Research information
Research Themes
Astrophysics (PhD/MPhil)
You'll be involved in the search for distant supernovae and where they came from; study the asteroid and comet population in the Solar system; look for planets orbiting other stars in our Galaxy; study flares and other dynamic processes in the atmosphere of the Sun. You'll have the opportunity to spend extensive periods at world-leading research centres such as the European Southern Observatory and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
At Queen's we lead major European consortia and are supported by a multi-million pounds portfolio of research grants from a range of sources, including the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Royal Society, and European Union.
Research Themes
Atomistic Simulation (PhD/MPhil)
Atomistic Simulation is the use of theoretical and computational methods to study structural, dynamical, and optical properties of molecules, liquids, solids and plasmas at the atomic scale. Computational experiments are used to interpret existing experimental data and to predict phenomena yet unobserved.
You'll study problems at the interfaces between condensed matter physics, materials science, chemistry, biology, and engineering.
You'll interact with laboratory-based colleagues at Queen's and internationally, addressing fundamental and/or practical questions, and you will develop and program novel simulation methodologies to model situations presently out of reach, like electronic excitations, optical properties of materials, and the interaction between electric currents, heat and light.
Research Themes
Nanostructured Media (PhD/MPhil)
Through your research, you will help advance the world's understanding of materials used in cutting edge electronics, photonics and computing. You will help uncover new properties and help develop ideas for how these properties might be used to change the way technology develops in future decades.
You will have access to some of the most advanced equipment and facilities currently available for research, both in Queens University and through international collaborations. By engaging in your research, you will have the opportunity to become an expert in the growth and patterning of materials, the characterisation of magnetic, electronic and optical properties and in high-end microscopy. These are all techniques that make you highly employable in the global electronic and photonic materials market.
You'll benefit from recent major funding investments made by the UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme and Seagate Technology.
Research Themes
Plasma Physics (PhD/MPhil)
Your research will involve identifying and responding to the major contemporary issues within ionised matter physics, exploiting synergy derived from a close integration of experimental, theoretical and simulation studies, with major activities in laser- and electrically-produced plasmas, ultra-fast atomic and molecular physics and the interaction of ionising radiation and plasmas with biological systems. You'll also benefit from transferring your research findings into the industrial and medical sectors.
Research Themes
Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (PhD/MPhil)
You'll contribute to a body of work with recent major developments including strong field laser interactions with atoms and molecules, quantum information processing, quantum optics, and quantum thermodynamics, antimatter interactions with atoms and molecules, electron scattering by very complex targets such as the iron peak elements, and by Rydberg atoms, quantum many-body physics, ultra-cold atomic systems, and simulation of their features, and foundations of quantum mechanics.
