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A person in a cleanroom suit walks past the LUX-ZEPLIN central detector, used to detect weakly interacting massive particles, known as WIMPs.

New record set in the search for dark matter—with a major assist from 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ scientists

Researchers collaborating on the world’s most sensitive dark matter detector credit 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳’s contributions in detecting weakly interacting massive particles, or WIMPs.

Wide shot of the compressor for generating laser pulses at ELI Beamlines to investigate the feasibility of producing coherent gamma rays. A person in safety gear stands near the instrument.

Is a gamma-ray laser possible?

Federal funding will allow 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ scientists and their European collaborators to study the feasibility of coherent light sources beyond x-rays.

The inside of the CMS detector at CERN, showing a large central beam pipe surrounded by a silver cylinder of detectors.

91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ physicists find ‘spooky action at a distance’ at CERN

The researchers have confirmed that quantum entanglement persists between top quarks, the heaviest known fundamental particles.

Two researchers wearing protective eyewear manipulate the equipment in an optics lab to produce surface acoustic waves.

New surface acoustic wave techniques could lead to surfing a quantum internet

Researchers develop new methods to couple light to sound waves that glide on surfaces.

Side view of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, used to detect dark energy and map the expanding universe, atop a large telescope.

DESI first-year data delivers unprecedented measurements of expanding universe

Scientists have analyzed the first batch of data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument’s quest to map the universe and unravel the mysteries of dark energy.

A person in a yellow shirt seen from behind works with a transmission electron microscope in a darkened room.

University secures federal funding to enable advanced quantum research

The funding supports the acquisition of a state-of-the-art transmission electron microscope to accelerate research in quantum information science.

Majors & Minors

We offer degrees in physics and in physics and astronomy, as well as many research opportunities for undergraduates.

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Graduate Studies

Our PhD programs rank in the top twenty nationwide, according to the National Research Council.

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Research

From subatomic particles to the structure of the Universe itself, our award-winning faculty study nature on every scale.

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In the News

Partnerships

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is committed to increasing the diversity of its student body, faculty, and staff. We are a partner institution in the and programs.

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Spotlight

A single video frame of a small flock of crows flying over Lehigh Valley Trail.

Rayleigh Parker, a physics PhD student, won first place for Flocking Behavior. Parker shot video of a small flock of crows passing overhead on the Lehigh Valley Trail in 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ and then collapsed the video down into a single frame using a script written in Python.

Milder Receives Chiyoe Yamanaka Award

photo of avram milder

Avram Milder ’21 (PhD), a scientist in the Laser–Plasma Interactions Group at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, has been selected to receive the Chiyoe Yamanaka Award at the (IFSA). Milder has been selected for his trailblazing measurements of electron distribution functions performed at the Omega Laser Facility that has opened a new avenue for researchers exploring fundamental plasma-physics.

Professor Antonino Di Piazza

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the nearly to design and prototype key technologies for , a new facility dedicated to the study of ultrahigh-intensity laser-matter interactions. Physics professor Antonino Di Piazza is one of the co-principal investigators for the project.

A screenshot from the session.

Kelly Douglass (91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳) chats about her AAS Journal article on voids, and where we can go from here given the published article.

Life of a Cosmology Graduate Student

Zachery Brown in the lab

Growing up, I never imagined that I’d become a physicist. I always enjoyed my physics classes, but was convinced that I’d study engineering in college. Yet as a high school senior, I took an electricity and magnetism course that really caught my attention. And as it happened, I attended a small liberal arts college without an engineering program. I made the decision to major in physics instead.

Ketevan Kotorashvili receives Tsinandli Award in Natural Sciences

Keti Kotorashvili picture

Ketevan (Keti) Kotorashvili, a graduate student in the ’s and a Horton Fellow of the (LLE), recently received the 2023 in Natural Sciences for her research on the evolution of stars.

Stars

Physics, Optics, and Astronomy (POA) Library

The POA library houses a comprehensive collection of journals, monographs and online data bases, supporting the research and teaching activities of the department.

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