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Tampere University

Faculty or school: Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences

The Physics Unit is one of the three units in the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences. The Physics Unit employs about 160 people, of which 10 are professors, 5 are associate professors, and 3 are assistant professors. The unit is highly international as 30 % of the personnel have an international background. The research focuses on three areas that are organized in three laboratories: Aerosol Physics, Computational Physics and Photonics.

The principle of the Physics Unit is to operate in a balanced way between fundamental scientific research and industrial applications. The thesis projects in physics are usually directly linked to the research carried out in the laboratories.

The research at the Physics Unit focuses on three areas: Aerosol Physics, Computational Physics and Photonics. The research topics include, e.g., atmospheric phenomena, emissions, nanomaterials, quantum mechanics, numerical algorithms, and light-matter interaction and other optical phenomena. More information of the research in these three laboratories can be found below.

Aerosol Physics

Aerosol Science underpins much of the modern environmental science and nanotechnology. The groups at the Aerosol Physics Laboratory develop novel real-time instruments to characterize aerosol particles; apply the most modern measurement methods to study emissions of various sources; and help in developing new and less emitting technologies. The groups aim at improving our understanding of the aerosol effects on air quality, human well-being, and climate. On the other hand, aerosol assisted processes are used in the fabrication of highly dispersed nanopowders, novel nanostructured materials and functional coatings.

Aerosol Physics Laboratory

Computational Physics

Modeling and simulations have an increasing role in fundamental sciences and they are also pivotal in the analysis, interpretation and exploitation of Big Data. The Computational Physics Laboratory develops and uses advanced methodological and numerical tools for various applications in modern physics. Our current activities include material and molecular modelling, electronic structure theory, quantum control and dynamics, topological quantum matter, statistical physics, low-dimensional nanomaterials and multidisciplinary challenges in, e.g., computational cardiology.

Computational Physics Laboratory

Photonics

Photonics, as an enabling technology similarly to electronics, underpins much of modern science and knowledge-intensive technology. Our vision is that the next revolution in photonics will rely on new advanced light sources, on exquisite control of light fields, as well as on new materials and nanostructures with tailorable and tunable optical properties. Advances in these fields will provide new capabilities in the future for multiple application areas such as medicine, communication, solar energy and monitoring of the environment.

Photonics Laboratory

At Tampere University, physics can be studied as a major in two degree programmes: Teknis-luonnontieteellinen (in Finnish) and Science and Engineering (in English). Both the Finnish and English programmes are highly selective and provide the students with excellent problem solving skills and a solid background in mathematics and natural sciences. Both programmes provide a direct path to Master's studies in physics, and further to doctoral studies in the research laboratories of the Physics Unit.

In addition to major studies, the Physics Unit teaches basic physics (University Physics 1-4) to all the degree programmes in engineering at Tampere University.