Department of Physics "Giuseppe Occhialini"

Isis@Mach Italia

Isis@Mach Italia is a multidisciplinary project that networks a wide range of Italian scientific instruments and the skills of the researchers who use and manage them. The infrastructure offers, through competitive calls and peer-review processes, access to this instrumentation with the support of the associated researchers, for the performance of analyses of samples or materials to researchers in teams, with at least one Italian member, both from academia and the business world. Launched in 2020, IM@IT has already attracted over a hundred users, with participants in the calls doubling in recent years. The Milano-Bicocca unit is coordinated by the Department of Physics and involves a dozen instruments spread across Science and Medicine.

Isis@Mach Italia website

Joint Lab with companies

In the framework of the PNRR MUSA Project, three industry-university Joint Labs have been activated to develop highly specialized research and, in perspective, open up to external collaborations:

  • The “mm-Wave Electronics Laboratory” (WELab), in collaboration with Huawei, is dedicated to the development of characterization techniques suitable for measuring electronic devices at sub-THz frequencies (> 100 GHz) and accurate transistor modeling for the design of integrated circuits operating at sub-THz frequencies. The Laboratory is equipped with a state-of-the-art 2-port vector network analyzer (VNA) for broadband characterization from 9 kHz to 220 GHz. In addition, general-purpose tools for characterizing electronic devices and IC prototypes are available, including: semiconductor parameter analyzer, MPI manual probing station for on-wafer characterization, digital oscilloscope (1 GHz bandwidth), arbitrary function generator (AFG, 350 MHz), multimeter, DC power supplies, and soldering station.

  • The “Automatic Test Laboratory” (ATLab), in collaboration with Infineon, is dedicated to the development of automatic test solutions for industrial power devices, such as gate drivers, and to the research and evaluation of methodologies for modeling and simulating test setups. The laboratory is equipped with a Teradyne ETS-88, an automatic test system widely used in industry and characterized by high versatility and efficiency, and the semi-automatic Cascade TESLA200 prober, used to interface the ATE with industrial silicon wafers. In addition, the ATLab is equipped with additional specific instrumentation for electronic device testing and test hardware development, including: a device for the thermal control of the DUT via mechanical contact, a 6-channel analog oscilloscope (1 GHz bandwidth), a fully equipped soldering station and generic laboratory instrumentation.

  • The MIB-TASI Joint Laboratory conducts research activities focused on the design, characterization and testing of analog and digital devices intended for radiation-hardened aerospace applications. These include components such as microprocessors, gravitational accelerometers, oscillators and memory units. The MIB-TASI JLAB provides remote access to servers for the design of silicon integrated circuits using advanced nanoscale technologies, including 28 nm CMOS and 16 nm and 7 nm CMOS FinFET nodes. It is also equipped with a rich instrumentation both automatic via the Keysight PXI modular system and manual for the characterization of devices up to hundreds of MHz. The Joint Laboratory is also a think-tank where new ideas on scientific payloads, advanced sensing and AI-based data analysis algorithms are developed.

Joint lab con le imprese

Research services

The Department offers a range of services to support research, the third mission, and teaching activities in the laboratories. These services include access to the mechanical workshop for the creation and maintenance of scientific instruments, the electronics laboratory for the development and repair of electronic circuits and devices, as well as the use of departmental computing resources and ICT infrastructure. These services are also provided through collaboration with the staff of the INFN Milano Bicocca Section, which contributes high-level technical and scientific expertise to ensure full support for the activities of research groups, third mission initiatives, and academic programs.

PNRR Projects

Anthem

ANTHEM - Advanced Technologies for Human-centred Medicine - is an initiative funded by the Ministry of University and Research as part of the "National Plan for Complementary Investments to the PNRR" (PNC - National Complementary Plan). ANTHEM aims to fill, with the help of innovative, multidisciplinary technologies and pathways, the existing gap in healthcare for frail and chronic patients in specific areas characterized by orphan diseases.

The Department of Physics' contribution focuses on achieving some of the key objectives of Spokes 1 and 2.

Spoke 1: Data and technology-driven diagnosis and therapies
Contribution to pilots 1.6 and 1.8

The Department's research is aimed at developing algorithms and models to extract diagnostic information from heterogeneous clinical data and to optimize and simplify the treatment of chronic diseases (particularly oncology and cardiac diseases). It also develops prototypes and technologies to support diagnostics, contributing to the creation of an advanced high-spatial-resolution Positron Emission Tomography (PET-TOF) system and the development of virtual tissue histology to expand and improve the diagnostic capabilities of conventional histology.

Spoke 2: Connecting patients and therapists through adaptive environments and intelligent sensors to enhance proximity medicine.
Contribution to pilots 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5

The Department's research focuses on the development of wearable sensors (e.g., patches for monitoring measurable biochemical markers, breathing monitoring devices, virtual/augmented reality technologies) for real-time monitoring of both patient clinical parameters and the environmental risks implicated in the onset of pathological conditions in fragile and chronically ill populations.

