Research group
In our group we study both the fundamental and applied aspects of light-matter interactions. In particular, we study light-driven charge, spin and lattice dynamics and strong optical nonlinearities in advanced multifunctional nano- and meta-materials for opto-electronics and information processing, photochemistry and biotechnology. We use frequency- and time-resolved (magneto-)optical spectroscopy, finite-element computational methods and bottom-up/top-down nanofabrication techniques.
Currently, we mainly focus on two research areas:
Ultrafast dynamics in nanomaterials: here, we focus on the generation and investigation of electronic excitations—such as plasmons, excitons, and magnons—ranging from the visible to the mid-infrared in metals, layered semiconductors, and strongly correlated materials. We target light-driven charge and spin dynamics, including exchange and spin-orbit interactions, plasmon-magnon polaritons hybridization and tailored phonon-driven magnetic phenomena using structured ultrashort light beams. Additionally, we artificially manipulate the geometry (shape, size, composition) of conventional materials to optically induce and control phase transitions and critical phenomena. As well, we target non-thermal and thermal charge and spin generation, injection, and manipulation for energy-efficient information processing. The aim is to find possible applications in emerging technological areas, such as spintronics and nanophotonics.
Functional materials and advanced spectroscopy techniques: here, we investigate the fundamental physical properties of nanostructured functional metamaterials, including harmonic generation, nonlinear optical phenomena, and the optical control of chemical reactions. Our research combines various functions (optical, magnetic, and thermal), and explores their coupling with tailored materials and/or environments, such as quantum emitters and molecules, for light-driven opto-electronics and polaritonic chemistry. Additionally, we design functional nanostructures for single-molecule spectroscopy and develop ultrafast spectroscopy techniques and apply them to structural biology, catalysis and photochemistry.
Our research at Umeå University is currently funded by the Swedish Research Council (Starting Grant, 2022-2025), the European Innovation Council (Pathfinder Open project, 2022-2026), the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant, 2025-2029), Kempestiftelserna and the Wenner-Gren Foundations. We acknowledge also the support from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation through the Wallenberg Academy Fellows Programme. We are grateful to the Department of Physics and the Faculty of Science and Technology, Umeå University, which jointly co-funded the creation of our laboratory and the purchase of major equipment.
Swedish Research Council,The Kempe Foundation,EU Horizon 2020 (H2020),Wenner-Gren Stiftelserna,ERC - European Research Council,Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation