Excellent Work on Liquid Crystals

This year’s Otto Lehmann Award goes to a young scientist at the College of Optics and Photonics of the University of Central Florida. The laureate, Zhibing Ge, Ph.D., has developed an entirely novel, realistic simulation method for complex LCD configurations. The method allows for the construction of novel liquid crystal displays with a large angular field, high contrast, and high image brightness. The results of Ge’s work are used in industry for mobile LCD applications already.

The award ceremony will take place on Friday, October 31, 11.30 hrs, in the Dürer room of the Gastdozentenhaus (Universität Karlsruhe), Engesserstr. 3. Journalists are cordially invited.

Apart from his work on liquid crystals, Ge has also applied the mathematical model of his simulation method to other optoelectronic systems. His new process to trigger laser-based light modulators generates sharp contours and prevents scattering effects.

So far, Zhibing Ge has published a total of 22 articles in scientific journals. He issued seven conference contributions and one contribution to a book and filed ten patent applications. One of the several awards granted to him is the 2006 IEEE Laser & Electro-Optics Society Graduate Fellowship Award.

This year’s Otto Lehmann laureate studied at the Zhejian University, Hangzhou, P.R. China, and at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA. There, he received his Ph.D. with distinction in 2007 („High-performance Liquid Cristal Display and Beam Steering Devices“).

It is the tenth time the Otto Lehmann Award is granted by the Universität Karlsruhe together with the Otto Lehmann Foundation for excellent work of young scientists in the field of liquid crystals and their technical applications. The award carries a value of EUR 10,000.

The Scientist Otto Lehmann

From 1889 to 1922, Otto Lehmann was full professor of physics at the Fridericiana. He was a pioneer in the investigation of liquid crystals, which made him internationally known. Moreover, Lehmann developed the crystallization microscope and, thus, decisively contributed to the progress of scientific microscopy.

Today, liquid crystal displays can be found in a number of applications. It was this flat screen technology that allowed for the design of the laptop, for instance. Liquid crystal screens are also applied in monitors, car navigation systems, and household appliances.

The Otto Lehmann Foundation was founded in August 1997 by the two professors Peter M. Knoll and Dieter A. Mlynski together with the President of the Universität Karlsruhe (TH) at that time, Professor Sigmar Wittig, and other donors.

Program of the Award Ceremony:

Welcome and Introduction of the Laureate
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Becker,
Vice-President of the Universität Karlsruhe (TH)

Presentation of the Otto Lehmann Foundation
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter M. Knoll,
Chairman of the Otto Lehmann Foundation

Bestowal of the Award

Short Presentation by the Laureate
Zhibing Ge, Ph.D.,
College of Optics and Photonics/CREOL
University of Central Florida, USA
“High-performance Liquid Crystal Display and Beam Steering Devices”

The ceremony will be followed by a reception in the Kaminzimmer of the Gastdozentenhaus “Heinrich Hertz”.

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is the merger of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, member of the Helmholtz Association, and the Universität Karlsruhe. This merger will give rise to an institution of internationally excellent research and teaching in natural and engineering sciences. In total, the KIT has 8000 employees and an annual budget of 700 million Euros. The KIT focuses on the knowledge triangle of research – teaching – innovation.

The Karlsruhe institution is a leading European energy research center and plays a visible role in nanosciences worldwide. KIT sets new standards in teaching and promotion of young scientists and attracts top scientists from all over the world. Moreover, KIT is a leading cooperation partner of industry.