is the camera was pointed at one of duction to the outside. Recent Bonn.

peratures just a few millionths of laser cooling of atomic gases at very disturbed, its transition energies the optical windows of the used measurements indicate that higher Contact: Institut für Angewandte Physik a degree above absolute zero. This high pressures, typically 200 times are shifted slightly and, at the time high-pressure cell. Due to the ther- gas densities and stronger focuss- der Universität Bonn, Wegeler Str. 8, led to the development of the very the standard ambient pressure. The of collision, less energy than usual mal transport through the window ing of the cooling laser light can be 53115 Bonn, Germany successful field of physics of ultra- gas density here is approximately is needed to raise the electrons of material, we expected that the tem- used to cool the gas to considerably www.iap.uni-bonn.de/ag_weitz/index.html cooled atomic gases, reaching what ten billion times greater than the the rubidium atom to an excited perature decrease in the gas would lower temperatures. http://licht.physik.uni-bonn.de 22 Natural Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 23

Brigitte Küppers Like Attracts Like

Inspired by taking a close look at Mother Nature, polymer chemists began synthesising chains of molecules that all have the same length and structure and which can even self-replicate. With this work, they are developing fundamental principles for new and interesting materials.

ature showed the way: genetic lem for mass-produced plastics. groups – a poly(vinyl pyridine). N information of living beings is There are, however, other applica- The chain acts like a backbone, stored in chain-like DNA molecules tions and products whose desired and the basic side groups interact that duplicate themselves during properties are associated with uni- with the acidic functionality of the cell division when one DNA double formity. sulphonic acid molecules. Whereas strand produces exactly two new The Aachen polymer chemists the individual sulphonic acid mol- strands with an identical length and Martin Möller and Xiaomin Zhu ecules arrange themselves into cyl- structure. About 1016 cell divisions have developed a method with inders, the sulphonic acids bound take place during a human lifetime, which polymer chains can replicate to the polymer backbone self-or- and thus the DNA of a single ferti- themselves. Similar to DNA, the ganise according to the degree of lised egg can theoretically produce polymer chain is simultaneously neutralisation. The complexes form up to 10 000 000 000 000 000 iden- the template and the construction lamellae or cylinders depending on tical copies. But the most remark- plan for the organisation of sub­ how many basic groups of the poly- able fact is that the DNA molecule units into structures with a higher mer chain have been neutralised by itself contains the necessary infor- order. The trick: the superstruc- the acidic groups. mation for self-replication, for the ture governs the basic structure of helical arrangement and for further the newly polymerised chains. Or high degree of neutralisation superstructures – including that of in other words, the ability to self- A of about 80 percent forces a chromosomes – and this complex organise is exploited during self- particularly dense and space-saving information is passed on with every replication. packing into cylinders. If there are replication. The chemical compounds used fewer sulphonic acids, they form When humans want to produce by Xiaomin Zhu are made up of layers. Replacing the poly(vinyl parts with an identical shape, they two parts. One type of building pyridine) backbone with other, use patterns or templates. A tem- block is wedge-shaped molecules less rigid polymer chains produces

