Research Overview
A Crucial Facet
Research is a crucial facet of the Clemson University Department of Physics and Astronomy. In addition to fully equipped laboratories in Jordan Hall and at the Advanced Materials Research Lab, our faculty and students in astrophysics and atmospheric physics conduct research at locations that stretch from near the North Pole to the southern hemisphere. The Department of Physics and Astronomy traces its roots at Clemson University back to physics courses that were taught to the first graduating class of 1896 in the old Mechanical College. Now part of the College of Science, the department holds the distinction of awarding the first physics doctoral degree in South Carolina in 1964.
Research Areas and Resources
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Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomers at Clemson use telescopes, satellites and numerical models to observe, explore and understand the universe around us. From the cosmology of expansion to the formation of our solar system, the faculty seek to answer questions about the physical workings of planets, stars and galaxies.
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Atmospheric and Space Physics
Atmospheric and space physics is the study of dynamical, thermal, radiational, electro- and magnetodynamical processes that determine the structure, composition, energy and momentum budget of the atmosphere. The study of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere above 50 kilometers (30 miles) is called aeronomy and is considered part of space physics.
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Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Atomic, molecular and optical physics studies the properties of atoms and molecules and their interactions with photons. Understanding these interactions at the quantum level enables control over these systems, advancing fundamental physics and leading to new technologies.
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Biophysics/Medical Biophysics
Biophysicists apply physics and chemistry principles, along with mathematical analysis and computer modeling, to biological and medical questions. Focused on molecular science, the field emphasizes understanding the structures and physical properties of biological molecules and their assemblies.
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Condensed Matter Physics
Physicists researching condensed matter observe the interactions of various types of matter, including solids, liquids, gases and plasmas. Condensed matter physics deals specifically with systems of many constituents with strong interactions between them.
Faculty Research
The department boasts approximately 23 faculty members. Faculty research is divided into five key focus areas: astronomy/astrophysics, atmospheric and space physics, atomic/molecular/optical physics, biophysics, and condensed matter physics.
Students and faculty enjoy access to state-of-the-art facilities and labs, including the Palmetto Cluster supercomputer, the Clemson Nanomaterial Institute, the Clemson University Light Imaging Facility and the SARA consortium telescopes located in Arizona, Chile and the Canary Islands. Moreover, the department boasts an instrument shop that is a state-of-the-art facility with three instrument makers as well as a planetarium, which is used for outreach and is visited by hundreds of people every year.
