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Research in the ISU Physics Department

Our department specializes in offering cutting-edge research experiences to our physics majors. We have a dynamic group of researchers exploring a wide variety of exciting phenomena from basic quantum physics to applied materials science to space and astrophysics. Peruse the links below to discover some of the amazing things our student researchers are doing.

Research Groups

Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) Physics
Intense Laser Physics Theory Unit Research on the interaction of laser light with matter.	Profs. Grobe and Su
Atomic Structure Computational research on exotic atoms and dielectronic recombination in hot plasmas.	Prof. Karim
Mestable Helium Lab Experimental research in ionizing reactions of excited, long-lived helium atoms.	Prof.Rutherford
Program of Excellence in Nanoscience
Center for Research and Education on Nanostructures Computational and experimental research in materials science	Prof. Ren
Experimental Solid State Physics LabExperimental investigation of energy-related materials, including photovoltaics and thermoelectrics.	Dr. Marx
POE for Nanotechnology Education and Research
Space Physics
Center for Research and Instruction in Space Physics Computational research in space physics and nonlinear dynamics.	Profs. Holland, Martin, and Matsuoka
Non-linear Dynamics and Chaos
Chaotic Circuits and Systems Experimental and Computational research in chaos in electronic circuits and other systems.	Prof. Clark
Synchronization of Chaos Computational and Experimental research in phase synchronization of chaos	Prof.Rosa
Chaotic Waterwheel Experimental investigation of a simple, mechanical, chaotic system.	Prof.Rutherford
Other Research Areas
Statistical Mechanics Computational research on many body physics such as phase transitions in microclusters.	Prof. Matsuoka
Mathematical Physics Theoretical quantum field theory research and mathematical physics pedagogy.	Prof.Hassani
Physics Education Developing and disseminating new ways of teaching and learning physics.	Mr. Wenning