Research areas
The areas embraced by UCLA physics research span the range from the well-established disciplines of "big science", e.g. the search for the Higgs boson at the LHC, and frontier plasma science underpinning fusion energy, to newly emerging fields such as the physics of hearing and neuroscience. In astronomy, UCLA faculty are pioneers in the areas of extra-solar system planets, galactic astronomy, and cosmology. This effort is uniquely enabled by the world-renowned capabilities in design and construction of infrared instrumentation by our Infrared Laboratory.
The creation of cutting edge instruments that open the door to scientific discovery is a common theme here. UCLA faculty were central to the development of the X-ray free-electron laser, and are now among the first users of this revolutionary imaging tool.
First rate experiments are always complemented by theory, and the department has an impressive effort that encompasses condensed matter physics, elementary particles, biophyiscs, and plasma physics. In the complex context of modern research problems, the reach of theory is necessarily extended by the use of extreme computing power. UCLA Physics and Astronomy is a historic leader in high-end scientific computing.
The list of research topics addressed within the department is long and compelling. Beyond the areas already, mentioned, it includes experimental hard and soft condensed matter, atomic-molecular-optical physics, collider based nuclear physics, astroparticles, plasma accelerators and biophysics. There is great synergy between the diverse areas, as for example the methods of particle physics detectors are applied to biological imaging.
This cooperation extends beyond the department on the UCLA campus, with collaborations between our faculty and chemists, biologists and engineers encouraged by the UCLA California Nanosystems Institute. There are burgeoning joint investigations between department members and their counterparts in the world-class medical school at UCLA.