plate is rather like a baking tin that with a sulphur-containing acidic cylinders at lower degrees of neu- Illustration: DWI Aachen always produces biscuits with the group known as sulphonic acids. tralisation. The polymer chains same shape. In the field of synthetic The water-attracting or hydrophilic inside the cylinders are not neces- chemistry, there is no method or acid group forms the tip of the sarily extended. The more flexible Like a piece of modern art: top view of a model of a supramolecular cylinder made of sulphonic acid molecules. “baking tins” to synthesise polymer wedge. The wider, outer part of the chain, the more likely it is to chains with an identical length and the molecule is water-repelling or form a helical structure. The key form cylinders. This means that it is ite “experimental animals” used a cylinder. In the synthetic system, structure so far. Beverage bottles hydrophobic. The wedge-shaped factor is that the contour length of possible to control the dimensions by virus researchers. The TMV is a the wedge-shaped sulphonic acid made of polyethylene terephtha- sulphonic acid molecules spontane- the polymer backbone determines of the complexes. rod-like particle about 300 nm long molecules represent the natural late (PET) or Perspex sheets made ously arrange themselves into rod- the length of the cylinder. Short The core/jacket structure of the and infects only plants, including protein building blocks and the of polycarbonate always consist of shaped, cylindrical structures. contour lengths tend to produce a cylinders mimics the structure and tobacco. The RNA chain in the TMV polymer backbone is the RNA. Be- a mixture of polymer chains with The second building block is more spherical globular complex, layout of the tobacco mosaic virus is surrounded by protein molecules yond nature's building concept, different lengths. This is not a prob- a polymer chain with basic side whereas longer polymer chains (TMV), which is one of the favour- arranged highly symmetrically into the synthetic building blocks can 24 Natural Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 25

be varied, modified and combined ing the sulphonic acid molecules. thermore, the cherries should not of the cylinder. Using these cylin- in different ways. This polymerisation should take clump together but remain evenly ders as a template for the synthe- place in the outer region of the distributed in the batter and not sis of the central polymer chains he unusual feature of the self- wedge-shaped molecules, as far as sink to the bottom. Just like a cake means that the alignment of the T organising polymers is not just possible, and also be limited to the batter that is spread on a baking side groups on the chain back- that their structure follows nature's respective cylinder. sheet and then baked, chemists bone is also predefined. The aim example and the possibility of di- In a further step, the cylinders spread the matrix on a surface and is to develop a simple synthesis mensional control, they also have must be embedded in a matrix. As polymerise it with light or heat to mechanism for polymers whose the ability to self-replicate. Unlim- an everyday simile, this matrix can form a membrane. side groups are all pointing in one ited numbers of identical copies can be likened to a cake batter with the To make the pores accessible, direction. Such polymers are inter- be made of both the outer cylinder cylinders as cherries. The cherries the rod-like cylinders must be ori- esting materials because they have and the central polymer chain. The must be stabilised so that they do ented perpendicularly to the sur- a high tensile strength and a high cylinder acts as an external tem- not fall apart during baking. Fur- face of the substrate. The orienta- melting point. plate for the polymer backbone. “Chirality”, “selectivity” and Dissolving the polymer chain inside “self-replication” are keywords for the cylinder leaves a template into typical properties of natural sys- which the monomers can be incor- tems. The templates of the chem- porated so that they polymerise to ists from Aachen were inspired by form a new polymer chain with the nature and enabled the synthesis

