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.

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.

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.