Research excellence
The Department of Applied Physics is recognised for its research excellence through numerous national and international external funding awards.
Department of Applied Physics
Department of Applied Physics
Our pioneering research in physical sciences creates important industrial applications that hold great technological potential.
Research
Our research focuses on Materials physics, Quantum technology, Soft & living matter, and Advanced energy solutions. Topics extend from fundamental research to important applications. Department of Applied Physics educates future generations of research and development professionals, data specialists, technology experts, inventors, and scientists for industry and society.
The department hosts the Academy of Finland Centres of Excellence Quantum Technology Finland (QTF, 2018-2025) and Life Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER, 2022-2029). Further quantum technologies are facilitated by the national quantum institute – InstituteQ, coordinated by the department since 2021.
The department is a major user of the national research infrastructure OtaNano that provides fabrication, characterisation and measurement equipment and facilities for students, scientists and high-tech businesses. The Nanomicroscopy Center and the Low Temperature Laboratory of OtaNano are critical assets for our researchers. We extensively utilise and contribute to the development of the national and international cloud and supercomputing resources and databases.
Publications of the Department of Applied Physics
Researchers at the Department of Applied Physics produce almost 400 international refereed journal articles annually, of which over 10% are in high impact journals
InstituteQ – The Finnish Quantum Institute
InstituteQ coordinates quantum technology research, education and innovation across Finland
Olli V. Lounasmaa Memorial Prize
The Olli V. Lounasmaa Memorial Prize is awarded once every four years to scientists who have made outstanding contributions to advances in low temperature physics and related fields.
Research Infrastructures
OtaNano
OtaNano is Finland's national research infrastructure for micro-, nano-, and quantum technologies
Science-IT
Science-IT provides infrastructure for high-level computational research at Aalto University and is coordinated by the School of Science.
Experimental Equipment of the Department of Applied Physics
Read more about the experimental equipment used by research groups at the Department of Applied Physics.
infrabooking.aalto.fi (external link)
Aalto Research & Teaching Infrastructure booking system
Studies
Approximately 25 Masters of Science and 30 Doctors of Science graduate annually from the Department of Applied Physics.
Department of Applied Physics Diversity Team
The Diversity Team of the Department of Applied Physics aims to build an inclusive, diverse and welcoming work environment
News
Building an understanding of quantum turbulence from the ground up
Researchers show how energy disappears in quantum turbulence. The discovery paves way for a better understanding of turbulence in scales ranging from the microscopic to the planetary
Researchers take a step towards turning interactions that normally ruin quantum information into a way of protecting it
A new method for predicting the behavior of quantum devices provides a crucial tool for real-world applications of quantum technology
Finnish Quantum Agenda details road ahead and stresses need for national quantum strategy
What are Finland’s strengths in quantum technology? How can Finland ensure it stays on top of the groundbreaking changes quantum technology will cause in the coming years and decades? These are the questions the Finnish Quantum Agenda answers.
Semiconductor sector summer jobs open in research groups
The growth of the semiconductor sector and its investments in Finland are also increasing the need for skilled personnel. Thanks to a donation from four semiconductor companies Picosun, an Applied Materials Company, Okmetic, Murata, and KYOCERA Tikitin. Aalto University will offer exciting summer jobs in the School of Electrical Engineering and the School of Chemical Engineering in the summer of 2023. Semi-Summer 2023 Programme will provide an opportunity to gain the skills needed in a growing and international field.Events
The link between Hundsness and superconductivity
Aalto Quantum Physics Seminars (Hybrid).Speaker: Prof. Kristjan Haule (Rutgers University)
Talk by Prof. Tim Liedl: Lattices and devices assembled from DNA
Prof. Tim Liedl (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich) will give a talk at the NBE Department on March 23rd.Public defence in Engineering Physics, M.Sc. (Tech) Kukka-Emilia Huhtinen
Superconductivity in flat bands
Public defence in Engineering Physics, M.Sc. Elena Ilina
Interferometric methods for optical applicationsRegular departmental seminars
Brown Bag Seminars
Physics brown bag seminars highlight exciting new results arising from the physics community at Aalto.
Aalto Quantum Physics seminars
Aalto Quantum Physics seminars are hosted at the Department of Applied Physics at Aalto University, and feature both local and international speakers on a variety of topics in quantum physics.
Aalto Physics Colloquium
The Aalto Physics Colloquium is a high-level colloquium series covering all branches of physics at Aalto University. We invite prestigious physicists from around the world to tell us about their research.
Atomic scale quantum materials colloquium: new online colloquium series (external link)
The colloquium will present novel developments in the field of atomic manipulation with scanning probe techniques and atomically designed quantum matter. This Colloquium series will start on May 4th, and run once a week, preliminary until the end of June.
Information for prospective employees
Open positions
Looking for a job at Aalto University? See our open positions.
