The physics of mesoscopic quantum systems, i.e., electronic structures
in the nanometer range, is one of the most active research areas of
condensed-matter physics. These systems allow us to study fundamental
physics questions, and their understanding is necessary for possible
future electronic device applications.  The goal of our research is to
exploit and analyze quantum effects in such circuits, e.g. novel
excitations like Majorana quasiparticles. These particles have been
predicted but not yet been found in particle physics. Another
interesting field that we work on is generalized quantum measurements
and quantum model systems that can be used to test the foundations and
limits of quantum mechanics.

In particular, our group (about 3 PhD students and 3 Postdocs) plans
to study the interplay of electric currents through nanostructures
with mechanical degrees of freedom (nanomechanics).  We are also
interested in fluctuation and noise phenomena: electrical currents are
not exactly constant but fluctuate, and these fluctuations contain a
great deal of information about the quantum nature of the electrons
that carry the current. We will also investigate ultracold atoms which
can be used to study quantum coherence and quantum many-body
phenomena. Finally, we study macroscopic quantum phenomena like
superconductivity.