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Physics

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Image caption: An X-ray flash illuminates a molecule. Credit: Raphael Jay
Department of Physics

X-rays visualise how one of nature’s strongest bonds breaks

The use of short flashes of X-ray light brings scientists one big step closer toward developing better catalysts to transform the greenhouse gas methane into a less harmful chemical. The result, published in the journal Science, reveals for the first time how carbon-hydrogen bonds of alkanes break and how the catalyst works in this reaction.

X-rays visualise how one of nature’s strongest bonds breaks - Read the full article
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Sebbe Blokhuizen, masterstudent i beräkningsfysik
Department of Physics

Sebbe Blokhuizen studies computational physics and researches about DNA origami

During his internship project he worked with DNA origami which is a technique for creating nanoscale structures. The result can be used in various fields, such as drug delivery, biosensing, and nanoelectronics. Sebbe is a Dutch student and when he's done with his thesis he will go on a trip to the Andes Mountain before going back to the Netherlands.

Sebbe Blokhuizen studies computational physics and researches about DNA origami - Read the full article
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Professor Mohamed Bourenanne and PhD student Thomas Daugey
Department of Physics

New quantum communication infrastructure

Mohamed Bourenanne is part of the National Quantum Communication Infrastructure in Sweden (NQCIS) project, which received SEK 30 million from Vinnova and is coordinated by KTH. His research group works in the field of quantum communication and their laboratory is located at AlbaNova. - All eavesdropping attempts can be revealed thanks to the basic theories of quantum mechanics, thus increasing information security.

New quantum communication infrastructure - Read the full article
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Atomic Motion in Liquid Water Molecules
Department of Physics

Importance of Quantum Effects in Water

Using ultrafast electron diffraction, Anders Nilsson at Stockholm University have participated in a study lead by colleagues at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California on how the structure of water changes after a fast change in the quantum distribution of distances in the internal bond. Upon increasing the quantum number by one unit of the internal OH stretch the team surprisingly found that the hydrogen bond becomes strengthen. The finding is published this week in Nature.

Importance of Quantum Effects in Water - Read the full article
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KS18 and its graph of compatibility
Department of Physics

Quantum mechanics predicts effects that are counter-intuitive

Quantum mechanics predicts effects that are counter-intuitive and impossible to reconcile with our daily experience. One of the most intriguing examples of these predictions is that a pair of particles can be entangled. When two particles are entangled we cannot describe the properties of one of them without referring to the other, they behave as a single entity.

Quantum mechanics predicts effects that are counter-intuitive - Read the full article
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Optik experiment med ett prisma. Två studenter syns suddiga i bakgrunden.
Department of Physics

Fysikum at SU Open Day

On March 22 between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., it's time for the Open Day at Stockholm University in Aula Magna. Where you will be able to meet students and the academic advisor Filippa Koskelainen and the study administrator for the foundation year, Alexandra Lundholm. We're from Fysikum and you're welcome to find out what it is like to study physics.

Fysikum at SU Open Day - Read the full article
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Ilona Riipinen.

Ilona Riipinen receives the Göran Gustafsson Prize in Physics

Ilona Riipinen, Professor at the Department of Environmental Science and Co-Director of the Bolin Centre for Climate Research, has been awarded the Göran Gustafsson Prize in Physics 2023 “for her pioneering research on atmospheric aerosol particles and their impact on clouds, climate, and human health.”

Ilona Riipinen receives the Göran Gustafsson Prize in Physics - Read the full article
Atmosphere and Weather - Theme page Climate and Environment - Theme page Physics - Theme page
The Future is Quantum
Department of Physics

The Future is Quantum: 20 - 22 February 2023

An emerging field of physics and engineering is quantum technology, encompassing technologies that rely on the properties of quantum mechanics. Quantum computing being one example of these technologies, representing a paradigm shift for computing technology, since it can outperform much more than existing computers. On February 21 at 13:00, in the: Svedberg salen (FD5), AlbaNova, Professor Akira Furusawa from University of Tokyo, RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing will have a presentation with the title THE FUTURE IS QUANTUM - The development of Quantum Computing.

