The research focus at the Department of Physics is on condensed
matter physics, materials science, theoretical physics, and biophysics.
We offer thesis-based MSc and PhD programs and if you join us as a graduate student, you
will gain extensive experience in research, critical thinking and essential
communication and technical skills, which will prepare you for successful
careers in industry, academic and other institutions and organizations.
Hands-on use of our sophisticated equipment provides excellent job training and
gives our graduates a significant advantage in the job market over those
students who have only an undergraduate degree.
Below you can meet some of our faculty actively engaged in research in:
Investigation of the optical properties of materials with phase transitions
(e.g., ferromagnets, superconductors, heavy fermion, spin- and charge-
density wave compounds) via optical spectroscopy from mm wave to uv.
Preparation and characterization of ceramic, single crystal and thin film
(using pulsed-laser deposition) high-T c superconductors, CMR materials
(manganites) and amorphous alloys. Magnetic and transport properties at
ambient and high pressure utilizing measurement techniques such as
SQUID magnetometry, specific heat, and dc-resistivity.
Synthesis, engineering, and investigation of nanostructured materials, such as two-dimensional materials
for applications in the areas of clean energy technology
Superconductivity: unconventional pairing, novel materials (high-T c ,
magnetic, etc.). Transport in metals: transport properties of heavy fermion systems.
Magnetism: quantum effects, spin liquids and collective properties.
Non-crystalline materials: calculation of electronic structure and transport
properties of amorphous and liquid metals, quasicrystals, alloys and
semiconductors, vibrational and magnetic properties of amorphous solids.
Linear response calculations of electron-phonon interaction and
superconductivity in solids. Quantum Monte Carlo studies of physical
properties of isolated atoms and molecules. Monte Carlo and molecular
dynamics studies of biological molecules. Dynamic systems. Mathematical
general relativity, causality, time travel, faster-than-light travel,
scientific computing, and quantum gravity.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and relaxation measurements in
soft condensed matter systems. Study of collective motions in model
membranes, phase transitions in liquid crystals. Exploration of various
morphologies and phase behaviour of lipid/water systems using scattering
techniques (e.g. neutrons, x-ray and light). Study of the protein/membrane
interactions; structural characteristics of membrane active peptides.
Biophysics of photosynthetic energy conversion using a combination of
specialized optical spectroscopic techniques and theoretical models for
excitation energy transfer and electron transport. Time-resolved Electron
Spin Resonance spectroscopy and light-induced spin polarization in
photosynthetic membrane proteins and donor acceptor molecular
complexes. Investigation of energy and electron transfer and spin dynamics
in these systems.