Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Science

School of Physics & Astronomy

In this section

Magnetite grown by bacteria forms well-shaped crystals of a size suitable for data storage. Without the biological action, the crystal forms and sizes are much more variable. Read more.
Jets spread out several light years from a young star (a Herbig Haro object imaged by J Hester/ASU with the Hubble Space Telescope), showing the same form as the much larger jets from active galactic nuclei.
What shapes do complex polymer molecules assume? Computational biochemistry offers a route to the answer, here for a model of the peptide GNNQQNY using atomistic molecular- dynamics calculations.
Magnetic tunnel junctions used to study spin dependent transport are fabricated using optical lithography. The colours arise from interference effects within the thin photoresist and Si oxide layers in the structure.
How multiple cavities can be combined on a chip to form a quantum processor. This scheme aims to create a cluster state quantum computer from many cavities linked together by atomic beams - in essence from many micromasers.

Our Research

Our five research groups cover the extremes of physics, from the very largest to the smallest possible scales: how gas and dust become stars and planets, spin and other properties of condensed matter, novel materials, complex fluids, properties of polymers and biological molecules, nanoparticles and the theory and practice of quantum physics on all scales down to those of the smallest particles.

Our research strategy is built upon internationally leading activity such as:

· Star and planetary system formation

· Spintronics in condensed matter

· Experimental biophysics and bio-nanoscience

· Dynamics of polymers and complex fluids

· Quantum information theory and its applications

In addition, we are applying our collective expertise to the development of sustainable energy harvesting and storage, and towards translation into healthcare and medicine. Our research with wider economic impact includes the development of functionalised nano-materials for use in photo-voltaics and in the catalysis of methanol oxidation, the micro-bubble delivery of medication to cancerous tissue and quantum sensing applications for medical imaging.

Research Groups