The Future is Quantum: 20 - 22 February 2023 - Read the full article
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Geometry-dependent SOT-driven magnetization dynamics
Department of Physics

Magnetic sandwich between two worlds

An international research team involving Stockholm University creates a bridge between the macroscopic and quantum worlds. An international research team, including Stefano Bonetti, a researcher at Fysikum in Stockholm, and led by Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), has developed an effective new method for making electromagnetic waves - the waves that allow our mobile phones to communicate - interact with microscopic "spin waves", or magnetic waves.

Magnetic sandwich between two worlds - Read the full article
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Model system with 2 electronic states exhibiting a sloped CI
Department of Physics

Mapping molecular funnels with X-rays: precise timings of non-adiabatic excited state dynamics

Time-resolved spectroscopy is a tool that provides access to the time-scale of chemical reactions as they happen. With the help of ultra-short light pulses, it is possible to observe conformal changes in molecules on the time-scale of the atomic motion and electronic motion. Photochemical reactions, such as the damage of DNA by means of sunlight or the key-step in the process of vision, can thus be observed in great detail.

Mapping molecular funnels with X-rays: precise timings of non-adiabatic excited state dynamics - Read the full article
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Molecular structures of 1-cyanonaphtalene
Department of Physics

Yet another breakthrough for researchers at DESIREE!

An international collaboration led by Mark H. Stockett (Fysikum) and James N. Bull (University of East Anglia) last week published results from experiments conducted at the DESIREE infrastructure at Fysikum in Nature Communications. After decades of speculation and searching, astronomers have recently begun to identify complex Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules in interstellar clouds.

Yet another breakthrough for researchers at DESIREE! - Read the full article
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Department of Physics

Nine Swedish universities and MAX IV launch unique education programme to tackle societal challenge

A new intersectoral and interdisciplinary project between nine Swedish Universities and MAX IV – a Ph.D. programme called PRISMAS – launches in January 2023. The program is dedicated to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Horizon Europe's essential research and innovation areas. The project will create a connected network of next-generation X-ray experts, enabling various stakeholders to take full advantage of world-leading synchrotron facilities such as MAX IV, while tackling current societal challenges in the same breath. Foivos Perakis and Sergey Koroidov from Fysikum are part of the program.

Nine Swedish universities and MAX IV launch unique education programme to tackle societal challenge - Read the full article
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AlbaNova campus area.

Creative research environment attracts physicists and astronomers to Stockholm

In 2008, the Oskar Klein Centre in Stockholm was founded to tackle the greatest problems in astrophysics and particle physics in an interdisciplinary manner. It is now celebrated as a rich and rewarding research environment that attracts internationally leading researchers, including Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek.

Creative research environment attracts physicists and astronomers to Stockholm - Read the full article
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Karolina Anurova, physics student and Facebook ambassador
Department of Physics

Karolina Anurova is our new ambassador for Fysikum's Facebook

Karolina is in her second year of the Bachelor of Science in Physics programme. She is 24 years old and grew up in Botkyrka. "In the beginning, it can take some time to adjust and then it's good to think about what actually works and what study habits might be worth reviewing." She is studying Portuguese and plans to continue her studies in Brazil in the future.

Karolina Anurova is our new ambassador for Fysikum's Facebook - Read the full article
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Thesis Search for Neutrinos from Gamma-ray Bursts using the IceCube Neutrino Observatory
Department of Physics

From stars in Himalaya to neutrinos in Antarctica's ice

Kunal Deoskar is a PhD at the Department of Physics. He's from Nagpur from the state of Maharashtra in central India. When he grew up he got fascinated in astronomy during hikes with his parents in the Himalayas. That led to studies in physics in India and in 2017 he came to Fysikum. He recently defended his PhD Thesis on the search for Neutrinos from Gamma-ray Bursts using the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica.

From stars in Himalaya to neutrinos in Antarctica's ice - Read the full article
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Nobelföreläsningarna i Aula Magna 2022. Foto: David Sturman
Department of Physics

Nobel lectures at the Stockholm University

To be honest, at first I was a bit surprised that the Nobel lectures are open to the public and in Aula Magna of SU. But my feeling almost instantly turned to excitement. So last Thurday, Dec 8 2022, I was in line with many other students, teachers and whoever was interested to hear the three Nobel laureates in Physics to talk about their research. Our Student Ambassador David Stuhrman was there.

Nobel lectures at the Stockholm University - Read the full article
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Chad Finley bedriver forskning vid Sydpolen i IceCube-projeket
Department of Physics

Neutrino research below zero

It can be challenging to work if it's below zero. At the South Pole it's about -30°C in the summer and -60°C in the winter. How do you conduct research in severe cold? Chad Finley is an associate professor at Fysikum and member of the international collaboration that operates the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole. - We took turns when we were carefully installing sensors on the telescope. Otherwise our hands quickly froze and became useless, says Chad who spent two months there in the summer.

Neutrino research below zero - Read the full article
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illustrates how it might look when a star approaches too close to a black hole

Rare sighting of a luminous jet from a star-eating supermassive black hole

Over 8 billion years ago, a star was torn apart as it got too close to a supermassive black hole. Jets of gas directed towards Earth recently made the fate of the star visible to a telescope looking for new sources of light in the night sky. The observation has led to two independent publications including researchers at Stockholm University in Nature and Nature Astronomy.

Rare sighting of a luminous jet from a star-eating supermassive black hole - Read the full article
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Byst av Alfred Nobel
Department of Physics

Nobel laureates speak at Stockholm University

18 Nobel Laureates visit Stockholm University during this year's Nobel Week. Listen to this year's Nobel Laureates in Aula Magna on Thursday at the KVA's official Nobel Lectures. Three of the recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics for 2020 and 2021, Professors Reinhard Genzel, Andrea Ghez and Giorgio Parisi, will be at AlbaNova on 7 December. On December 12 in the morning, the workshop From Bell and Beyond will take place for experts, PhD students and postdocs in all aspects of quantum limits. In the afternoon, there will be a panel discussion with the 2022 Nobel Laureates in Physics.

Nobel laureates speak at Stockholm University - Read the full article
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Lise Meitner-dagarna 2022
Department of Physics

Wilma Svedlund: Lise Meitner Days 2022

This weekend, this year's edition of the Lise Meitner Days was held at AlbaNova. It's an event for swedish upper secondary school students interested in physics. Lise Meitner (1878-1968) was an Austrian-Swedish nuclear physicist who discovered nuclear fission, and has one element named after her: meitnerium. The students came to AlbaNova to listen to exciting lectures, participate in educative labs and more! Last Friday, an exhibition was held and I got the chance to stand in Fysikum's booth.

Wilma Svedlund: Lise Meitner Days 2022 - Read the full article
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Michael Faradays julföreläsning 2022
Department of Physics

Christmas Lecture - Michael Faraday's 190-year tradition - 20th Anniversary!

The Christmas Lectures are held annually at the Royal Institution in London to present scientific issues in an informative and entertaining way. They began as early as 1825 and one of the earliest and most frequent lecturers was Michael Faraday. In his spirit, we present experiments for all ages, now for the twentieth time.

Christmas Lecture - Michael Faraday's 190-year tradition - 20th Anniversary! - Read the full article
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Photo Credit: Nasa
Department of Physics

David Stuhrmann: Fly me to the moon

On Wednesday November 16th at 7:47 CET one could finally watch the launch of the Artemis I mission. I was looking forward to it for a while now as the launch date was postponed multiple times because of technical issues and some hurricanes. But as often in science it is worth waiting as the mission is now going well. Are you also excited that humanity wants to return to the moon and with the first Artemis mission came closer to this goal?

David Stuhrmann: Fly me to the moon - Read the full article
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Tomas Palmqvist, sjukshusfysiker
Department of Physics

PhD student Thomas Palmqvist, MSF, participates in Naturvetarpodden

Imagine that a nuclear accident would happen in Sweden or that nuclear weapons would be used in our neighbourhood. Then we need to know how to act to reduce the damage caused by ionising radiation. How the damage is treated depends on how much of the cells' DNA has been destroyed. Listen to the authorities and follow the instructions, is hospital physicist Tomas Palmqvist's advice. The best way to protect yourself is to keep your distance from the radiation source and expose yourself to as little radiation as possible. Concrete houses protect better than wooden ones and close all the vents in case the worst happens.

