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Department of Physics
Bringing together great minds to examine the world around us
The Department of Physics at the University of Western Australia has a century-long history. It was initially part of the Department of Mathematics and Physics, established in 1912 as one of earliest eight departments of this university and became the Department of Physics in 1929. This department provides a strong foundation for research. In the most recent ERA (Excellence in Research for Australia) ranking exercise, the department scored 5/5 in all areas assessed, namely Astronomical and Space Sciences, Classical Physics, Optical Physics, and Quantum Physics. We currently host nodes for three ARC Centres of Excellence: Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGRav), Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) and Dark Matter Particle Physics (CDMPP). We also have close links and ties with local industry, hospitals, observatories, schools, and government research organisations.
This is an incredibly exciting time for physics: LHC (CERN's Large Hadron Collider) discovered the Higgs boson particle in 2012; LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) detected gravitational waves from merging black holes in 2015; the first ever image of a black hole was taken by the Event Horizon Telescope in 2019. On the horizon is an international race to make the first full-scale quantum computer; in another direction, ultra-sensitive experiments are being developed in search of dark matter and dark energy of which very little is known. We explore and address fundamental questions from the tiniest particles to the great cosmos and all in-between. The quest continues for a Grand Unified Theory of Everything.
Department of Physics Areas of Research
- Astronomy & Astrophysics
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Computational Physics
Jingbo Wang: Computational Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Simulation and Algorithms
Linqing Wen, David Coward: Computational Astronomy -
Experimental Physics
Mike Tobar, Eugene Ivanov, John McFerran: Quantum and Frequency Metrology for Precision Measurement and Tests of Fundamental Physics
Chunnong Zhao, Ju Li, David Blair: Gravitational Wave Detection and Precision Measurements
Mikhail Kostylev: Spintronics and Magnetisation Dynamics
Vincent Wallace: Terahertz & Optical Technology
Peter Hammond, Jim Williams, Sergey Samarin, John McFerran: Atomic and Surface Physics
Frank Van Kann: Airborne Gravity Gradiometer -
Medical and Biomedical Physics
Tim St Pierre: Non-invasive Diagnostics, Biomedical Imaging
Ralph James: Biophysics and Bioacoustics
Martin Ebert, Pejman Rowshan Farzad: Radiotherapy Physics and Nuclear Medicine
Vincent Wallace: Biomedical Optics, Photo-medicine - Theoretical Physics
Our courses
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Physics major (Undergraduate)
Physics examines the world around us at the most fundamental level, from the origin and fate of the universe to the behaviour of matter on sub-atomic length scales and everything in between.
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Frontier Physics (Combined Bachelor Master)
The frontier of contemporary physics is built on a broad base of deep theoretical ideas that have been verified with astonishing precision by the most intricate and challenging experiments known to mankind.
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Master of Physics
This course is about understanding the world around us at its most fundamental level. The knowledge generated through the study of physics is also the driving force behind most new technologies, from radars to lasers, from transistors to quantum computers, and from electron microscopes to advanced medical imaging scanners.
Research Clusters
Affiliated centres
The Department of Physics works with local and international centres to collaborate with some of the brightest research minds.
These affiliations include:
Contact