Physics

Physics is one of Linköping University’s largest and broadest research fields. The focus is on the properties of materials, but other fields of study include theoretical physics, quantum physics and research at the intersection of physics, chemistry and biology.

Physics is one of the basic sciences, and at LiU there is extensive research in everything from theoretical physics and quantum physics to applied research in fields such as surfaces and thin-film physics, optics, semiconductors, soft materials, nanomaterials, sensors, solar cells, LEDs and thermoelectricity. For more on the various research fields, see below.

Research ranges all the way from deep basic research to applied research with conceivable applications in medicine and biology, as well as electronics, energy, the computer memory of the future, and not least in various branches of the engineering industry.

Applied physics is an important field in doctoral studies here, and doctoral students can attend one of the graduate schools within the field: Agora Materiae and Forum Scientum.


Research

Research groups

Research areas, material science and quantum theory

THz-laboratoriet vid LiU

Graphene

The researchers study the properties and structure of graphene and of other two-dimensional materials, such as MXene. LiU researchers have developed a unique method to manufacture graphene on silicon carbide.

Jianwu Sun forskare i halvledarmaterial

Semiconductor materials

Large research groups are studying materials as silicon carbide, nitrides and graphene. One major area of study is how manufacturing technology influences the properties of various electrical, optical and magnetic semiconductors.

Rickard Gunnarsson, plasma och ytfysik

Soft Materials

An area in the boundary between technology and medicine. Researchers are developing nanolayers that have properties similar to those of biological materials, and they are using 3D printers to produce new materials.

National activities

News

Server with attached cables.

Things are heating up for superconductors

Researchers at Linköping University have, by way of a number of theoretical calculations, shown that magnesium diboride becomes superconductive at a higher temperature when it is stretched.

Spin-polarized semiconductor light emitting structure.

Major initiative in materials research for sustainability

A billion-kronor investment into research under the auspices of the Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability (WISE) will develop sustainable and efficient materials to solve some of the huge challenges we face.

Swedish Research Council grant for secure quantum communication

The Swedish Research Council has awarded SEK 1.4 million to SECRET, a European collaborative project to increase security in quantum communication. The project, with a budget of EUR 340,000, will be coordinated by LiU researcher Guilherme Xavier.

Doctoral studies and graduate schools