PhD student Thomas Palmqvist, MSF, participates in Naturvetarpodden - Read the full article
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The ATLAS experiment
Department of Physics

Fysikum received project grants from the Swedish Research Council

The Swedish Research Council has decided on the applications to be awarded grants within Natural and engineering sciences 2022 and the total grant amount for 2022-2026 is more than 1,2 billion SEK. Project grants approved from Fysikum include grants from Vladimir Krasnov, Henning Schmidt, Sara Strandberg, Markus Kowalewski, Chistophe Clement, Chad Finley.

Fysikum received project grants from the Swedish Research Council - Read the full article
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Daniel Slominsky, USA, studerar teoretisk fysik på Fysikum
Department of Physics

Meet Daniel, a Master's student in theoretical physics

Every year Stockholm University welcomes thousands of international students from all over the world. Each bringing their own backpack full of experiences, expectations and dreams. Each with their own story. Meet Daniel, a Master's student in theoretical physics from the US. He had always wanted to become a professional baseball player, but life had different plans for him.

Meet Daniel, a Master's student in theoretical physics - Read the full article
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IceCube

IceCube neutrinos provide new view of a nearby galaxy

For the first time, an international team of scientists has found evidence of high-energy neutrino emission from a nearby galaxy. The galaxy, NGC 1068 (also known as Messier 77) is an active galaxy in the constellation Cetus and one of the most familiar and well-studied active galaxies. The results are published in Science.

IceCube neutrinos provide new view of a nearby galaxy - Read the full article
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The MATS satellite. Photo: Linda Megner/Stockholm University
Department of Meteorology

Swedish research satellite to be launched into space from New Zealand

MATS (Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy) is a Swedish research satellite designed for studying atmospheric waves. MATS will be launched into orbit on 4 November from the Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.

Swedish research satellite to be launched into space from New Zealand - Read the full article
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Wilma Svedlund - student på kandidatprogrammet i fysik
Department of Physics

Bachelor in Physics and dark matter

When I was about to start university I chose between a bachelor+master in physics and engineering physics. One of the last student ambassador's for Fysikum, Eleonora, made a post this spring about the differences between a bachelor and engineering degree which I recommend if you are interested. Since I want to do research in the future and have always been interested in WHY things work, I chose to study a bachelor. I'm now in the second year of my bachelor and currently taking a math course in Analysis and a course in statistics.

Bachelor in Physics and dark matter - Read the full article
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Porträtt av Jón Gudmundsson
Department of Physics

Quest for the particles behind dark matter

Scientists have been pondering the existence of dark matter – matter that does not seem to interact with light – for almost a century. Thanks to a 27.5 million SEK grant, Jón Gudmundsson and his colleagues at Stockholm University can construct a new type of detector to find axions, a type of hypothetical particles that could constitute dark matter.

Quest for the particles behind dark matter - Read the full article
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Medical Radiation Physics
Department of Physics

Emely researches and teaches Medical Radiation Physics at Fysikum

Emely Kjellsson Lindblom is a senior lecturer at Fysikum, Stockholm University. She works with Medical Radiation Physics. "Research in medical radiation physics focuses primarily on optimization of radiation therapy. We have several ongoing projects linked to Karolinska University Hospital's racetrack microtron in Solna, and there are also plans for a light ion radiation therapy facility.

Emely researches and teaches Medical Radiation Physics at Fysikum - Read the full article
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Kelvin Water Dropper
Department of Physics

The Kelvin Water Dropper separates water droplets into positively and negatively charged ones

On September the 30th Fysikum together with KI, KTH and Vetenskapens hus arranged ForskarFredag (Research Friday). It's an event mainly aimed at students from upper secondary school, but also for high school students and other interested, which aim to increase the interest in research. ForskarFredag took place at AlbaNova, and I as a student ambassador for Fysikum had the opportunity to participate. Our Student Ambassador Wilma Svedlund tells us more on Facebook.

