A main part of our research revolves around X-ray free-electron lasers, which are novel light sources that provide extremely intense (1012 photons/pulse) and ultrashort (10-100 fs) X-ray pulses. These unique properties open new possibilities to determine structural information of biomolecules with atomic resolution, using a technique called diffraction before destruction. We are studying the ultrafast dynamics, fragmentation and non-thermal heating induced by X-ray free electron lasers.

We use Molecular Dynamics, Quantum Chemistry and Plasma Simulations to study ultrafast dynamics in biomolecules. We are interested in the atomic dynamics and study how to improve single particle imaging using information from fragmentation and orientation. We are working on model development in photon-matter interaction at high X-ray field strengths, complemented with performing experiments at X-ray facilities.

We are one of the founders of the Biophysics Network at Uppsala University and the Master’s Programme in Biophysics.

Members of the group

Carl Caleman, Nicusor Timneanu, Ibrahim Dawod, Thomas Mandl, Sebastian Cardoch, Pamela Svensson, Gösta Huldt, Tomoko Akiyama, Tomas André

Former members of the group (recent)

Isaak Unger, Kajwal Patra (now at U. Dallas), Emiliano de Santis (now at BMC), Christofer Östlin, Clara Saak (now at U. Wien), Olof Jönsson (now at Cytiva), Davide Ragazzon