PhD/MPhil Experimental Physics

Newcastle University

We offer postgraduate research degrees in Physics at the MPhil and PhD levels in all our major research areas. We have five main research themes for MPhil or PhD students: Condensed matter and nanoscale physics: Electronic, optical, structural and magnetic properties of novel solid-state materials. In particular, novel semiconductor structures and nanostructured materials such as nanocrystals and nanowires. Theoretical studies use quantum mechanical approaches and involve massively parallel supercomputing. Our development of new approaches to quantum modelling is changing the size and complexity of systems that can be modelled. Experimental work takes place at synchrotron facilities in Europe and America. Bio Physics: We explore the structure and function of cells. The aim is to create artificial life and build machines based on biological parts.You'll need an understanding of biological physics.Projects include protocell development and the construction of a cyborg robot.We'll use techniques including:single-molecule manipulationatomic force microscopyscanning tunnelling microscopyAstrophysics: Galaxies and the interstellar medium.The source of the galactic magnetic field and its influence on the structure of the galaxy.Cosmology, particularly the early universe and its origin in the big bang.Ultrafast Optics:Coherent optical control of atomic collisions in ultracold gases by femtosecond laser light for the study of problems in fundamental physics. This includes the measurement of time dependence on the fundamental constants of nature.We also research metrological protocols for the characterisation of broadband light. This is specifically related to the application and foundational aspects of quantum mechanics.Quantum Matter and quantum optics:The theoretical study and modelling of the quantum properties of matter and light.This includes the fundamental aspects of:the nature of superfluidsthe principles of quantum mechanicsstate-of-the-art technological applications of quantum transportquantum sensing