The Kelvin Water Dropper separates water droplets into positively and negatively charged ones - Read the full article
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Moa Kristiansson and Gustav Eklund, the DESIREE Group
Department of Physics

Precision electron affinity measurement in DESIREE

The electron affinity of an element is defined as the amount of energy released when an additional electron is bound to the system, which is—of course—equal to the energy needed to remove the negatively charged ion. An efficient way to determine electron affinities is to expose an ensemble of negative ions to a laser field and then vary the wavelength of the light to find the threshold for a signal relating to the photodetachment process separating an electron from the now neutralized atom. The longest wavelength where this happens corresponds to a photon energy equal to the electron affinity, so by finding the threshold and transforming from wavelength to photon energy one can determine the electron affinity.

Precision electron affinity measurement in DESIREE - Read the full article
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Artist’s impression of the MHz-XPCS technique being used to measure the dynamics of proteins in dens
Department of Physics

Capturing protein dynamics in crowded environments with the world’s brightest X-ray laser

Proteins carry out a wide range of important functions in our bodies. Knowledge about how they move around and through the crowded environments of our cells and tissues is key to understanding how they perform these crucial functions. Experiments exploring protein dynamics, however, often use samples that do not reflect the crowded and complex environments of the cell. At the European X-ray Free Electron laser (XFEL), scientists carried out X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy experiments to measure the nanoscopic structural dynamics of protein solution samples. The results, reported in Nature Communications open up the unique possibility of studying collective dynamics in protein solutions with high concentration, which is particularly interesting in the context of intracellular transport in eukaryotic cells and in drug design.

Capturing protein dynamics in crowded environments with the world’s brightest X-ray laser - Read the full article
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Nobelpriset i fysik 2022
Department of Physics

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2022: Entangled states – from theory to technology

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physics 2022 to Alain Aspect, Université Paris-Saclay and École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France, John F. Clauser, J.F. Clauser & Assoc., Walnut Creek, CA, USA and Anton Zeilinger, University of Vienna, Austria

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2022: Entangled states – from theory to technology - Read the full article
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Eleonora Svanberg
Department of Physics

Wavelike nature of the vertical shear instability in global protoplanetary discs

Our former Ambassador for Fysikum's Facebook, Eleonora Svanberg, is doing her Masters in Cambridge. She has had her first research article published in Oxford Academic. - I think it's been a fantastic opportunity to try my hand at research, and getting published feels like an important milestone in my future career. I hope more students will get the chance to do this,' says Eleonora Svanberg.

Wavelike nature of the vertical shear instability in global protoplanetary discs - Read the full article
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David Stuhrmann - presentations and open lectures
Department of Physics

David Stuhrmann: Attending short talks or presentations

When I started studying physics I new the names of the big topics in physics like quantum mechanics and general relativity. Proceeding with lectures and semester, I felt that my knowledge in these basic and broad fields increased. But as the time for the thesis project came closer and closer, I noticed that research happens on so many smaller topics and varieties than I encountered in my daily lectures. Often a question popped up in my mind on how I could learn more about these various research topics there are existing today.

David Stuhrmann: Attending short talks or presentations - Read the full article
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Wilma Svedlund
Department of Physics

Wilma Svedlund about her physics studies

To get started with your studies in the early fall can be hard when you have many things going on in your life. The last warm summer nights have passed and you may have a habit of scrolling on social media during your days, go for long powerwalks, or you may be one of many that likes staying up late playing video games with your friends. No matter what stands in your way, it will get easier if you give yourself the best possible conditions to study.

Wilma Svedlund about her physics studies - Read the full article
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Cavity-molecule coupled system
Department of Physics

Triplet-triplet annihilation: An efficient photon upconversion route

Researchers at Fysikum recently investigated the triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) dynamics of naphthalene. The annihilation process involves the conversion of two spin triplet states into one singlet excited state. The triplet state contains two unpaired electrons with same spin whereas the singlet state electrons are all paired and have opposite spins.