For international staff
Are you thinking of moving to Finland to work at Aalto University - or are you already an international member of the Aalto community? The information below might provide interesting insight in the practicalities of living in Finland and working at Aalto.
Showroom
Contact information: Department of Applied Physics
Where to find us
Find out more about our Research Groups
Active Matter
The research group focuses on active matter, non-equilibrium systems and fluids and colloids in EM fields.
Atomic Scale Physics
We focus on the experimental study of nanostructures, where the precise nature and location of every atom matters.
Complex Systems and Materials (CSM)
The CSM group applies statistical physics to a wide variety of cross-disciplinary topics
Computational Electronic Structure Theory (CEST)
CEST is developing electronic structure and machine learning methods and applying them to computational materials science problems.
Correlated Quantum Materials (CQM)
Correlated Quantum Materials Group (CQM)
Fusion and Plasma Physics
The Fusion and Plasma Physics group at Aalto University investigates plasma phenomena in magnetically confined fusion plasma physics both experimentally and by computer simulations. The overall goal is to create a new, clean and virtually unlimited energy source.
Living Matter
The Living Matter research group is located at the Department of Applied Physics at Aalto University. We develop our own experimental and analytical tools to probe the dynamics and flow in soft, living, and fluid materials.
Microkelvin investigations (µKI)
In the µKI group, we study systems thermally active still in microkelvin range of temperatures.
Molecular Materials (Molmat)
Molecular Materials (Molmat) is a multidisciplinary research group consisting of physicists, chemists and biologists aiming at functional materials based on supramolecular and supracolloidal self-assembly and its hierarchies.
Multiscale Statistical and Quantum Physics (MSP)
The MSP group is recognised worldwide in the development of multi-scale and coarse-graining methodologies and their application to condensed matter systems.
Nanomagnetism and Spintronics (NanoSpin)
Our research focuses on experimental studies of magnetic, magneto-optical, and spin-transport phenomena in new functional materials and hybrid nanoscale structures.
Nanomaterials (NMG)
The NanoMaterials Group, headed by Prof. Esko I. Kauppinen, is among the top aerosol technology laboratories in the world and offers a unique environment for strong interdisciplinary research and a proven track record of productive cooperation.
New Energy Technologies (Renewable)
The interest of the New Energy Technologies Group is on advanced energy systems, in particular nanomaterials for energy devices, sustainable energy systems, and multidisciplinary energy science.
Nuclear Materials and Engineering (NuME)
The Nuclear Materials and Engineering group employs computational methods to study radiation induced processes and damage formation in materials.
Optics and Photonics
The research of the Optics and Photonics group covers a range of topics of modern optics and photonics, encompassing various aspects of light-matter interaction, optical coherence and polarization, development of methods to manipulate light with nano- and micro-structures, design and construction of novel light sources, optical metamaterials and optical imaging.
Pico - Quantum Phenomena and Devices
We investigate mesoscopic physics and its sensor applications. The main focus is on charge transport and thermal properties of metallic, superconducting and hybrid nanostructures.
Quantum Circuits and Correlations (NANO)
Nano group of the Low Temperature Laboratory investigates fundamental quantum phenomena in nanostructures using low temperature and electronic transport measurements.
Quantum Computing and Devices (QCD)
We have a major effort on experimental low-temperature physics, but we also carry out computational and theoretical work down to fundamental quantum mechanics.
Quantum Dynamics (QD)
The research interests of the QD group are quantum coherent dynamics and quantum many-body phenomena in designed nanosystems.
Quantum Nanomechanics
The NEMS group focuses on studies of micro- and nanomechanical resonators near the quantum ground state of moving objects.
Quantum NanoOptomechanics and Forces (QNOF)
The QNOF group is using nanomechanical oscillators and optomechanical techniques to realize force measurements.
Quantum Transport (QT)
The research group works on theoretical problems in quantum transport.
Soft Matter and Wetting
Functional soft materials and wettability of surfaces are the key research interests of Soft Matter and Wetting research group at Aalto University Department of Applied Physics.
Superconducting Qubits and Circuit QED (KVANTTI)
Our group is part of the effort in nanoelectronics in the Low Temperature Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics. The group is doing research in such fields as quantum information and quantum-level effects in superconducting devices, quantum coherent matter, and interaction of electromagnetic fields with nano-structured materials.
Surfaces and Interfaces at the Nanoscale (SIN)
In the SIN group we apply and develop various atomistic and quantum mechanical simulation methods to study surface and interface physics at the nanoscale, with particular emphasis on working closely with experimentalists and technologists.
Surface Science
The Surface Science group studies structures, bonding, and reactivity at solid surfaces on the atomic and molecular scale using advanced surface sensitive tools in Ultra High Vacuum environment.
Topological Quantum Fluids (ROTA)
Our research is focused on topological superfluid ³He at ultra-low temperatures
