Department of Physics
Research at the Department of Physics
We are involved in numerous research projects.
The Department of Physics has wide research interests and laboratories in laser physics, atom trapping and geophysics. A new research laboratory enables the study of ultra cold atoms prepared by laser cooling - temperatures of a few microkelvin above absolute zero (−273.15°C) have been obtained.
The department also has laboratories specialising in the development of innovative optical systems for information processing and atomic scale measurement.
Fundamental nuclear physics is pursued in collaboration with The Australian National University and elsewhere. A pixel X-Ray detector system was developed in collaboration with European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the particle physics accelerator laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. Astrophysics research includes the use of the Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics (MOA) Group’s telescope at Mount John, Canterbury, the world’s largest telescope dedicated to gravitational microlensing, and several other telescopes including the Hubble Space Telescope.
Geophysics activities involve both laboratory and field programmes, the latter including research operations at sea and at remote field sites as widespread as Norfolk Island and the Antarctic.
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RESEARCH GROUPS
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