Triplet-triplet annihilation: An efficient photon upconversion route - Read the full article
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Exclusion limits from various direct dark matter search experiments.
Department of Physics

The dark side of the Sun - Solar reflection of dark matter

When we look up to the night sky, we see a lot of bright objects. Stars, gas clouds, galaxies, or supernovae radiate light that our telescopes can catch. However, we know that the vast majority of matter in space does not send out light at all. We call it 'dark matter' due to its elusive nature. Indeed, dark matter seems to be completely invisible.

The dark side of the Sun - Solar reflection of dark matter - Read the full article
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Department of Physics

Water - the strangest liquid

This science documentary reveals groundbreaking insights into the puzzling substance that constitutes most of ourselves: water. Yet no one has been able to explain the origin of water´s unique anomalies on a molecular level. In this film we get to follow the scientific pursuit from the theoretical hypothesis of two liquids presented by Prof. Francesco Sciortino, to the experimental work led by the Swedish at Stockholm University Anders Nilsson and his team, when they test water under extreme conditions while conducting an experiment nobody considered possible.

Water - the strangest liquid - Read the full article
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Christopher Schlüter together with Peter Amann in the experiment hutch of P22
Department of Physics

Scientists solve the Mystery about the Active Phase in Catalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction

An international research team led by researchers of Stockholm University has for the first time been able to study the surface of a copper-zinc catalyst when carbon dioxide is reduced to methanol. The results – obtained at DESY´s brilliant light source PETRA III – are published in the scientific journal Science. A better knowledge of the catalytic process of methanol synthesis and the possibility of finding even more efficient materials opens the door for a green transition in the chemical industry.

Scientists solve the Mystery about the Active Phase in Catalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction - Read the full article
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Frank Wilczek
Department of Physics

Frank Wilczek receives the 2022 Templeton Prize

Frank Wilczek, a Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist and author, and professor at four universities among them Stockholm University, is awarded the 2022 Templeton Prize. We are delighted that Frank, with his extraordinary depth and breadth of knowledge, is contributing to the Physics research community, says Jan Conrad, Head of the Department of Physics at the Stockholm University.

Frank Wilczek receives the 2022 Templeton Prize - Read the full article
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Sara Strandberg, professor and researcher, Department of Physics, Stockholm University
Department of Physics

World's largest particle accelerator restarts

The CERN research facility houses the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest particle accelerator. The accelerator has been undergoing further development for three years, and operations were restarted in April. Sara Strandberg is a professor at Fysikum and works at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Switzerland. Here she tells us more about how she became interested in physics and her research at the ATLAS experiment.

World's largest particle accelerator restarts - Read the full article
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Hiranya Peiris, Professor in Astro Physics at Stockholm University and University College London
Department of Physics

Hiranya Peiris is a new members of the Class for physics

Hiranya Peiris divides her time between the Department of Physics at Stockholm University and University College London. She is a professor of astrophysics and has made significant contributions to cosmology by combining observations with theoretical physics research and advanced data analysis. She has now been appointed as a new member of the Physics Class of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Hiranya Peiris is a new members of the Class for physics - Read the full article
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A schematic description of the research strategy. Illustration: Eloy Vallina

Physics provides new perspective on cellular function and evolution

Researchers have mapped the physicochemical properties of proteins in 20,000 organisms. The results, published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), show that the properties provide clues to understanding evolution and adaptation, and add new dimensions to the established taxonomical classification system.

Physics provides new perspective on cellular function and evolution - Read the full article
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She hopes to continue her research in Stockholm

Physicist Lesya Demchenko fled the war in Ukraine with her family and arrived in Nynäshamn on March 16. With the help of a research grant from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, she hopes to be able to continue her research at the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry at Stockholm University.

She hopes to continue her research in Stockholm - Read the full article
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Estimated charge distribution changes on the APTS photoacid and conjugate photobase forms
Department of Physics

An ultrafast X-ray glance into photoacid electronic structure

Photoacids are molecules that release a proton upon electronic excitation, thus enhancing the acidity of a liquid. Pioneering work by Theodor Förster has shown the direct relationship between the wavelength position of optical absorption and acidity properties with which the increase in acidity in the first electronic excited state can be quantified.

