Ted Janssen

1994TedJanssenFacultyPicture

Ted Janssen (1936 – 2017) was a Dutch physicist renowned for his contributions to the field of crystallography. He is particularly noted for his work on quasicrystals and the development of the higher-dimensional approach to describe these structures.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Ted Janssen was born in 1936 in the Netherlands. He pursued his higher education in physics at the University of Utrecht, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1968. His doctoral research focused on the theoretical aspects of crystallography.

Career and Research[edit | edit source]

Janssen's career was primarily associated with the Radboud University Nijmegen, where he worked as a professor in the Department of Theoretical Physics. His research interests included the study of aperiodic crystals, modulated structures, and quasicrystals.

Quasicrystals[edit | edit source]

One of Janssen's most significant contributions was in the field of quasicrystals. Quasicrystals are structures that are ordered but not periodic. They exhibit a form of symmetry that is not allowed in traditional crystallography. Janssen, along with his colleagues, developed a higher-dimensional mathematical framework to describe these structures. This approach has been instrumental in understanding the physical properties of quasicrystals.

Modulated Structures[edit | edit source]

Janssen also made substantial contributions to the study of modulated structures. These are crystals in which the atomic positions or other structural parameters vary periodically with a wavelength that is incommensurate with the basic crystal lattice. His work provided a deeper understanding of the physical properties and stability of these complex structures.

Awards and Honors[edit | edit source]

Throughout his career, Ted Janssen received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the field of crystallography. He was a member of several prestigious scientific organizations and was recognized internationally for his pioneering work.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Ted Janssen's work has had a lasting impact on the field of crystallography. His theoretical models and frameworks continue to be used by researchers studying complex crystal structures. Janssen's contributions have paved the way for new discoveries and advancements in the understanding of aperiodic and modulated structures.