Head of Division: Arne Mikkelsen

The research deals with basic material science, with focus on:

Nanoparticle and polymer physics
(Arnljot Elgsæter and Arne Mikkelsen)
Studies of the many different and important basic roles polymers play in all biological systems, and the many crucial applications of biopolymers in both medicine and industry. Includes both experimental and theoretical studies.

• Nanoparticle and polymer physics

Laboratory for soft and complex matter studies
(Jon Otto Fossum)
We study the physics of Soft condenced matter, i.e. materials which are easily deformable by external stresses, electric or magnetic fields, or by thermal fluctuations.

• Laboratory for soft and complex matter studies

Breakdown and transport phenomena in disordered systems and materials
(Alex Hansen)
Studies of non-linear growth processes, breakdown, the dynamics of granular media and flow in porous media, by use of numerical and theoretical methods. Fracture processes in materials as a consequence of mechanical stress are examples of physical collective phenomena (illustration to the right).

• Breakdown and transport phenomena in disordered systems and materials

Ferroic materials
(Frode Mo)
Studies of ferroic materials and ethylene copolymers by X-ray diffraction.

• X-ray diffraction studies of ferroic materials

Nanostructured surfaces and surface processes
(Steinar Raaen)
Experimental studies of nanostructured surfaces (illustration to the right) and surface processes by photoemission (XPS, UPS), energy diffraction (LEED), photoemission microscopy (PEEM) end thermal desorption (TPD). Numerical (Monte-Carlo) simulations of surface processes.

• Nanostructured surfaces and surface processes

Topics from theoretical physics
(Bo-Sture Skagerstam)
Theoretical studies within quantum optics, complex phenomenon and biophysics.

• Topics within theoretical physics