Duke Physics

The Physics Department

The Physics Department at Duke University is a medium sized department. Small research groups, close collaborations, and extensive mentoring are common. Interdisciplinary activities are encouraged both in the department and at Duke University in general. The support facilities such as computing, libraries, electronic and machine shops, are all state-of-the-art.

The Research Programs

There are active Research Programs in a wide range of topics: Condensed Matter Physics, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics (TUNL), Theoretical Nuclear and Particle Physics, String Theory (CGTP), Quantum Optics, Cold Atoms, Quantum Electronics, Nonlinear and Complex Systems (CNCS), Free-electron Laser Physics (DFELL), and Biological Physics.

Often, there are collaborations between researchers within the department, the university, and with groups around the world.

The People

The department, chaired by Professor Daniel J. Gauthier, contains 38 faculty professorial members (63 in all ranks), around 65–75 graduate students, and around 20–25 postdoctoral associates.

The Graduate Program

The Duke Graduate Program in physics equips promising students from all over the world with the skills and experience to perform cutting-edge scientific research in physics. The Academic Program (including the curriculum and the exams) is designed to solidify students' command of the concepts and methods of the discipline through course work and research.

Admissions & Applications

The applications are processed by the Duke Graduate School. The Physics Department's Admission Committee considers all applicants and then makes recommendations to the Dean of Graduate School concerning admission/rejection of applicants. The Physics Department strives for transparency and openness in all its operations; there is a lot of information in the Admissions & Applications and other pages in this website (see the right column).