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Nicolò Maccaferri lab

Image: Mattias Pettersson

Ultrafast Nanoscience

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.

Head of research

Nicolò Maccaferri
Assistant professor
E-mail
Email

Overview

Participating departments and units at Umeå University

Department of Physics

Research area

Materials science, Physical sciences

External funding

Swedish Research Council, The Kempe Foundation, EU Horizon 2020 (H2020), Wenner-Gren Stiftelserna, ERC - European Research Council, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation

External funding

Stefano Corni och Nicolò Maccaferri
Seminar series sparks international research collaborations

Nicolò Maccaferri and his group had the pleasure to host Stefano Corni in the context of UCMR Seminar Series.

From left to right: Haifeng Lin, Lakshmi Das, Hinduja Bhuvanendran, Nicolò Maccaferri
Unexplored magnetic material could change the future of data storage

Lakshmi Das receives Marie Curie Fellowship to investigate new material with ultra-fast light pulses.

Ben JohnsAnknuten som postdoktor till Institutionen för fysikEnhet: Ultrafast Nanoscience
Optical physics has potential for addressing challenges in life science

In a mix of biology and physics, Ben investigates biological reactions and processes with fast lasers.

Latest update: 2024-10-17