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

Excess neutrinos and missing gamma rays

Coronae of supermassive black holes may be the hidden sources of mysterious cosmic neutrinos seen on Earth, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers.

Galaxy NGC 1068 with its active black hole shown as an illustration in the zoomed-in inset

Quantum copycat

Penn State researchers find a new way in which bosons behave like fermions

Primordial Features

Cosmic tango describes large scale-structure of the universe

Researchers at Penn State use the theory of loop quantum cosmology to describe how tiny primordial features account for anomalies at the largest scales of the universe.

Physics at Home

Portable device brings physics labs to your home

Students in online classes use the portable iOLab device to conduct physics experiments at home.

“This result connects a robust theoretical prediction of quantum gravity to the physics of black hole formation in the early universe, with the opportunity of a test via current observations of gravitational waves. I am delighted that this work was recognized by a Buchalter Cosmology Prize."

Cosmology Award Winners

Eugenio Bianchi

Physics Spotlight

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