identical length. Illustrations: Winandy / DWI Aachen of exact copies of polymer chains The polymer chain, on the other for the first time. This new synthe- hand, is an internal template that sis technique opens up a route for can be used to produce many cyl- Left: Working with an atomic force microscope. Top: Solutions with light-sensitive sul- applications that include selective inders with the same length. If the phonic acid molecules that change their three-dimensional structure on exposure to light. transport systems, sensors or gen- interactions between the polymer eration and storage of energy. Also backbone and the surrounding ma- their use as a membrane in fuel trix are released and sulphonic acid tion of the channels is controlled duce extremely uniform materials cells or lithium ion batteries is an molecules are added to the polymer via surface tension and the surface that are electrically conducting in important and wide field. Further chain, they form a new cylinder. structure of the substrate or by only one direction. applications are sure to come thick This mutually interacting system application of an electric or mag- The interior of the channels can and fast. is known as template-to-template netic field. Future studies aim to also be used for “chiral” syntheses. polymerisation. develop switchable transport sys- The term “chirality” refers to the With the synthesis of polymers tems. This involves incorporating handedness of pairs of compounds forming supramolecular structures light-sensitive side groups in the as image and mirror image, like our of defined size and their self-rep- sulphonic acid molecules whose right and left hands that are identi- lication, the Aachen researchers three-dimensional structure un- cal but do not match when laid on are carrying out internationally dergoes light-induced changes that top of one another. Many biological recognised basic research. They open and close the ion channels. objects, including the DNA double already have their sights on appli- Such “ion-selective membranes” helix, are chiral and arrange them- cations for their polymer systems. can be beneficial for example, in selves into helical superstructures. For example, the cylinders could fuel cells. The cylinders composed of wedge- Dr. Brigitte Küppers works at “DWI – Interactive Materials be used as pores for selective trans- shaped sulphonic acid molecules Research”, an affiliated institute of RWTH port systems. By selecting suitable he pores made of sulphonic acid can form helical polymer chains Aachen, where she is head of the Public Rela- sulphonic acid molecules, the in- T complexes offer further possi- in their interior and are thus ideal tions Department. The DWI and its research terior of a cylinder functions as an ble applications. For example, the candidates for copying the chirality work are headed by Professor Dr. Martin Möller and Professor Dr. Alexander Böker. ion channel. The pore diameter interior of the channel can accom- of biological structures. and thus the flow rate through the modate an electrically conducting This involves a chiral arrange- Adresse: DWI an der RWTH Aachen e.V., channel can thus be tailored. The polymer. The oriented pores and ment of the sulphonic acid mol- Pauwelsstr. 8, 52065 Aachen, Germany channel is stabilised by cross-link- polymer chains can be used to pro- ecules that project into the interior www.dwi.rwth-aachen.de 26 Engineering Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 27

Michael Marré, Daniel Pietzka and A. Erman Tekkaya Lithe and Lissom – From the Hands of Robots

Lighter frames make automobiles and aircraft more agile and environmentally friendly. Their design and manufacture require a complex combination of construction principles, materials and processes. Engineering scientists have created a production chain that combines automation with flexible manufacturing. Illustration: Transregio 10 Illustration: Transregio 28 Engineering Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 29

hey are the supportive skel- For engineers, it is a great chal- and the air resistance. Rolling re- likewise dependent on weight. The ocus is, thus, primarily on the responding increases in price, one T eton of automobiles, aircraft lenge to design and manufacture sistance is responsible for causing fourth and final force is known as F car body. This is not by chance, can expect that the savings attained and motorcycles: frames that make such frames. In particular, when a rolling object – be it a ball or an air resistance. Only this force is in- as approximately 40 percent of the through lightweight construction a vehicle safe, strong and stable. working to reduce the weight, automobile – to slow down and dependent of vehicle weight. vehicle weight is, at present, in the will be considerably greater in the In the event of an accident, they i.e., in the lightweight construc- eventually come to a stop after To a certain degree, the moti- car body. But other parts of the ve- future. For the environment, this

protect passengers, as they absorb tion of such frames, numerous having been given an initial push. vation to reduce weight is driven hicle, such as the steering column means a drop of 25 grammes of CO2 a portion of the crash energy. And and multidisciplinary questions In order for an automobile to be by legislation. In the future, mo- and its components, are affected by per driven kilometre or the unim- they withstand stress tests, such arise that can only be addressed in driven, the rolling resistance must tor vehicle taxes will be coupled this “weight loss diet”. Every kilo- aginable amount of one tonne of

as hot summers, cold winters and a team. Lightweight construction constantly be overcome by the to CO2 emissions. The more fuel a gramme counts, a fact not lost on CO2 for every lighter-weight vehi-

potholes without problem. is one of the most complex engi- drive power. The greater the vehi- vehicle consumes, the more CO2 drivers when at the pump. Today, cle every year.

