Gunnar Malm

Research in integrated devices and circuits, commonly known as nanoelectronics, is about finding solutions for the electronics of the future. In conventional electronics, transistors made of different semiconductor materials such as silicon are used. Today, other materials are also used, along with methods based on additional physical principles. One example is spintronics which utilize the spin of electrons and include the use of thin magnetic films.

B. Gunnar Malm’s research focuses on variability and fluctuations in very small transistors that are only a few nanometers in size and that are made up of very few atoms. Such small transistors have unique properties and create unwanted effects in electronics. In a circuit with millions of transistors, it is important to minimize these variations. Another area of research is the development of semiconductor materials that are suitable for electronics in extreme environments. These include silicon carbide that can withstand very high temperatures. One of the challenges here is to take steps from physical understanding to designing electronics in practice.

The research operates in the boundary between basic physics and applied research. By understanding the physics behind different nanodevices, you can create better and smaller electronics that is more energy efficient and sustainable for a range of applications and products.