Department of Molecular Physics
The research in the Department of Molecular Physics focuses on the structure and the intra- and inter-molecular dynamics of molecular systems, from diatomic molecules to biological macromolecules, either in isolation or in interaction with their environment. For this, new experimental methods to manipulate and control, to characterise and to spectroscopically investigate these molecular systems are developed and exploited.
Research themes
Home of the molecular synchrotron
A milestone for molecular beams
Molecular Stew Analysis Produces World´s First Description of Amyloid Intermediate Structures
Stark decelerator
The ultimate molecular control tool
Molecules as a light dark matter detector
Internal degrees of molecules are a great sensor for light dark matter
Dynamics of photoionization-induced processes in laser-prepared gas- and aqueous-phase samples
Laser cooling of diatomic polar molecules
Electronic structure of aqueous-phase anatase titanium dioxide nanoparticles probed by liquid jet photoelectron spectroscopy
On January 22, 2026, Daniel Fontoura Barroso, member of the Molecular Physics Department, and his team have been awarded the Main Prize of the BPW Business Plan Competition Berlin‑Brandenburg. The team convinced the jury with its sensor-based monitoring system for bridges and other engineering structures — a solution addressing a challenge of significant public and infrastructure relevance.The BPW Business Plan Competition Berlin-Brandenburg is Germany’s largest regional start-up initiative, supporting founders in developing sustainable business models and bringing innovations to market.
The announcement by ILB Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg is available here:
https://www.ilb.de/de/bc-capital/news/pressemeldungen/2022/pressemeldung-2022_2067651.html
A video by the founders of Spree Monitoring is available here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxIBJrO1i_A
We warmly congratulate Daniel and the entire Spree Monitoring team on this achievement.
The official announcements are available
on the Berlin Senate website: https://www.berlin.de/sen/web/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/pressemitteilung.1620744.php
and on the BAM website: https://www.bam.de/Content/DE/Pressemitteilungen/2025/2025-12-01-innovationspreis.html
We warmly congratulate Daniel and his team on this award!