In addition to these challenges neering disciplines, as it requires cle weight, the greater the rolling it emits and, the greater the CO2 an average mid-size car weighs be- In their efforts to design lighter with which they must contend extensive specialist knowledge on resistance. emissions, the higher the motor tween 1500 and 2000 kilogrammes. frames – and, thus, lighter vehicles on a daily basis, the frames must, design principles, materials and Another force that must be vehicle tax. In 1995 the average A reduction in vehicle weight of just – the engineering “slimming ex-

above all, be lightweight and cost- manufacturing processes. This, all overcome by a vehicle is the grade CO2 emission of all vehicle mod- seven percent (equivalent to about perts” need to know the wishes of effective to manufacture, whereby, with the goal of reducing weight force. This is the force that makes els of all automobile manufactur- 100 kilogrammes) can lower fuel the customers. In addition to a ve- the lighter, the better. Because a and thereby saving energy. skiing and sledging possible in ers was 185 grammes per driven consumption by nearly half a litre hicle that has an economical pur- lower weight means lower energy But why does a reduction in the winter. A vehicle must over- kilometre. per 100 kilometres. chase price and maintenance costs, consumption. This protects the en- weight always lead to lower en- come this force when driving up By the year 2012, automobile For the driver's wallet, a 100 the automobile buyer also wants a vironment and spares the wallet. ergy consumption? In order for an a mountain. Here too, the heavier manufacturers hope to reduce fuel kilogramme reduction in vehicle distinct car. This vehicle should be Thus, frames can be considered to automobile to drive up a moun- the vehicle the greater the grade consumption by one third. Aver- weight means an annual saving of designed so that it meets the needs be hidden “jacks-of-all-trades” that tain, for example, four forces need force. Every car journey naturally age emissions will then be just 120 approximately €300, at today's fuel and wishes for individual mobil- do their important work in auto- to be overcome: the rolling resist- begins from a standstill. To increase grammes per driven kilometre. This prices. Because fossil fuels, such as ity – be it for city traffic only, long mobiles and aircraft behind covers ance of the tyres on the road, the the speed, the vehicle must be ac- goal can only be attained through gasoline and diesel, are becoming commutes or for handling small or of metal and plastic. grade force, the acceleration force celerated. The acceleration force is lightweight construction. increasingly scarce, leading to cor- large transport tasks. The automo-

Sequence of steps in a productive process chain (left to right): First, planning takes place on a PC. Engineers calculate the coupled movements between robots (at left in image) and extrusion press (right). – An aluminium profile emerges from the extrusion press. – The first robot deflects the straight profile and creates the desired curvatures, the second supports the profile andpassesthe created frame on for further processing. Illustrations: Transregio 10 Illustrations: Transregio 30 Engineering Sciences german research 2 / 2011 german research 2 / 2011 31

bile manufacturers responded to with a process reminiscent of a ated, it was necessary to develop this issue long ago. Volkswagen, Christmas bakery: when making additional processes and tools for for example, has introduced a shortbread biscuits, the dough is further processing. Robots, for platform strategy. The various ve- pushed out of a bag through a noz- example, are used to deflect the hicles are constructed on a floor zle. Aluminium processing em- profile during extrusion, allowing plate; various floor plates are ploys a similar principle. A block it to be produced extremely ac- available for a wide range of dif- of aluminium is heated and, with curately and precisely in just one ferent requirements. Thus, maxi- the aid of a hydraulic press, is then step. The robots are integrated in mum flexibility is required in the pressed under great force through the assembly line in such a way manufacturing process and must a nozzle. The aluminium profile that they can communicate with be developed further. that emerges is pressed in various one another with respect to posi- Lightweight construction and directions by a robot. A ready-to- tion and orientation of the profiles flexibility in manufacturing are install profile with complex con- and then make necessary adjust- viewed as two complex and chal- tour is thereby produced in a single ments to their movements. The lenging tasks. Engineers from Dort- step. robots cooperate with one an- mund, Karlsruhe and Munich have other, thereby facilitating flexible

