The Department is committed to carrying out state-of-the-art research across a number of areas of physics and closely related areas of science and technology. With approximately 20 research active faculty members, approximately 60 graduate students are mentored in research, making substantial contributions and leading projects themselves as they progress towards completion of their degrees. Many opportunities also exist for undergraduate research participation, for example, through senior thesis projects. With these strong student involvements, the Department's research activities support and compliment student education and professional preparation.
Research in the Department is concentrated in seven principal areas:
- Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
- Astrophysics
- Complex systems and non-linear phenomena
- Ion beam analysis and modification of materials
- Optical materials, photonics, and biophotonics
- Materials modeling and materials science
- Plasma science
Supporting these seven principal areas are a number of facilities and theoretical and observational programs:
• Astrophysics research using ground and space-based telescopes
• Atomic, molecular, and optical theory
• Atomic scattering physics laboratory
• Complex systems science
• Condensed matter theory
• Ion beam modification and analysis laboratory
• Nano-Plasmonics and Nano-Optics Laboratory
- Nanoscale materials synthesis and characterization laboratory
• Plasma science
• Polymer gels and hydrogels laboratory
• Precision atomic physics measurements laboratory
• Remote access and public astronomical observatories (LINKS)
• Scanning tunneling microscopy laboratory
• Semiconductor materials and devices characterization laboratory
• Sputter-initiated resonance ionization spectroscopy laboratory
• Two and three dimensional photonic materials synthesis & characterization laboratories