An ultrafast X-ray glance into photoacid electronic structure - Read the full article
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James Webb-teleskopet

The James Webb Telescope has reached its orbit

After 25 years of planning, the world's largest space telescope to date, James Webb, is finally out in space. The telescope uses infrared light to measure objects in space. It will examine the atmosphere on planets in other solar systems and look further back into the history of the universe than has previously been possible. The instrument on the telescope designed to capture faint infrared light has been developed by scientists from Stockholm University, together with other Swedish researchers.

The James Webb Telescope has reached its orbit - Read the full article
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Sara Strandberg

Measuring the Higgs Boson

All matter on Earth and in the universe is made up of elementary particles that have existed since just after the Big Bang. Wallenberg Scholar Sara Strandberg is studying how the particles interact with each other. She is using data from the LHC particle collider at CERN to learn more about the Higgs Boson and the part it plays in the Standard Model of particle physics.

Measuring the Higgs Boson - Read the full article
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Frank Wilczek portrait

Frank Wilczek: "The pandemic has been positive for my research in many ways"

Frank Wilczek is professor of theoretical physics and Nobel laureate. He usually spends his time in different parts of the world, including at Stockholm University where he is professor. Last year has been quite challenging because of the pandemic. But it has been positive for his research in many ways.

Frank Wilczek: "The pandemic has been positive for my research in many ways" - Read the full article
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Research projects

Ab initio studies of reactive scattering processes

Quantum mechanical studies of reactive scattering processes are performed involving small reaction complexes in highly excited states where non-adiabatic effects are crucial. The theoretical model is tested by close collaboration with experiments.

Research
Antimatter atoms and ions

We study methods to create and probe atoms and ions made of antimatter, with the purpose to test fundamental symmetries of nature.

Foto: CERN
Chemical Energy Transformations and Catalysis

There are many base chemicals of importance for the catalytic production of fertilizers, plastics, detergents, pharmaceuticals and fuels. Currently, the feedstock for the chemical industry is entirely based on fossil sources with an emittance of 8% of the worlds footprint of greenhouse gases (not including when fuels is being burned).

The differential pumped photoelectron spectroscopy system to probe the surface of model catalysts.
Dark matter and scientific method

According to our best cosmological model ‘dark matter’ makes up ≈80% of the total mass of the universe. But what is dark matter, and in what sense are we justified in positing its existence?

Discovering Dark Matter: Extending Philosophy of Experiment to Dark Matter

The existence of dark matter is well-supported: there is a wide range of empirical evidence for a novel type of matter that has important gravitational effects on the evolution of our universe. But beyond the fact that it has gravitational effects, all that is known is that dark matter is unlike anything studied by particle physics so far.

Experiments with beams of cold stored ions in DESIREE

Mutual Neutralization (MN) is studied at the DESIREE ion-beam storage ring. In MN, an electron is transferred from a negative to a positive ion forming two neutral particles. This fundamental process is important in many natural environment.

DESIREE - experimentell forskning inom atomkraftens kollisionsfysik
FUSE - The unexpected scientists

The FUSE project examines different paths that students can take to apply for a degree in physics. The focus is on students from under-represented groups, such as women and people from families with non-academic backgrounds.

Photo: Jens Olof Lasthein
Few-body physics

We examin universal properties of certain three-body systems using theoretical and numerical methods.

Foto: CERN
Frontiers of topological matter

This project focuses on frontiers of topological matter such as non-Abelian anyons from twists and defects in Moiré heterostructures and topological phenomena in open dissipative systems.

Research
Locality vs. topology in quantum matter

This project brings together several frontiers of basic science - from materials science and quantum optics to the theory of topological phases and modern mathematics - with a potential to provide a basis of future technology.

Research
MATS - the next Swedish research satellite

MATS (Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy) is a Swedish satellite mission designed to investigate atmospheric waves. Large uncertainties in the distribution of such waves is a limiting factor for atmospheric models in predicting future changes in the mesosphere, the region bordering space at 50-100 km above sea level.

