Established in 1997, the Linz Department of Atomic Physics and Surface Science (Abteilung für Atom- und Oberflächenphysik, AOP) is a part of the Institute of Experimental Physics. The department was renamed the Department of Surface Science (Abteilung für Oberflächenphysik, AOP) in May 2018.

Current research topics include:

• Characterizing solid surfaces at the atomic scale
• the adsorption and growth of thin metal and molecular films
• fabricating and characterizing nanostructures
• the kinetics of adsorption and desorption
• the electronic, magnetic and chemical properties of surfaces, thin films and nanostructures
• thin film analysis (structure, morphology and composition)

Technical developments at the AOP include designing electronic devices and constructing scientific instruments, such as developing the hardware and control electronics to support scanning probe microscopes and optical spectrometers for surface analysis.

The AOP is also strongly involved in teaching and education, opens an external URL in a new window, both in elementary physics courses as well as in specialized classes and seminars related to our various research activities.