| Nano-Bio | Atomic, Molecular and Plasma |
|---|---|
| Radiation | Theoretical and Computational Physics |
| Particle | Astrophysics, Space and Relativity |
The researchers in the school enjoy an international reputation in their field, as witnessed by the fact that the impact of our research over the five years to 2011 is over 3-times the global average for Physics, and that the mean h-index for the school's academic staff is 17. Indeed 13 of the school's 21 academics have an h-index of 13 or higher, so the school's h2:N index is 13:21.
Nano-bio We perform fundamental physical research in the field of biological materials. The group has a world-class expertise in a variety of experimental and theoretical techniques. Novel methods are being developed to study complex biological macromolecules and proteins to further understand biological issues from photosynthesis to Alzheimers desease and CJD. Research includes atomic force microscopy, surface plasmon polariton excitation, Raman spectroscopy, measuring intercellular forces, laser-optical imaging for unravelling live cell signalling and molecular modelling and simulation. For more information, see the group page.
Condensed matter theory Chiral objects are ubiquitous in nature at all scales; examples include seashells, DNA, and elementary particles such as neutrinos, yet the origin of such chirality continues to puzzle scientists. Now physicists have revealed a mechanism that explains the origin of chirality in magnets. Research includes novel magnetic, electronic, photonic and hybrid biological/inorganic nanostructures. For more information, please contact Hans-Benjamin Braun
Radiation The radiation laboratory specialises in measuring minute traces of artificial and natural radionuclides in the environment and is equipped with state-of-the-art high resolution alpha gamma and x-ray spectrometry, and low-level beta spectrometry. Research activities also include Radioecology and Medical Physics, neutron spectroscopy and dosimetry in medical accelerators, accelerator mass spectrometry and nuclear microprobes, and environmental physics studies. For more information, please contact Luis Leon Vintro.
Atomic, molecular and plasma Innovative research includes developing, characterising and modelling extreme UV sources for applications in UV lithography for next generation semiconductor manufacturing, imaging nano/molecular structures, studying molecular dynamics by ultrafast laser imaging techniques, and studying double photoionisation with synchrotron radiation. Cutting-edge collaboration continues with Intel Ireland, Intel Components Research, USA and the group continues to create innovation form research, for example by invention, collaboration and company spin-out activity . For more information, please follow this link.
Astrophysics, space and relativity Research includes the search for and characterisation of galactic and extragalactic very high energy gamma-ray sources with the VERITAS telescope array, the study of gamma-ray bursts using space and ground-based telescopes such as Watcher, INTEGRAL, and developing novel imaging and focusing techniques for gamma-ray astronomy. Relativity theory involves the exact solutions of Einstein’s equations, gravitational wave propagation, high frequency gravitational waves and bursts of radiation. For more information, please contact Lorraine Hanlon
Particle Access to large-scale experiments at CERN and Fermilab is provided. Research includes measuring the W-boson mass with D0 at the Tevatron, top-quark and Higgs-boson physics with CMS at the Large Hadron Collider in CERN, building the LHCb detector, measuring Z and W cross-sections at 7 TeV to 1%, and testing the Standard Model to 1% from the ratio of Z/W cross-sections. For more information, please contact Ronan McNulty.