Satellit i rymden. Foto: OHB Sweden and SNSA
Polaritonic Chemistry and Light-Matter Materials

In this project we investigate the possibilities to control chemical reactions with confined electric fields from a theorists perspective. By using nano cavities one can create hybrid light-matter states and modify the reactivity of molecules. Our goal is to propose new types of photonic catalysts and to develop new numerical simulations methods.

Polaritonisk kemi och material för ljus och materia - Polaritonic Chemistry and Light-Matter Materia
Quantum Materials with Anisotropic Heavy Fermions

Quantum materials are materials with strong electronic correlation and emergent orders. In this research project we will experimentally study quantum materials in systems with strongly anisotropic properties.

Image of Components of the project
Sculptured Topological Heterostructures

In this theoretical project, we intend to investigate what happens when we assemble exotic topological components. More specifically, we want to investigate four types of "sculptured topological heterostructures" as briefly described below.

Research
Supersymmetric Top Quark Partners at the LHC

A supersymmetric extension of the standard model can solve the fine-tuning problem of the Higgs mass and explain dark matter. In this project we search for the supersymmetric partner of the top quark with data from the ATLAS experiment at CERN.

Supersymmetriska partnerpartiklar till toppkvarken vid LHC
The ATLAS experiment at CERN

The ATLAS experiment is one of four large experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) facility at CERN, and one of two general-purpose detectors designed to explore a wide range of questions about the fundamental constituents of matter and the forces of nature.

Research
Timing many-body effects in small quantum systems

When atomic systems are exposed to light it is the electrons that react first. They absorb the radiation and convert the photon energy into excitation and ionization. Ultra-short light pulses are tools to study this dynamics in real time.

Artistic illustration of how a train of attosecond pulses (blue) and a IR-laser pulse (red)
Topological phases and their transitions

Topological phases of matter are amongst the most interesting phases that are being studied, both theoretically as well as in experiments. In this project, we focus on the various types of phase transitions that topological phases can undergo.

Research
Ultrafast X-Ray Spectroscopy of Conical Intersections

Modern light sources like free electron lasers and high harmonic generation sources can provide brilliant, broadband and ultrashort pulses of light. This opens up new possibilities to investigate non-adiabatic phenomena in molecules.

Ultrasnabb röntgenspektroskopi av koniska skärningspunkter - Ultrafast X-Ray Spectroscopy of Conical
Ultrafast magnetism

An often forgotten energy consumer is the internet. Data centres, where information is stored in the form of magnetic bits, waste most of their energy as heat. Improve the control over magnetic information is crucial for our society is to prosper.

ERC Magnetic Speed Limit Logo - ERC Logo för magnetisk hastighetsbegränsning
Water, Ice and Aqueous Solutions

It is known since several decades that many properties of water such density, compressibility, heat capacity etc. become strongly anomalous as the temperature decreases. In particular, this deviation from a simple liquid behaviour becomes strongly enhanced as water is cooled below the freezing point into the metastable supercooled regime.

Different potential configurations of the hydrogen bonding network in water
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Research groups

Cosmology

Cosmology observation and instrumentation work at the department includes supernovae, the cosmic microwave background, and large surveyes of galaxies.

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DESIREE

The Atomic Physics division is pursuing experimental research in atomic collision physics dealing with interactions of positively and negatively charged atomic ions, molecular ions such as fullerenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), biomolecules, and clusters.

DESIREE - experimental research in nuclear collision physics
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Medical Radiation Physics

Medical Radiation Physics is a vast and complex translational research topic that deals with radiation physics applied to medicine and biology for medical radiation imaging and radiation therapy.

Medicinsk strålningsfysik - Medical Radiation Physics
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Structural dynamics of aqueous solutions (SDAQS)

In the group we are interested in understanding role of water in chemical and biophysical processes from a statistical physics perceptive. We study the structural dynamics of aqueous solutions, including nanoparticles, organic molecules and proteins in supercooled and glassy states.

SDAQS - forskargruppsida
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The ATLAS experiment at CERN

The ATLAS experiment is one of four large experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) facility at CERN, and one of two general-purpose detectors designed to explore a wide range of questions about the fundamental constituents of matter and the forces of nature.

Part of the ATLAS Level-1 Calorimeter Trigger - Photo CERN
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