| The University of Wisconsin-Madison has for decades been ranked among the top universities in the United States. One reason is the high quality and unusually broad scope of the research program in our Physics Department. The department's first Ph.D. was awarded in 1899 and since that time over a thousand students have earned doctorates in virtually every area of physics.
The following areas loosely describe our current research foci with links to explanatory pages:
Astrophysics and Space Physics
Wisconsin's astrophysicists measure the cosmic microwave background, search for neutrinos, observe X-rays, and study neutron stars. There is also an active theory program.
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Researchers here study atomic collisions and development of improved spectroscopic methods. Wisconsin is also a leader in the field of optically trapped atoms.
Biophotonics
Spectromicroscopy of biological systems.
Condensed Matter Physics
Materials science, surface studies, superconductivity and many other fields are studied at Wisconsin. Extensive use is made of the nearby Synchrotron Radiation Center.
Elementary Particle Physics
Wisconsin's researchers work at high-energy colliders all over the world, including SLAC, FermiLab, and CERN. Their work is complemented by Madison's Phenomenology Institute.
Nuclear Physics
Groups at Wisconsin experiment on low to medium energy nuclear interactions as well as precision beta decay tests. Theoretical research covers a wide range of phenomena. A Medical Physics group is also very active.
Plasma Physics
The Madison Symmetric Torus is the centerpiece of one of the nation's leading Plasma Physics groups. Theoretical work is also conducted on topics such as fusion and nonlinear dynamics.
Quantum Computing
Wisconsin's growing effort to build and understand the realities of a quantum computer.
Here is a complete list of all
research groups at
the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of
Physics..
As of Fall, 1999, the department has a staff of 50 faculty members, 23 scientists and 14 postdoctoral associates. Of the 120 graduate students enrolled, 17 were teaching assistants, 93 were employed as research assistants, and 8 held fellowships.
The Physics Department received over $13 million in research funding in 1998-99 and supports a wide range of in-house facilities, including an instrument shop, a student workshop and an extensive library. Research workers also study at a wide variety of external sites ranging in size and scope from the Synchrotron Radiation Center (Stoughton, WI), to CERN (Geneva, Switzerland).
Physics Department
Directory
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