Jury report for Prof. J. (Jan) Zaanen

Professor of Theoretical Physics at Leiden University.

Professor Zaanen receives the NWO/Spinoza Prize 2006 for his groundbreaking insights into the electronic properties of materials that become superconducting at high temperatures.

Jan Zaanen Jan Zaanen (17 April 1957, Leiden) obtained his degree in chemistry with distinction at Groningen University in 1982, where he obtained his doctorate four years later (also with distinction) under the supervision of Spinoza winner George Sawatzky. After a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart, he worked as a researcher at the AT&T Bell Laboratory in the United States with support from the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter. In 1993 Zaanen returned to the Netherlands, where he worked at Leiden University as a Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) fellow. He has been a professor at Leiden since 2000. Furthermore in 2004 he was appointed as a visiting professor for one year at the prestigious Stanford University. In that same year he won the National Science Quiz organised by NWO and Dutch broadcaster VPRO, a fact he proudly states on his CV.

Jan Zaanen is an exceptionally ambitious scientist, who likes to set the stakes high. He seeks out the greatest challenges, which often bear the highest risks as well. For example, he made a long-controversial – but very important – contribution to the understanding of high-temperature superconductivity.

In most high-temperature superconductors the copper atoms are arranged in thin layers. Each atom has its own magnetic field which is opposite to that of its neighbour. Electrons can scarcely move in such an environment, as they are also magnetic. Yet if the electrons were to cooperate and sit in long rows alongside the copper atoms, they could move forwards much more easily, thought Zaanen. Initially his theory attracted a lot of criticism. However, in recent years an increasing amount of experimental evidence has been collected in his favour.

Zaanen's research is an international sensation: his work has been cited in more than 6000 other publications. His three most important publications are cited on average more than once per week. His research has been published twice in Nature and twice in Science. Since 2005 Zaanen has been a permanent guest contributor to Nature.

Jan Zaanen is a well-known, appealing physicist, who likes to go against the flow. He has a strong physical intuition and a very broad interest. He comes up with an abundance of ideas in various areas, which are often then picked up by others. He is a dedicated inventive theoretician, who nevertheless plays a considerable role in interpreting experimental results ands suggesting new tests.

Jan Zaanen stands out when it comes to explaining difficult topics in a comprehensible manner. Wherever Jan Zaanen goes, people want to listen to him. Based on his impressive track record, the jury expects that the NWO/Spinoza Prize will certainly stimulate Zaanen to make new discoveries.

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This jury report served as the basis for the speech given by Prof. Hans Mooij at the announcement ceremony for the NWO/Spinoza prizes 2006 on 12 June 2006.