Department of Physics | Eberly College of Science

The Eberly College of Science

Department

of Physics

"From the nano to the macro, we seek to understand the origin of the universe, the ultimate structure of matter, and the fundamental laws that govern the physical world. I'm proud to belong to an excellent and diverse community of faculty, postdocs, and students who are opening new scientific frontiers and developing ground breaking quantum technologies." Nitin Samarth, Department Head.

A physics experiment consisting of mirrors and lights on a bench

Physics Undergrad student conducting an experiment on a 2DCC machine

Physics undergraduate program

Develop a broad, deep, and rigorous knowledge of the quantitative problems that govern the natural world.

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Physics graduate researching looking at an experiment

Intellectually challenging and exciting graduate research alongside leading physics faculty full of talent, enthusiasm, and imagination.

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Physics graduate program

Penn State physicists are at the frontiers

of knowledge about the natural world

According to a multi-year study released by the National Research Council (NRC) in 2010, we are in the top echelon (10-15) of physics departments in the United States.

The 2018 US News graduate program rankings listed our gravitational physics/cosmology group and condensed matter physics group as #9 and #11, respectively.

The physics department is also committed to fostering an inclusive community where people of all backgrounds feel safe and supported.

Faculty member Mauricio Terrones in his research laboratory.

Opportunities in our department

The Department of Physics at The Pennsylvania State University (University Park campus) anticipates making two or more faculty appointments in condensed matter physics, AMO physics or biological physics, to start in Fall 2020.

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Physics Department

The physics faculty is a community of innovative and inspiring research and instructional physicists at the frontier of science.

Featured Faculty

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Mikael Rechtsman

Downsbrough Early Career Development Professor of Physics

My group explores the linear, nonlinear, and quantum optics of complex photonic structures with experiment and theory.

Maria del Carmen Carmona Benitez

Assistant Professor of Physics

My group brings a long record and expertise in the design and construction of noble liquid TPC detectors and their operation in the search for dark matter, and is currently part of two dark matter direct detection experiments, LUX and LZ.

Chad Hanna

Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy

My group focuses on detecting gravitational waves emitted by compact binary neutron stars or black holes with the Laser Interferometric Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO).

Featured Story

Luiz DeViveiros: DOE Early Career Award

Congratulations to Dr. Luiz DeViveiros, Assistant Professor of Physics, on his selection to the DOE Early Career Award program!

New era of space research launched by IceCube Observatory and global team of astronomers

The first-ever identification of a deep-space source of the super-energetic subatomic particles known as high-energy neutrinos is being heralded today as inaugurating a new era of space research.

A flaring supermassive black hole 3.7 billion light-years from Earth in the constellation Orion is the suspected source of a super-high-energy subatomic particle -- a neutrino -- that has launched a new era of space research.

Abhay Ashtekar: Einstein Prize

Congratulations to Abhay Ashtekar, Evan Pugh Professor and holder of the Eberly chair in Physics, on winning the Einstein Prize of the American Physical Society!

Cui-zu Chang: ARO Young Investigator Program award

Congratulations to Dr. Cui-zu Chang, Assistant Professor of Physics, on his selection to the ARO Young Investigator Program.

Penn State researchers are at the forefront of gravitational wave research at the LIGO observatory. Congratulations to Prof. Chad Hanna, Prof. B. Sathyaprakash, Cody Messick, and the Penn State LIGO team for contributing in a seminal way to the major discovery in 2015 and the subsequent recognition by the Nobel prize committee.

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Physics Spotlight

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