Bert Koopmans

Bert Koopmans is a Full Professor and Group leader of the group Physics of Nanostructures (FNA) at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His areas of expertise include nanotechnology, nano-electronics and spintronics. Koopmans’ earlier work has been in (non-linear) optics of fullerenes and semiconductor quantum structures. His present research activities are in spintronics, nanomagnetism and ultrafast spin- & magnetization-dynamics. Key research achievements have been made in femtosecond magnetization processes, controlling domain wall motion in nanodevices and organic spintronics – in many cases combining advanced nanoscale experiments with the development of novel theoretical frameworks.

Within IPI, Bert has initiated research on integrated magneto-photonics. Among other applications such as optical isolators and reconfigurable photonics, he envisions spintronic-photonic memories where data is transferred between a photonic waveguide and a magnetic ‘racetrack’ without intermediate electronic steps. These approaches are considered to contribute to future energy-efficient and versatile information technology.

It fascinates me to discover how subtle interactions at the nanoscale between electrons, their quantum mechanical spins and photons can be of such tremendous importance for future photonic technology.