It also focuses on the generation of technological platforms for the control of biological risk contamination (i.e., state-of-the-art lighting and systems for sanitizing surfaces and environments contaminated by microbial pathogens) and their use concerning information relating to the entire patient management process (from triage to the treatment plan). Finally, it is involved in the development of nanosensors for the detection of pathogens and biological agents.

MUSA - Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action

MUSA - Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action focuses on the sustainable development of Italy’s main metropolitan area, which is among the top in Europe in terms of GDP.
This area is home to a wide variety of high-value-added manufacturing activities, advanced services, and financial sectors.
Why an innovation ecosystem?
MUSA aims creating the conditions to facilitate the transition of the urban environment towards a sustainable innovation ecosystem through actions that address various environmental and social risk factors, providing local institutions with solid foundations for evidence-based policies.
The ecosystem approach considers the collective knowledge, skills, perspectives, and interests of all the stakeholders present in the territory (public institutions, civil society associations, research centers, and businesses) and their relationships.
The main resource behind the project is a partnership of scientific and industrial excellence, with complementary knowledge and expertise that will help tackle this ambitious path.
MUSA is organized into SPOKEs as outlined in this diagram.
The Department of Physics is involved in 4 SPOKEs: 1, 3, 5, and 6.

Spoke 1 - Urban Regeneration City of Tomorrow

This spoke features a Joint Lab with the aerospace industry Thales Alenia Space Italia. It develops space technologies with multidisciplinary applications, particularly in digital electronics (innovative onboard computers) and analog electronics (ultra-scaled MEMS technology miniature accelerometers), microfluidics applications, and mission studies for the calibration of ground-based radio telescopes.

Spoke 3 - Deep Tech: Entrepreneurship & Technology Transfer

Two Joint Labs have been activated in this spoke with companies INFINEON and HUAWEI. The goal is to establish permanent infrastructures with these industrial partners to support both academic research and the creation of high-tech startups that develop innovative product lines. Specifically, with INFINEON, semiconductor products are being developed focusing on high efficiency to reduce energy consumption. With HUAWEI, the aim is to develop microwave and millimeter-wave devices. In this regard, at the WELab, specialized equipment is used to characterize ultra-high- frequency circuital elements, creating an accurate library for designing integrated circuits up to 200 GHz.

Spoke 5 – Sustainable Fashion, Luxury, and Design

In this spoke, the Department of Physics is active through actions related to the plasma surface treatment of special fabrics for fashion and high-tech purposes, aiming at enhancing comfort, fit, and water repellency.

Spoke 6 – Innovation for Sustainable and Inclusive Societies

Inclusivity and sustainability also pass through cultural initiatives. In this sense, as part of this SPOKE, we have initiated continuous training for teachers at all school levels (from kindergarten to high school) in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines, inspired by the evocative theme of the sky. This initiative has trained over 200 teachers and 6,000 students within the Milan network and its surrounding areas. Additionally, an exhibition titled “Sky Observers: Italian Stories of Science, Technology, and People,” in collaboration with Thales, has been set up at the central library of the university.

Centro Nazionale di Ricerca in High Performance Computing, Big Data e Quantum Computing (ICSC)

The National Research Center in High Performance Computing, Big Data and Quantum Computing (ICSC) was established by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) to maintain and enhance the Italian HPC and Big Data infrastructure. Its mission is to
develop methods, applications, and advanced software tools for the computation, the simulation, the collection and the analysis of the data of interest for the research, the production, and the social systems also through cloud and distributed approaches.
The Supercomputing Center is a consortium of universities, of public and private research institutions and organisations, and of private companies spread across the country. It engages and promotes the best interdisciplinary skills in science and engineering, fostering substantial and sustainable innovation in fields ranging from basic research to computational and experimental sciences for climate, the environment, and the space, from the study of matter and life to medicine, from materials technologies to information systems and devices. The center supports higher education and promotes the development of policies for responsible data management, embracing open data and open science, combining regulatory, standardisation, and compliance aspects. The National Center provides a shared and open cloud/HPC infrastructure, which represents a unique strategic asset for Italy and the international community. It aims to become an innovative ecosystem serving the country and attracting international attention, strengthening Italy's competitiveness and contributing to European leadership in the sector.

NQSTI

As part of the national NQSTI program, the University of Milano-Bicocca is leading the Spoke 6 "Integration" , dedicated to the development of integrated quantum systems for quantum computing, simulation, and sensing.

Within Spoke6, the Department of Physics group is primarily active in the design and simulation of superconducting quantum devices, as well as their characterization at very low temperatures using the Cryogenics Laboratory's dilution refrigerators, recently upgraded thanks to NQSTI funding. The group also contributes to the development of control electronics for quantum systems, including the associated firmware.

For the fabrication of the designed devices, the group collaborates with strategic partners such as the Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK) in Trento and the National Institute for Metrological Research (INRIM) in Torino, in addition to maintaining an active collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado (USA).

