Physics Graduate Information and Facilities

Head and Associate Professor

William J Zealey BSc PhD Edin

Phone: 61 2 4221 3517

Fax: 61 2 4221 3151

The Department of Physics is innovative in both research and teaching. The Departments research and postgraduate activities concentrate on three main areas:

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Solid State Physics
  • Medical and Nuclear Physics

In each area, the department has established close interaction with government organisations and other universities e.g. CSIRO (Radiophysics), Anglo Australian Observatory, ANSTO, Illawarra Cancer Care Centre and the University of NSW.

Facilities

Astrophysics

  • Image Digitising & Analysis
  • Multiwave Length Observations of Protostellar Outflows
  • Planetary Image Analysis
  • Theoretical Astrophysics, Dynamics and Gas Dynamics
  • Variable Stars
  • Image Analysis Laboratory and digitising systems
  • ESO/SERC Sky Surveys
  • DFM 0.4m Telescope + photometer and CCD camera
  • Astronomical/Planetary CD ROM catalogues and image datasets
  • Access to Anglo-Australian Observatory, Australia Telescope & other National Astronomical Facilities
  • Principal Investigator Status in AAO/UKST H-alpha Survey

Nuclear

  • Applications of Nuclear Physics to Cancer Research
  • Study of semiconductor radiation detectors
  • Nuclear Instrumentations for measuring Radon and spectrometer for alpha beta and gamma radiation
  • Collaboration with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the Illawarra Cancer Care Centre, allowing access to Lucas Heights facilities and to the medical accelerator

SolidState

  • Electrical and Optical Studies of Tunnelling Effects in layered semiconductor structures
  • Optical Spectroscopy of Semiconductors
  • Theoretical Solid State Physics
  • High resolution FT and grating spectrometers covering from the visible to mm region
  • Lasers: 25 watt Ar+ lasers, ring dye laser and titanium sapphire laser
  • Optical Cryostats
  • Superconducting Magnet

The above facilities are complemented by Departmental facilities ie. electronic workshops, mechanical workshops and networked Sun workstations.

Last reviewed: 22 September, 2009