Our research focuses on materials physics, quantum technology, soft and living matter, and advanced energy solutions. Topics extend from fundamental research to important applications. Department of Applied Physics educates future generations of research and development professionals, data specialists, technology experts, inventors, and scientists for industry and society.

The department hosts the Academy of Finland Centres of Excellence Quantum Technology Finland (QTF, 2018-2025) and Life Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER, 2022-2029). Further quantum technologies are facilitated by the national quantum institute – InstituteQ, coordinated by Aalto University since 2021.

The department is a major user of the national research infrastructure OtaNano that provides fabrication, characterisation and measurement equipment and facilities for students, scientists and high-tech businesses. The Nanomicroscopy Center and the Low Temperature Laboratory of OtaNano are critical assets for our researchers. We extensively utilise and contribute to the development of the national and international cloud and supercomputing resources and databases.

Research groups

Active Matter
Atomic Scale Physics
Complex Systems and Materials (CSM)
Computational Electronic Structure Theory (CEST)
Correlated Quantum Materials (CQM)
Fusion and Plasma Physics
Living, Fluid, & Soft Matter
Molecular Materials (Molmat)
Multiscale Statistical and Quantum Physics (MSP)
Nanomagnetism and Spintronics (NanoSpin)
Nanomaterials (NMG)
New Energy Technologies (Renewable)
Nuclear Materials and Engineering (NuME)
Optics and Photonics
Pico - Quantum Phenomena and Devices
Quantum Circuits and Correlations (NANO)
Quantum Computing and Devices (QCD)
Quantum Dynamics (QD)
Quantum Nanomechanics
Quantum NanoOptomechanics and Forces (QNOF)
Quantum Transport (QT)
Soft Matter and Wetting
Superconducting Qubits and Circuit QED (KVANTTI)
Surfaces and Interfaces at the Nanoscale (SIN)
Surface Science
Topological Quantum Fluids (ROTA)