Research Groups in the Department of Physics

- Advanced Metallization and Nanostructures Group

- Compound Semiconductor Materials and Nanostructures Group

- Nanostructured Patterned Materials and Application Group

- FIB Nanolithography

- Tribo Physics

- Science Education                                                                

- Biophotonics

- Microstructural Devices

- Complex Systems

Research Activity Overview

The research within the Department includes projects of both a fundamental and an applied nature. The activity is disproportionally strong relative to the size of the Department, with approximately 90% of the faculty active as researchers, and a high ratio of postgraduate students.

There is an excellent record within the Department of attracting postgraduate students. During 2005/2006 a total of 20 postgraduate students and 2 postdoctotal researchers were supervised in the Department. In addition in 2005/2006, the department generated 15 refereed journal publications, and made over 30 contributions to international and national conferences. 1 Doctorate and 1 MSc by research was awarded in 2005/2006.

In terms of research areas, the main strength of the Department is in the area of physics of condensed matter and its applications. For instance 6 of the 9 faculty members were founding members of the Materials and Surface Science Institute (MSSI). The principal interests and activities are in the areas of semiconductors, copper metallization, advanced nano materials, magnetics, and thin film science and technology. Other interests include complex systems, physics education, medical instrumentation and renewable energy sources. The work in these areas is world class. During 2005/2006 the Physics department attracted some €387,000 of funding most of which was derived from external sources.

Faculty are also involved in a number of fruitful collaborations with other universities and research institutions. Collaborations exist between the Department and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersbeurg, Maryland, USA, Texas A&M, the University of Cambridge, University of Liverpool, University of Nottingham, Fritz-Haber Institute Berlin, Max-Planck Institute Dresden, Ecole Normale Superieure Paris, Josef-Stefan Institute Slovenia, and the Institute of Complex Systems Rome.

 

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