now developed an assembly line for his innovative process is called production of the profiles with the 10 Illustrations: Transregio lightweight frames. What's clever: T curved profile extrusion. Using extrusion presses and subsequent production can flexibly be changed the profiles manufactured in this transfer in the assembly line. from piece to piece on short no- way, the frame can be assembled But there is more: the robots A lightweight frame with the frame ing is achieved through a strong tice. This was not previously possi- step by step. Because curved pro- transfer selected components to structure of the BMW C 1. The covered magnetic field and takes place ble when constructing lightweight file extrusion allows (nearly) any quality assurance inspections. scooter was launched on the market in 4000-times faster than the blink frames. The assembly line starts diameter and contour to be cre- Further down the assembly line, the year 2000. of a human eye. Engineers call holes and pockets are milled into the process “contactless joining the profile. These are needed later through electromagnetic compres- Machining of long, three-dimensionally curved profiles on a machining center. The for mounting panelling, lights, as veloped for this purpose: joining sion”. center is built up of three major components: an industrial robot, a parallel kinematic well as the engine and transmis- with internal high pressure, elec- With so-called bifocal hybrid machine tool and a flexible clamping device which is positioned in-between. sion. The manufacture of these tromagnetic compression, bifocal- laser welding, two laser beams are holes must be as flexible as the hybrid laser welding and friction combined to securely and perma- production of the profile itself. stir welding for profiles. Due to nently connect the profiles. The la- The engineers of Collaborative Re- the complex contour of the pro- ser beams used in this process are search Centre/Trans­regio 10 “Inte- files, it is often not possible to con- one million times stronger than gration of Forming, Cutting, and nect them directly. In these cases, a standard laser pointer. Friction Joining for the Flexible Production transitions must be created. When stir welding is used, for example, of Lightweight Frame Structures” installing lightweight frames, joints to connect panelling to the profiles. have developed a processing sta- and connecting elements milled for With this process, a finger-like pin Dr.-Ing. Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing. Michael Marré was administrative director of CRC/Transregio tion that allows the manufacture this purpose are used. These are mixes the two materials in a man- 10: “Integration of Forming, Cutting, and Join- of holes and pockets from five produced using modern milling ner similar to a household mixer. ing for the Flexible Production of Lightweight sides and does so without remov- centres. An individual frame is thereby Frame Structures” before moving to industry. ing, realigning and re-securing the Profile and joint are then joined created piece-by-piece. Once com- Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing. Daniel Pietzka profile. together using water pressure. plete, the outer panelling is fitted is the new administrative director of CRC/ During this process, the profile is to the frame. Transregio 10. owever, there is more to a in a joint. The profile is widened In the future, it is hoped that Professor Dr.-Ing. A. Erman Tekkaya H lightweight frame than just using a water pressure of 1000 cooperating robots will assemble is spokesperson of CRC/Transregio 10. profiles. To create a frame, these bar – 500-times greater than the the individual parts into frames. Contact: IUL Institut für Umformtechnik und profiles must be securely and per- pressure in a car tire – and thereby The imagination, at least, knows Leichtbau, Technische Universität Dortmund, manently connected to one an- pressed into the joint. Another no limits to what might be possible Baroper Str. 301, 44221 Dortmund, Germany

Illustration: Transregio 10 Illustration: Transregio other. Four new and innovative process shrinks the profile onto a with respect to future possibilities www.leichtbau.de/tr10 joining processes have been de- connecting element. This shrink- and applications. www.youtube.com/user/SFBTransregio10 32 Impressum german research 2 / 2011