Integrated Superconducting Platforms

In collaboration with INFN and FBK, the group develops integrated platforms for quantum sensing, with applications such as axion detection. Activities include the development of superconducting qubits coupled to planar or 3D resonators, traveling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs) for multiplexed readout of many qubits, and RFSoC-based systems with FPGAs for the manipulation and readout of quantum states.

Thanks to the Spoke6 open calls, the Universities of Salerno, Milano, and INRIM have also joined the collaboration.

The goal is to develop prototypes of superconducting quantum systems with TRL 4, oriented towards technological applications, in line with the objectives of NQSTI Spoke 7.

Cross-Platform Quantum Systems

The group is also participating in the development of hybrid systems integrating photonic and superconducting platforms, in collaboration with INFN, CNR, FBK, INRIM, and the University of Salerno. Expected results include prototypes for both microwave and near-infrared/UV photon detection using superconducting detectors with photon number resolution, and the generation of nonclassical photonic states via TWPA.

In synergy with the Department's Bicoq Excellence Project, the group is also exploring the integration of bulk-acoustic wave (BAW) mechanical resonators with superconducting systems, combining quantum sensing and metrology techniques to overcome the standard quantum limit.

New Superconducting Materials

In collaboration with the Department of Materials Science, the group is studying new superconducting materials for the construction of TWPAs and qubits, with the aim of improving their performance and reliability.

Quantum Applications in Spoke7

The Department of Physics is also involved in NQSTI's Spoke 7 project, which focuses on the development of complete, application-oriented quantum systems.

In this context, the Biophysics group is studying the integration of a two-photon scanning microscope with a SPAD array detector to perform measurements using a quantum-inspired Image Scanning Microscopy (ISM) approach. This scheme allows for an increase in spatial resolution of approximately 50%, opening up new perspectives for high-precision imaging.

BICoQ Excellence Center Project

Centro Bicocca di Cosmologia Quantitativa

The Bicocca Center for Quantitative Cosmology (BiCoQ) is a research center within the "G. Occhialini" Department of Physics at the University of Milano-Bicocca, dedicated to studying the nature of matter, gravity, and energy in our Universe. BiCoQ researchers are actively engaged in studying the invisible components of our universe through new astrophysical and particle physics experiments on dark matter, as well as new techniques for studying gravitational waves across a wide frequency spectrum. BiCoQ's activities are organized into four main research areas. Researchers working on the GRAF (GRAvitation global Fit) line develop new models and analysis techniques for high-precision measurements of gravitational waves. The goal of the BAUSCIA (Bulk Acoustic Wave Sensors for High-frequency Antennas) line is to develop sensors to extend diagnostic capabilities in the dark sector through high-frequency gravitational antennas (>1 MHz). In the field of cosmology, researchers in ARMONIA (Recondite Aspects of Dark Matter: New Astrophysical Investigations) develop new techniques to characterize the nature of dark matter and dark energy through cosmic birefringence of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation and the structural properties of cosmic filaments and galaxy-less galaxies. The goal of CADMO (CAndidates for Dark Matter Beyond the WIMP Paradigm) is to develop new devices for detecting photons in the extreme ultraviolet, aiming to search for dark matter candidates beyond the WIMP paradigm. BiCoQ’s activities are complemented by a rich program of communication and exchange events, including seminar series, international conferences, and visiting researcher programs, open to researchers from around the world. Finally, BiCoQ promotes advanced training in the center's research themes, both at the doctoral and undergraduate/master's levels, through dedicated courses, workshops, seminars, and thesis projects.

BICoQ website

Other PhD

The Industrial Research Doctorate of National Interest in Micro and Nano-Electronics (established by Ministerial Decree MUR no. 226 of 14 December 2021) aims to train researchers and professionals capable of addressing the challenges posed by technological evolution in Italy and Europe. The initiative intends to promote the creation of a national ecosystem in the micro and nano-electronics sector, aimed at preparing highly qualified figures, essential to enhance strategic investments in the field and to strengthen Italy's role in future technological developments on a global scale.

More info

The Program for the Multidisciplinary Industrial Doctorate on Strategic Innovation for Sustainable and Smart Ecosystems (SIS2E) is offered by the different Departments of the University of Milano-Bicocca in collaboration with the Department of Economics, Management, and Statistics. It focuses on two fundamental pillars, i.e., (1) Rigor in science and technology development, and (2) Relevance for society and business with a feeling for valorization and dissemination. As such, educational and research methods are stretched and oriented towards spanning the ‘scientific world’ with the ‘real world’ considering how science contributes to society and business. Besides being guided by their respective science and technology departments and performing scientific research, students work with companies and organizations. SIS2E supports the students for developing the necessary mindset, attitude and capabilities for bridging both realities. The program builds on interaction between peers as well as individual and personalized coaching, aimed at improving the participants’ economic and social skills.

We aim to ‘create’ excellent researchers that develop broad competencies enabling them to take up managerial responsibilities in companies and in the larger international context.

Application
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