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Founda- Research Training Groups are university training programmes established tion) is the central self-governing organisation responsible for promoting for a specific time period to support young researchers by actively involv- research in Germany. According to its statutes, the DFG serves all branches ing them in research work. This focusses on a coherent, topically defined, of science and the humanities. The DFG supports and coordinates research research and study programme. Re­search Training Groups are designed to projects in all scientific disciplines, in particular in the areas of basic and ap- promote the early independence of doctoral students and intensify inter- plied research. Particular attention is paid to promoting young researchers. national exchange. They are open to international participants. In Interna- Researchers who work at a university or research institution in Germa- tional Research Training Groups, a jointly structured doctoral programme is ny are eligible to apply for DFG funding. Proposals will be peer reviewed. offered by German and foreign universities. Other funding opportunities The final assessment will be carried out by review boards, the members of for qualified young researchers are offered by the Heisenberg Programme and which are elected by researchers in Germany in their individual subject the Emmy Noether Programme. In so called Reinhart Koselleck Projects, the DFG areas every four years. supports especially innovative research undertakings by outstanding scien- The DFG distinguishes between the following programmes for research tists and academics. funding: In the Individual Grants Programme, any researcher can apply for fi- The Excellence Initiative aims to promote top-level research and nancial assistance for an individual research project. Priority Programmes allow improve the quality of German universities and research institu- researchers from various re­search institutions and laboratories to cooperate tions in the long term. Funding is provided for graduate schools, within the framework of a set topic or project for a defined period of time, clusters of excellence and institutional strategies. each working at his/her respective­ research institution. A Research­ Unit is a The DFG also funds and initiates measures to promote scientific libraries, longer-term collaboration between several researchers who generally work equips computer centres with computing hardware, provides instrumen- together on a research topic at a single location. In Central Research Facilities tation for research purposes and conducts peer reviews on proposals for

there is a particular concentration of personnel and equipment that is required scientific instrumentation. On an international level, the DFG has assumed Illustration: berufundfamilie gGmbH to provide scientific and technical services. the role of Scientific Representative to international organisations, coordi- Collaborative Research Centres are long-term university research centres nates and funds the German contribution towards large-scale international in which scientists and academics pursue ambitious joint interdisciplinary research programmes, and supports international scientific relations. research undertakings. They are generally established for a period of twelve Another important role of the DFG is to provide policy advice to parlia- years. In addition to the classic Collaborative Research Centres, which are ments and public authorities on scientific issues. A large number of expert DFG recognised as family-friendly employer: Friederike Kölle from the DFG‘s concentrated at one location and open to all subject areas, the DFG also of- commissions and committees provide the scientific background for the pass­ Human Resources Division received the certificate for the Career and Family fers several programme variations. CRC/Transregios allow various locations to ing of new legislation, primarily in the areas of environmental protection Audit from Josef Hecken, Secretary of State in the Federal Ministry of Fam- co­operate on one topical focus. Cultural Studies Research Centres are designed­ and health care. ily Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth at the end of May in Berlin. to support the transition in the humanities to an integrated cultural studies The legal status of the DFG is that of an association under private law. Its paradigm. Transfer Units serve to transfer the findings of basic research pro- member organisations include research universities, major non-university The DFG has been certified for the fourth time since 2001, putting it in the duced by Collaborative Research Centres into the realm of practical applica- research institutions, such as the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Soci- exclusive company of a small number of businesses and public institutions tion by promoting cooperation between research institutes and users. ety and the Leibniz Association, the Academies of Sciences and Humanities in Germany. According to DFG Secretary General Dorothee Dzwonnek, this DFG Research Centres are an important strategic funding instrument. and a number of scientific associations. In order to meet its re­sponsibilities, honours the family-friendly climate and everyday compatibility of career They concentrate scientific research competence in particularly innovative the DFG receives funding from the German federal government and the fed- fields and create temporary, internationally visible research priorities at re- eral states, as well as an annual contribution from the Donors’ Association and family – key elements of the culture of the DFG Head Office. “For us search universities. for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany. the renewed certification is acknowledgement that we are on the right track, and it is motivation for us to continue our targeted, family-conscious personnel policy in the interest of equal opportunity at the workplace. Be- yond the DFG, it remains desirable that even more universities and research Impressum institutions consistently employ a family-friendly personnel culture.“

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